Over the past few years, dramatic black, bright bold colors, jewel tones and even neon have ruled the runways as well as home décor, but the recent fashion shows brought back some hues we had not seen in awhile; pastels. Once evoking thoughts of sister-wife dresses, Easter egg hunts and looking washed out, designers are treating pastels in new ways, making them fresh, cool and futuristic. Peach, lavender, dusky rose, dove gray, mint green and pale blues were everywhere, usually in solids, some paired together in simple blocks of light color, others paired up with plain white with hints of silver.

Graham and Brown Contour Spa Pastel Wallpaper

Above, crisp and cool aqua and mint green pop against a silvery white background of a mosaic tile-like wallpaper.

Kartell DR. NO Chairs

Kartell Mr. Impossible Chairs

If you like this translucent pastel look, Kartell has several great choice, including a range of light pastel options for Thalya Chairs, La Marie Chairs, and Victoria Ghost Chairs. Mix in clear chairs and a healthy dose of white to keep the look fresh.

Blu Dot Modulicious No. 4

Another fresh look? The mid-century inspired casework of Blu Dot allows you to choose the colors you’d like for each drawer. Choose pastel tones outlined in dark graphite or walnut for an updated, contemporary look.

What do you think of this pastel trend? Do you have a favorite pastel hue? Or did you swear off pastels for life back in the ’80s? Will you be incorporating any of these colors into your wardrobe or your home? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section!

She uses tah-ah-ah-an-ger-ines…I’m never going to get that stupid song out of my head now. Thanks a lot Pantone. I have no idea what exactly inspired their pick for 2012, but as someone whose high school and college colors involved orange, I’ll take it. Wish I still had my tangerine Guess? jeans from the ’80s, in fact. Yeah right, as if those would still fit.

Anyhoo, wondering how to get in on some tangerine action around the house? Check out these colorful products.

Love this fun Tiki Stool by Offi. The best thing about it? You can move it from room to room and out to the deck or patio.

Add this fashionable hue to your tablescape with Chilewich’s Rectangle Spun Placemats.

Get coastal with tangerine with this grahpically stunning coral rug from Thomas Paul.

Nothing’s more fun that pops of tangerine in a a pop floral print. Check out Three Sheets 2 the Wind’s Ani Wildflower pillow.

You can touches of tangerine via these eye-popping shower rings from Kontextur. They’re like the earrings of the bathroom.

Kiddos like tangerine too. We love this colorful bus frame from DwellStudio.

Bend seating is a new classic modern line of chairs that I love, and no color can top this happy orange.

A clockwork orange? Sorry, you know I can never let a dumb pun or reference pass by me. This ingeniuous little alarm clock by ANYTHING will brighten up your nightstand or desktop. Speaking of desktops, ANYTHING also makes a bright stapler, tape dispenser and scissors to help perk up your workspace – check them all out here.

Fido needs to be fashionable too! Why not pick him up a fresh Fatboy Doggielounge to start the new year off right?

How will you be incorporating tangerine, or better yet, how do you incorporate it now? Do you wear it proudly on your nails everyday, or do you rather hate it in general? Let us know in the comments section!

Top image from pantone.com.

Thanks so much to Flickr member The beauty is in the details for adding pictures of her lounge to our Fresh New Spaces Group. It is a true lounge; don’t you want to curl up on that couch and watch some trashy shows on television, or sit with a bunch of friends and enjoy some cocktails?

The wallpaper adds vibrant energy to the room. It’s Sanderson Dandelion Clocks

Dandelion Clocks also make an appearance in the dining room. I don’t know about you, but I’m jealous!

To see more of The beauty is in the details’ “nice bits and bobs” and home decor, check out her blog and her Flickr photostream.

Thanks so much to Flickr member Laurana for adding these cheerful shots of her kitchen to our Fresh New Spaces Group. This yellow will really wake one up while waiting for the coffee to brew! I’m sure on those winter days when the sun sets very early in Finland, this color helps brighten things up.

If you can read Finnish, you can learn more about this kitchen on Laurana’s blog.

Today’s favorite Flickr pick was added very recently, by blogger Pink Friday, a.k.a. Lisa from Sweden. So glad you added this to our Fresh New Spaces Group Lisa, because it led me over to your blog! This picture makes me want to take a dive into those fabulous pillows and look up at the wonderfully arranged wall of artwork in wonder:

See the rest of Pink Friday’s photostream.