Crush Colors: Is it a Crush or True Love?

Interior designer Victoria Dreste divides colors into true loves and crushes. “My true-love colors, I can use anywhere, forever; I’m always going to love them. A crush color can be a trend, like tangerine right now, and I’ll use it as an accent—maybe a pillow, or in a pattern. I use it sparingly, for fun, because I know it’s not long-term for me.”

This is a good time for caution, because the latest trends include bright yellows and oranges and vivid blue-greens. “Sometimes people get carried away with intensity, and they’ll use a color that’s too strong,” Dreste says. “A little girl wants pink, and there’s bubblegum pink on all four walls—oh my God. People forget that when you put a color on four walls and they all start reflecting off each other, it’s going to be intense. You have to be careful. Saturated color is OK, but if it’s in that neon section of the paint deck, be careful. Love that bright, bright orange? Do it on one wall, or for your window treatments.”