If you’ve ever walked into someone else’s colorful home and wished you could be brave enough to decorate like that, you’re not alone. Many people find the idea of adding a bold new shade to their homes daunting. After all, the idea of taking an unassuming white or beige wall and making it sunshine yellow or enticing eggplant is quite extreme.
However, there are many positive reasons to play with color in your house. Different shades can change the overall feel of a room. For example, if you’re trying to give a chilly room a cozier feel, you can paint it in a warm color. Color also has a strong influence on our moods. If you want to liven up an area or create a calmer space, adding some color can help you out. Certain colors can even cheer you up when you’re feeling down, so why not bring them into your home? Decorating with color doesn’t have to be extreme. There are ways to dip your toe into the color arena without going too crazy. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Play with Accessories
Accessorizing isn’t just for fashion. Dressing up a room can be just as much fun and is a great way to punch up a room without painting any walls. Whether it’s a pair of pillows, a throw blanket, or the back of a bookshelf, a splash of unexpected color can transform any space from boring to breathtaking. For those who want to ease themselves into color in the home, adding some colorful pieces is an easy place to start. If you don’t like the look, it’s easy to remove the pieces and start over.
If you’re really unsure, start by bringing in smaller pieces such as pillows and throws and move on from there. Otherwise, feel free to add colorful pops in all sorts of ways. To keep things from getting too out of control though, pick a color scheme ahead of time and choose pieces that fit within that. If you’re having trouble deciding on a set of colors, take your inspiration from something you like, whether it’s a piece of artwork, your dining room drapes, or a flower growing in the yard.
Tackle Tint
Adding color to the walls doesn’t mean that you have to go bold. Color can be very subtle or it can be layered on in varying intensities. If the idea of painting a strong hue on your walls gives you heart palpitations, then you might want to consider a color that is just slightly more intense than your current neutral palette. Pastels are the perfect choice if you want to venture beyond white and beige but are reluctant to take on a strong, bold color.
Start by choosing a general color(s) you like- ones that give you the feeling you want for your room. Next, take a look at various shades of that color to find one that will work for you. If you want to go with a monochrome look, consider using a few shades of the same color. You can paint the lightest on the ceiling, the mid shade on the walls and use the darkest on the trim.
Appoint a Feature Wall
If adding color to all of the walls is too much for you, then selecting one to feature is a great choice. In fact, even vivid colors become not so scary when you’re only considering putting them on one wall. To choose which wall to feature, choose a wall that holds the focus of the room. In living rooms the feature wall is usually the wall the sofa runs along, and in bedrooms it tends to be the wall at the head of the bed.
Bump Up a Backdrop
Hints of color that peek out from behind commonplace objects are playful and unexpected. A bright backsplash in the kitchen adds a whimsical element to an otherwise functional space, while splashy wallpaper affixed behind books on a bookshelf brings the area to life. Bright colors and patterns can even be used to accentuate architectural features in a home, such as arches and alcoves.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to adding color to your home. There is plenty of decorating information available if you need some inspiration or guidance. Don’t get too caught up in trends, though, as they may not be trendy when you’re ready to sell your home. If it makes you happy, go ahead and take the plunge.
