The trend: This season's hot color

Sole-stirring color What's the season's hot hue for home decor?

According to the color czars, it's "Barefootin'," a warm neutral juiced with orange.

"Think of the last time you slipped off your shoes ... ahhh," said James Martin, president of the Color Marketing Group (CMG), an international organization of color design professionals, in a news release. "It is just that feeling."

"Barefootin' " reflects our collective need to ease up on stress, according to the CMG. While orange is generally a high-energy hue, this toned-down variation can "soothe a weary psyche, but without being dull."

The color is showing up across product lines and in a range of finishes, according to the CMG. In a matte finish, it evokes sandy beaches, while the glossier version conjures lacquerware and porcelain. And "Barefootin'" shows its "party side" when embedded with iridescence.

Pair it with soft, muted grays, the CMG recommends. Then kick off your sandals.

KIM PALMER

Today's selection looks nice enough for sit-down dinner parties, with sophisticated designs that mimic Talavera pottery from Mexico and Deruta pottery from Italy, or feature contemporary floral and geometric patterns with just a touch of retro.

Its safety, though, has been called into question. Made through a process that combines carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen with formaldehyde and high heat, melamine is usually dishwasher safe -- often recommended for placement on the top rack -- but cannot be microwaved. You can pick up melamine plates, bowls, cups, platters and trays almost everywhere, whether you're combing through the bins at a discount spot, popping into a drug store or ogling the goods at an upscale kitchen shop.