7 ways to get a colorful home without going gaudy

“People fear making expensive decorating mistakes or being judged by others, like someone coming over and saying, ‘Wow, you upholstered your sofa in acid green?’’” says New York City interior designer Nick Olsen. “It pushes them toward softer colors, neutrals or no color at all.” Studies show that using color in residential environments can improve people’s moods and make them function more effectively. Go soft Ballet pink ceilings, pale green walls and whisper blue ceilings all bring more life to rooms than basic white. “When people say they don’t like color, I think what they mean is screaming color: red, traffic-light yellow,” says Annie Elliott, a D.C.-based interior designer. Test any color you’re considering by tacking up painted pieces of poster board — or larger sample stickers (available from many paint makers or samplize.com) — on the walls. Or you can do it yourself by taking cues from a “hero” fabric, rug or piece of art. Advertisement “Start with something that has multiple colors to pull from: a vibrant upholstery fabric, a multicolor carpet,” Olsen says. Then pull colors out from that, maybe getting lamps and pottery in one shade and a lampshade or a slipper chair in another.” “I often push clients toward a bright painting or print, even if a space is more neutral,” says Nicole Lanteri, an Arlington, Va.-based designer. It just pops, and you see it for what it is.” Use color in unexpected spots Lesser-seen, lesser-used areas of your home can be great places to experiment with bright touches. “If neutrals are safe comfort food, then color is the spice, the thing that brings flavor and life to a home,” says Charles M. Boggs, associate chair of interior design at the Savannah College of Art and Design. “I like to paint ceilings and interior doors in colors that contrast with the walls,” Olsen says. “I’m currently putting Tiffany blue inside one client’s closet, which will make her shoes look great.” Wall and window trim are also ripe for a dash of color. Advertisement Elliott steers clients toward grass cloth, a woven, often solid-colored wallpaper. “It brings way more texture than paint, but it’s still pretty subtle,” she says. “I love to use green houseplants to add color to a room,” Lanteri says. Go beyond a single ‘pop’ of color Though a solo strand of turquoise beads looks beautiful against a simple black or white blouse, adding one jolt of a saturated hue to an otherwise neutral room can seem jarring. “It’s easy to have an all-gray living room and just throw some royal blue pillows on the gray sofa,” Elliott says. “But it’s more fun — and less broken-up feeling — to bring in a rug with some blue in it, too, or to maybe reupholster an accent chair in fabric with some similar shades.” Advertisement Remember, too, that rooms in the same house should be in conversation with each other. Weave subtle touches of similar colors throughout your space, such as with navy blue walls in a home office to echo a sapphire velvet sofa in a great room. “I’m a big fan of painted furniture in a room full of dark wood,” Elliott says. Or you can also DIY, especially if you’re applying a matte finish or visible brushwork.” In rooms with colorfully painted or upholstered furniture, keep the wall paint subdued. “If furniture is more vibrant, it will pop better if it isn’t competing with strong, saturated wall colors,” Boggs says. – This Summarize was created by Neural News AI (V1). Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2024/08/29/how-to-use-more-color-at-home/