Significance

• "Color is the first consideration when looking at Tuscan style," according to LifeInItaly.com. "The basic color palette comes from the landscape and agriculture." For instance, Tuscan décor often includes colors found in Cyprus trees, weathered marble statues, terracotta roof tiles, sunflowers and the cool blue of water on a hot summer day. Tuscan colors reflect the countryside's beauty. Such colors often look weathered or are muted to create an atmosphere of timeless beauty, such as the feeling of comfort an old Tuscan villa might evoke. Instead of the brightest pinks, you may see subtle apricot. Instead of electric blues, it will be the soft blues of the Mediterranean and the muted purples of springtime lavender.
  
  

Décor

• If you plan to decorate your home in the Tuscan style, use earthy tones in shades of red ranging from rust to wine, or shades of green ranging from sage to olive. Such neutral colors as cream and brown also work well. For a more cheerful room, select a yellow in lemon or gold. Use vineyards, farmhouses and ancient towns as inspiration when you choose Tuscan colors. Keep the same tone of colors throughout your palette. For instance, burgundy works well with olive, warm browns and light gold, while rust is best suited to sage green, pale gold and cream, according to Tuscan Home 101. Add accents in such muted Tuscan colors as apricot and lavender.
  
  Tuscan colors often are combined with textures that beg to be touched. Walls in Tuscany often are plastered by hand. However, you can apply faux finishes to attain a layered or textured look. Use this technique to soften walls, trim and other surfaces painted in Tuscan colors. Add texture to give your home an inviting, lived-in feeling.
  
  

Art

• Understanding Tuscan color begins with the landscape and extends through historic and contemporary paintings. Sunny golds and yellows, greens and reds abound in paintings of Tuscany. Historic Tuscan artists used natural elements to create their paint, guaranteeing a color based in nature. Such contemporary artists as Linda Paul follow this tradition. Paul, whose work often focuses on Tuscan landscapes, makes her paints from the soil of Verona, Italy, to create deep browns, terracotta reds, soft greens and creamy yellows, according to her website.
  
  

History

• Sixthteenth Century sculptor and painter Michelangelo is among the many notable Tuscan artistsDavid - Palazzo Vecchio image by Peter Bennett from Fotolia.com
  
  Tuscan colors are an integral part of Tuscan style. "Tuscan style evolved through layers of history, taking cues from the earliest Etruscan metal craft and pottery, and of course, from the sumptuous world of the Italian Renaissance," according to ArtSparx.com. Tuscany's artistic reputation--and its capital, Florence--is built on beautiful landscapes, as well as a long history of creativity in art, architecture, food and wine. This region was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, and was home to such influential artists as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli and Giacomo Puccini. The area's culinary fame includes notable red wines, such as Chianti.
  
  

Considerations

• Tuscan history, culture, food and wine make this area a popular tourist destination. Visitors often return home with plans to redecorate in the Tuscan style. "Under the Tuscan Sun," Frances Mayes' 1997 memoir about renovating an abandoned Tuscan villa, and the 2003 movie based on the book, have helped renew interest in Tuscan home décor.