The Color You Need Now ...  Aqua

The blue-green hue that colors water has been part of our homes for centuries. In fact, it evokes the neoclassical designs of 18th-century English architect Robert Adam, as well as the more streamlined interiors we recall from the '40s.

What makes aqua so appealing today is its versatility. It fits well in traditional, chintz-filled interiors and also works in more minimal, modern-style décors. And because aqua is in the cool half of the spectrum on the color wheel -- between green and blue -- it often appears in historic Southern houses to figuratively turn down the heat in hot, humid summers.

Depending on the quality of light and the other colors it's combined with, aqua can lean toward a deeper teal or go more translucent as in a robin's- egg blue. And since the color is classified as receding, it makes small spaces appear larger.

Aqua feels right at home in coastal areas, especially when paired with white because it brings to mind a turquoise ocean with a light-sand beach. Asian schemes sometimes combine aqua with mandarin orange. Retro combinations from the '50s pair the color with pink and black. Some designers today reinterpret this by trying aqua with pale pink and midtone grays.

Even in a light shade, aqua works best when used with restraint. Bring the color in with wall paint or with accents, but always keep it subtle. Or introduce color with a light bluish-green tint on the ceiling of an all-white room. In a bathroom, use aqua in towels, in a window shade, or in accessories and artwork. And when the colder months come around, aqua proves to be seasonless when paired with heavier fabrics, such as velvet, in deep orange and yellow tones.