We see a lot of all-white and all neutral, washed out rooms these days. We also see a lot of bold, bright rooms awash in technicolor drama. Straddling these two extremes are rooms where color is used in small but powerful doses. In these rooms, neutral landscapes are brought to life by color choices that are sometimes counterintuitive, idiosyncratic or bold. But they work.

For those of us who are color shy, these images are a reminder that sometimes all it takes is a little experimentation. Consider that lampshade or throw or random accessory in a color you assume to be incongruous or clashing in your neutral-toned room. Something that doesn't obviously "match" or that falls outside of what you consider the room's "color scheme". You may be pleasantly surprised. Obviously, throw pillows and lamps are the go-to accessories for providing bursts of color. But artwork (images 8 and 11), a mirror (image 7), a chair (image 3) or even a bucket (image 6) can also provide the little pops of color that uplift any room.

FIRST ROW
• 1 Tranquil Townhouse
• 2 Absolutely Beautiful Things.
• 3 Absolutely Beautiful Things.
• 4 Commune Design's Roman Alonso's Living Room
• 5 Louisa Makes the Most of 400 Square Feet.

SECOND ROW
• 6 Abigail's Modern Condo House Call.
• 7 Chris and Saule's Clean Eclectic Family Home.
• 8 Chris and Saule's Clean Eclectic Family Home.
• 9 Real Life Small Space Solutions From Studio House Tours.
• 10 Real Life Small Space Solutions From Studio House Tours.

THIRD ROW
• 11 The Roof Over My Head.
• 12 The Roof Over My Head.
• 13 House Beautiful.
• 14 Dana's Painted & Patterned Home: House Call.

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