Real LI

“Choosing Blue: Color You Can Live With” by Stephanie Hoppen (Watson-Guptill Publications, $19.95): Surveys often show that blue is the favorite color of many people, and this book shows why. Every imaginable shade, used on dozens of items, from ceilings to vases, living-room furniture to bathroom tile, is on display in this eye-catching book -- originally released in 2006 but newly released in paperback -- featuring French, cool, indigo, turquoise, modern, Mediterranean and many other varieties. Photos show how to match or contrast blues with other colors while showing ways to decorate otherwise ordinary spaces. Tips on choosing the right shade include advice on color saturation, picking the right textiles to carry specific hues and samples from Ralph Lauren, Benjamin Moore and other paint lines. Some come in much closer to purple or green, but they are still pretty striking and true-blue fans will love them all.

- PAM ROBINSON