(ARA) – Summer was a sizzler, but cooler weather brings relief and a return to the indoors, which can seem a bit drab after the lively colors of summer. The easiest way to spruce up your decor is with fresh color on the walls. Along with the beauty and warmth of traditional harvest colors or the soothing calm of winter hues, consider going bold with your favorite vibrant shade of paint. Or, use a relaxed neutral that provides the perfect backdrop for colorful accessories.

The color experts at Lowe’s home improvement stores offer some insight into cool weather’s hot colors and recommend experimenting with the latest paint trends to transform your interior spaces without breaking your budget — just in time for holiday guests.

Hi-DEF color technology in paint

Just in time for your fall and winter projects, high definition paint has arrived! Valspar’s Signature Paint with Hi-DEF Color, available only at Lowe’s, provides absolutely clear color rendition, meaning the color you see on the paint chip will translate beautifully and precisely to what you see on the wall.

With this assurance, coordinating your decor colors will be easier, too. Pop the paint chip in your purse or wallet, and you can be sure the new accent pillows you’re considering will match and not clash with the wall color.

Practicality with pop

Americans are going back to basics and redefining what is important to them, from spending more time with family and friends to practical thinking about their budgets. As homeowners look at their homes as less of a financial investment and more of an emotional one, they’re creating spaces that reflect their personal style, including decor and color schemes that synch with the way they really live. Color is the best way to set the tone of a home and a very practical way to add pops of personality.

Paint is budget and time friendly, and the mood changing power of color does wonders for the spirit! This year, cool weather color schemes will emphasize neutral foundations, such as grays and beiges with surprising punches of color in fresh greens and cooler blues or classic harvest colors like spicy reds, golds and browns.

For an instant home decor refresh, paint an accent wall in a favorite hue that complements your existing decor. Valspar Signature Paint with Hi-DEF Color will cover your old paint with fewer coats and has superior fade resistance, meaning your paint will last longer even in the sunniest rooms, saving time and money for more holiday gift giving and beyond.

Holiday hues

Red, green, and metallic colors like gold and silver put many of us in festive moods, and the colors are certainly appropriate for holiday decorating. But they also have their place in year-round decor. Traditional hues can make us feel calm or invigorated in any weather: think relaxing, soft greens, lively golds and deep, Santa-suit reds. When using two complementary hues, like red and green, in the same room make one more dominant than the other to create a more pleasing effect. Adding metallic hardware and lighting accents in pewter, brushed nickel, burnished brass or copper will add sparkle to your color scheme no matter the season.

This year, look for new accent hues in lime green, blue and gold throughout decor and color schemes. These surprising holiday hues will also be right at home in year-round decor and easily adapted for any season with a few simple accessory changes.

For interior painting tips, advice and decorating ideas, visit Lowe’s Creative Ideas.