Cozy Up to Fall With Ace Hardware's Seasonal Color and Decor Trends

OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwired - Sep 23, 2014) - Ace Hardware, the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world, unveils the top color and home décor trends for homeowners to fall in love with this autumn. Hand selected by Ace's Design Experts, Katie Reynolds (Dallas, Texas), Nathan Fischer (Orange County, Calif.) and Julie Richard (Boston, Mass.), these trends inspire and encourage homeowners to embrace the changing seasons and bring the feeling of fall indoors with warm and charming on-trend hues.

Together, Ace's Design Experts have over 30 years of interior design experience and this season, using colors from the Clark+Kensington® paint+primer in one collection, they've created a palette featuring rich, classic colors alongside deeper, more dramatic hues. "This is the perfect time for homeowners to make the interior updates that they didn't have time to tackle this summer. Additionally, fall is one of the most colorful and beautiful times of year so it can be a great source of inspiration," said Reynolds. "Our décor and color tips were designed to allow homeowners to bring the best parts of fall into their homes!"

Katie, Nathan and Julie have identified the following Clark+Kensington colors trending for fall:

• Bring warmth to a living room with a golden honey shade on the walls, such as Golden Ticket 19B-4. This livable color works well in kitchens or hallways if the home has an open-concept floor plan. Accent with light fixtures, home décor accents and metal furniture pieces in warm metallics, like gold and bronze, to complement the golden hue.
• Take a cue from one of the most popular colors of the season by updating a home office with a spicy shade of orange. Try Pumpkin Latte 13B-6 or Dutch Tulips 10B-6 on all four walls, or just one focal wall, and keep the rest of your palette simple with chocolate brown, rich grays or winter whites as accents in textiles and accessories.
• Warm whites like Swiss Coffee CW-W3 or Antique White CW-W7 look great on walls and trim when accented with neutrals such as Trench Coat N-C4, a dark khaki, or Stormy Weather CW-C7, a pale gray. Layering these classic colors elevates a monochromatic palette from basic to exciting, resulting in the perfect backdrop for fall décor and accents.
• Color is one of the most dramatic changes that a homeowner can make to their space and painting an accent wall or piece of furniture is a quick and easy seasonal update. Try rich hues such as Garland Green 28A-5, a deep forest green, or a warm brown like Star Anise N-W32 or Rustica N-W31. These colors are the perfect addition to a den or library.
• Yellow is a very versatile color and can set the tone for a room in either a classic or edgy direction. A soft, buttery yellow like Quince 20C-4 adds just the right amount of charm to any room in your home this fall.
• Vibrant and luxurious colors such as Dragon Fruit 03D-4, a deep scarlet red, or Darling 01D-4, a saturated magenta, offer a pop of bold color and look great on the walls of a bonus room or on an accent piece such as a side table or serving tray.  
• The entrance to your home is the first thing your guests will see. Create a luxe focal point that is sure to wow visitors with a vintage piece of furniture such as a cabinet, chest or console table painted in a dramatic hue with a high gloss finish. Try Charcoal Cashmere N-C14, a deep gray, or a dark navy blue like Dark Diversion 37B-7. For an added dose of drama, change out the hardware to achieve a custom look.

Ace's Design Experts aim to inspire homeowners looking to bring fall's latest trends into their home décor and recommend the following design tips to pair alongside the season's rich color trends:

• Look to nature. Natural and organic patterns are a big trend this fall -- add branch-patterned textiles and wall coverings for a dose of whimsy. A swirled or marbleized pattern is also popular and works well on accent pillows or bedding. For an unexpected twist, try an oversized natural organic print painted onto a dining room wall. For a crisp, monochromatic look, paint the design in two shades of the same color.
• Add a touch of glamour to your home with gold accents. Try changing out the hardware on an accent chest or dresser, or hang a fun light fixture in an office, powder room or bedroom in a gold finish. It's okay to mix finishes in this case -- gold blends nicely with bronze and black finishes used elsewhere in the home. 
• Cooler weather encourages the transition from sleek and modern kitchens to a more cozy, relaxed feel for the space. Add décor and accessories created from reclaimed wood for a warm, rustic space this season.
• Large mirrors and mirrored surfaces add depth and interest to any space. Use a leaning floor mirror in a dining room, a large round mirror over a fireplace or entry console, or a large hanging mirror in a small space to reflect light and make a space appear larger. For a real wow factor, use a collection of vintage mirrors along a hallway or staircase to create a striking gallery display.
• Avoid matching and coordinating sets, décor and fabrics. Bring in a mix of styles, old and new, and crisp and soft. This will make your home look lived in and add a designer touch.

Clark+Kensington, a premium line of paint+primer in one, is available exclusively at the new Paint Studio at Ace. Its semi-gloss finish was recently ranked #1 for the second year in a row by a leading consumer magazine in tests of interior paints. The paint line features designer-selected hues that cover the entire color spectrum, providing homeowners with a selection of beautiful, livable colors.

Designed to help homeowners find the perfect paint color, The Paint Studio features eye-catching color racks, unique pullout drawers and easy to use color cards to simplify the color selection process. Paired with the helpful service and knowledgeable advice customers can expect from Ace associates, The Paint Studio provides a world-class paint experience right in consumers' neighborhood hardware stores.

For more information on Clark+Kensington or Ace's Design Experts, please stop by your neighborhood Ace or visit www.clarkandkensington.com. 

About Ace Hardware
For 90 years, Ace Hardware has been known as the place with the helpful hardware folks in thousands of neighborhoods across America, providing customers with a more personal kind of helpful. In 2014, Ace ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retail Stores, Eight Years in a Row," according to J.D. Power. With more than 4,850 hardware stores locally owned and operated across the globe, Ace is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace and its subsidiaries currently operate 14 distribution centers in the U.S. and also have distribution capabilities in Shanghai, China; Panama City, Panama; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Its retailers' stores are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and approximately 60 countries. For more information on Ace, visit www.acehardware.com.