What colors are hot this spring?

There’s nothing like color to put a little bounce in your spring.

For your house, there are practical benefits: Outdoor paint protects your home; inside, it might even boost your mood.

We’re better at fixing than fixing up, so we asked Rebecca Cole (www.rebeccacoledesign.com) — the host of “Surprise by Design” and the most recent addition to our weekly home improvement radio program — for her take on the hottest color trends.

“Raspberry,” she said. “That’s one of the big colors this year. Pinky-reds too, you know, the darker jewel tones.”

Who or what determines which colors are “in” from year to year? Rebecca says it’s the fashion industry.

“If you want to know what home decorating colors will be popular next year, simply study what’s going on with clothes fashions this year,” she said. This year’s shift dress will apparently be next year’s couch coverings.

Last spring, Pantone Inc., the color research center, called “strawberry ice” one of the top shades of the season, along with a shiny opal gray and bright sky blue. Vibrant shades of yellow, green and azure blue also beat out meeker Easter egg colors.

But natural, earthy colors were also a strong influence, and remain so this year.

That might help your home avoid a “what not to wear” moment. Rebecca told us that some folks have a tendency to use colors that are too saturated in too much of the room. For example: raspberry, a fabulous jewel tone, might be overpowering on every wall.

However, Rebecca says when raspberry is combined with a rich brown, it will work beautifully.

Or for a lighter room, an off-white tinted with a whisper of raspberry can be calmly effective.

Bottom line: Tone the color down or combine it with a rich neutral.

Since Rebecca says this year’s fashions include “Pop Organics” — gigantic flowers — you might be able to guess what next year’s couches will look like.

If you don’t care for the latest fashion, Morris’ wife, Carol, a designer and decorator, has a more personal tip. If you want to know what color works best for you, go to your closet and choose the piece of clothing that makes you feel best.

Use that color as your No. 1 color choice.

Next, stand back and take a look at all of the clothes in your closet. Study the colors that you’ve already chosen over time and then make that trip to the paint store and fabric shop.

XFor more home improvement tips and information visit www.onthehouse.com.