Spring evokes a sense of "rebirth" and renewal. A time of freshness and new beginnings. Nature's colors inspire and free us from the gray days of winter...and the design industry has tapped into this. Each year, bi-annually, the "Pantone" colors emerge. What /who is Pantone? I thought you would never ask.

Pantone, Inc. is, quite simply, the world renowned authority on color, providing color systems, leading technology and color standards for all aspects of design. Having said that, Pantone is the trend forecasting "company" that provides the tools, inspiration and seasonal color direction 24 months in advance for men's and women's fashions, cosmetics, industrial design and, of course, the ever-popular home furnishings industry. Now it may make more sense that your home decor may have cued into your closet and that some of the clothes you wear may actually match the accent pillows on your sofa. It is no accident.

Design is like fashion. Each home, much like a woman's wardrobe, benefits from that "little black dress". Yours may be a neutral sofa, a woven jute area rug, a masterfully crafted, yet unadorned, table or white walls screaming for a little TLC. Your "black dress" may work as a starting point on which you design and build your very own fashion statement.

Last year's color of the year, turquoise, was an escape for many and you will continue to see its influence in home decor and in the apparel industry. The 2011 Pantone color of the year is considered "a color for all seasons"...Honeysuckle. The festive reddish pink is both alluring and engaging - an uplifting and captivating color perfect to ward off the blues in times of stress.

Honeysuckle will most certainly produce a healthy glow to those wearing it. While the striking, eye catching hue works well for day and night in women's apparel, it will also add a lively flair to interior spaces. For a dynamic burst of energy in your home's interior, paint an accent wall in Honeysuckle. Add patterned Honeysuckle pillows and a few tabletop accessories for an instant (and inexpensive) perk up for your home's interior.