Killer colors arrive just in time for spring redecorating

: I just moved into a new home, and the living room is decorated in very outdated colors. I’m dying to redo it. What are the hot colors right now?

A: Every year, when I go to the big home-furnishings markets, I have a blast checking out the new color combinations designers are showing. Here’s what’s hot right now.

Black and cream

I lost my heart to black and cream about 20 years ago, when I was visiting a friend’s flat in Chicago. Randy upholstered his Edwardian antique furnishings in black and cream ticking, and the presentation made my heart pound. The dynamic color combination was fresh yet timeless, perfect when used alone but equally as sensational when paired with any accent color in the rainbow.

About eight years ago, black and cream started showing up at all the big markets and has done nothing but gain popularity since.

My friend Ann just added a glorious sunroom to the back of her sprawling ranch home, and she decided to decorate it in black and cream with a sprinkling of apple green to pop it up.

First, she covered two sofas in a black and cream houndstooth check. Then she added a playful kick by pulling in a set of apple green wicker chairs she picked up on sale last summer. Even though she had no place to use the chairs at the time, Ann knew she would come up with a good spot for them. And, boy, did she! After she fitted the chairs with bold black and cream cushions piped in apple green, she put them around a game table near the sofas.

Green and brown

Designers have been pairing blue and brown for the past few years, and I love the combination of the warm and cool hues. But this year, they added a new gotta-have color to wed with brown: glorious green in every shade imaginable, from bright lime to soothing sage.

I’ve long been a fan of green and brown because I can’t get enough of colors inspired by nature. In fact, gooseberry green and molasses brown are at the top of my short list of favorite wall colors because they look wonderful with all sorts of accents. I layer these tried-and-true tones with yummy fabrics like vintage florals, rich paisley or simple stripes through upholstered furnishings, accent pillows and window treatments.

Navy and cream

Last April, designers introduced navy and cream as the brand-new hot color combo. At this year’s markets, this classic duo had gained even more fans. Like black and cream, navy and cream have long been near and dear to my heart. In fact, it’s been the signature color combination in my dining room for years, with my walls painted twilight blue and my trim, Garrity cream.

Not only are these tones timeless, they look marvelous with a myriad of accent colors, from orange to green. And they are equally splendid dressed up in a formal room, like a dining room, as they are dressed down in a private space, like a guest room.

Gray

When I went to the Paris market in January, gray was the color of the hour. Paris designers were showcasing every shade of gray, from pale dove gray to charcoal, through furnishings, accents and wall colors. I particularly loved the selection of high-end upholstered furnishings covered in gray wool men’s-wear fabrics. Wool is an ideal fabric for well-used furnishings because it wears like iron, and breaths in the summer yet is cuddly warm in the winter.

It’s a blast to see what colors are hot and what colors are not at market every season. But when you select the color palette for your living room makeover, I would encourage you to be less concerned with selecting the “in” color and more focused on picking a palette you love. Trends are fun, but they come and go. Whatever you choose for your living room should be so timeless it will look sensational for years to come.

Mary Carol Garrity owns three home furnishings stores in Atchison, Kan., and wrote several books on home decorating. Write to Mary Carol at nellhills@mail.lvnworth.com. Her column is syndicated by Scripps Howard News Service.