Are homeowners stuck in color rut?

Now for sobering news on the home decor front: One-third of homeowners confess their color themes have not changed in five years or more.

But what's to change? Statistically, it's white, white, and more white -- with traces of beige for the brave few willing to push the color envelope -- in nearly half of bedrooms, kitchens and baths.

A nation all too willing to embrace the latest gizmos and gadgets is anything but adventuresome when it comes to dabbling in color schemes. In fact, there are no schemes, unless you consider risk-free tonality a decorating plan.

"People are timid about color, and they think they are safe using off-white and beige," says Maggy Costandy, an interior designer in New Bern, N.C. "The primary obstacle is fear. They just need to venture outside the box."

Homeowners might be excused, however, for their reluctance to tiptoe beyond lighter shades. Many consumers, it seems, simply don't know how to proceed in the world of color mix-and-match.

"Professional decorators often recommend a palette of at least three colors to pull a room together," says Carol Williams of May Department Stores. "That's where it becomes tricky for people to figure out how to decorate on their own."

When consumers do take the design bull by the horns, they usually try to match hues to everyday items and accessories. Often, the search is frustrating, if not fruitless. Linen, fabric and tabletop marketers offer roughly the same colors but their subtle differences are just enough to be obvious when trying to coordinate a room ensemble.

Williams says a long-sought solution to top-to-bottom color coordination is just what consumers need and want.

May and editors of House Beautiful magazine have crafted one such collection, the House Beautiful Home Collection, where 32 colors dovetail across a broad line of products from linens and towels to glassware. Items are packaged with color chip suggestions so home decorators can shift seamlessly from product to product.

The bottom line is that consumers "can feel more confident about what they're doing and be more comfortable in expressing their own style," says Williams.

By avoiding a mishmash of colors, consumers can create error-free bedrooms, baths and kitchens.

Costandy says it is ironic that consumers won't venture out on a color limb when they frequently show no compunction to abandon other sorts of consumer products.

"People will buy a $40,000 car they will replace every three years, if not every year, and yet they won't hire a painter for $2,000 when they get tired of wall colors," says Costandy. "It's a dichotomy to me. I mean, it's only a $40 bucket of paint. And they could just as well do the work themselves."