We've pinpointed five different ways in which color can be applied to the home. By no means a comprehensive list, we like the idea of exploring what kind of color personality we have. After all, if you know what patterns you lean toward when it comes to color, it's easier to both enhance your natural habits and break away from them to shake things up. Here are some thoughts:
1) It's in the accessories A common trend for most folks, bringing color in through accessories and items that are easily changeable means that your spaces are flexible — and it's not as scary as throwing a lot of paint on the walls. Color's usually seen in tabletop accessories, pillows, cushions and more.
2) Pops of color Similar to the accessories approach, this can even be more powerful because it pairs a subdued color palette with small but carefully-placed pops of color.
3) It's in the art This allows for the bulk of the color in your space to come through in the art — simple, elegant, powerful and bold.
4) All over the walls Requiring a bit of a leap of faith that you've chosen your colors wisely, placing them on walls, other large surfaces and furniture surrounds your whole home in color and shows you mean color business.
5) A combination of any of the above Color lovers often don't pigeonhole themselves into any one category, choosing instead to incorporate color any way they see fit, whether through accessories, art, wall colors or a little bit of everything!
What color applying style are you? Do you tend to bring in color into your home the same ways? Do you wish you tested your comfort levels by using color in different ways? Let us know!
Images — 1: Femi; 2: Jill Slater; 3: Ann Manubay, Dabney Frake; 4: Monica; 5: David
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Comments (5)
I've applied color differently in each room. My bedroom is big broad strokes (dark brown & teal), nothing fussy, almost no colored accessories. In my kitchen it's all about outrageous pops (orange). In the living room it's the accessories layered over the two main colors used on the furniture (navy & orange);and in my wee tiny bathroom it's the shower curtain that contains all the color which I've used pops of in the accessories and the rugs (dark brown, teal and orange). Every color story in each room bleeds off a little into the next room, pulling together all the spaces. Funny part? NONE of it was conscious. I bought what I liked and it wasn't until I was "done" (are we ever, truly, DONE?) that I realized what I'd done.
I generally tend to use colour in the accessories such as glass vases, lamps, wall stickers and cushions etc. I think its because I have a fear of returning to the early 90s when I had one orange room, one yellow and one bright blue! Having said that I love the way colour has been used more recently with block colours covering an entire wall including the skirting, door and door frames. Its a really striking new twist and I am seriously tempted!
Def 2 & 3
I live in a rental and have my choice of three approved wall colors, so I went with bright white on the trim and off-white on the walls. My furniture is white slipcovers and brown leather.
I brought in color with an investment rug in deep red and blue, which is echoed with pottery and textiles. I'm struggling with a balance in artwork... I hate artwork that exactly matches a room, but I also need to break out of my B&W photography rut.
My living area is dark gray with pops or red and white. Bedroom is blue with brown furniture and pops of orange. Hallway has got buttery yellow stripes.. horizontal with subtle gold accents. This is our starter home.. and our first time decorating and painting.. so it was a fun experience
Slightly OT re: photo 4... I never thought I'd say this, but I love that pink bedroom. :)