Color Decorating

Tay is a set designer, builder, and DJ, and describes herself as an “audacious welder of dreamscapes,” like the colorful apartment she rents in Brooklyn.

"The overall vibe I’m going for, for the house is a bit of a hodge podge: an artist’s 1970s beachside pad mixed with pared-down Parisian glamour and of course lots of lighthearted elements..." says creative director and commercial photographer Lizzie Darden.

Lots of IKEA, a sprinkling of handmade furniture, a dose of DIY, and PLENTY of paint have all been used brilliantly by clothing designer Haley Boyko in her Long Beach rental loft apartment.

As a Latina artist who's traveled the world, Olga Fermin says her home is a reflection of her roots, culture, and travels. "You can see my colorful paintings all throughout the house," she writes. "I love mixing patterns, colors, and styles."

When Bridgette and her boyfriend, Blue, moved into their loft apartment, they committed to making the space their own while not breaking the bank. They used Facebook Marketplace to find staple pieces that they DIYed to fit their style.

The moment you walk in this home's door, you’re greeted by a giant gold cage, setting the tone for a glamorous, luxurious, comfortable, Hollywood regency-meets-1970s opulence style space!

Kathleen Kowalski's best advice for creating a home you love? "If it's ugly, paint it! Paint is the most powerful DIY tool we have."

Lærke Victoria, a creative living in the Danish capital, has thrown caution to the wind in her colorful, kaleidoscopic apartment, complete with a plethora of adorable DIY papier-mâché fruits.

Originally from Ireland, Sara and Peter have decorated their colorful home with finds from local Swap Meet pages, estate sales, online auctions, and vintage stores.

Designer Rebecca Summer and her husband, Sam, have lived in this 1930s building on Lake Merritt in Oakland for 10 years. "I was drawn to this building for all its architectural and ornate details like the arched doorways, 10-foot-high ceilings, and original crystal chandeliers," she writes.

Tiffany Gholar's home is a space where she experiments "with ideas that I might end up using in projects for clients one day."

Megan Zietz is a content creator and designer, and shares this small NYC rental apartment with her husband, three kids, and two cats.

"It’s both chic and punk — a technicolor euphoria impossible not to feel at home at," describes writer, comedian, and award-winning screenwriter Greg Mania of this small rental apartment.

Designer Kelly Bach is the owner of RetroBabeCo, and found her current home in 2018. She shares the Florida house with husband, Nate, sons, Kalani and Keanu, and three chihuahuas: Lola, Hobie, and Mookie.

Whether through paint or decor, color adds a ton of inspiration to one's home, and the rooms in this year's Small/Cool event space had a few surprising applications worthy of a decor deep dive.

Emma and Henrik's home style is heavily influenced by the patterns and colors of the 1970s — particularly orange and brown, hence the name of Emma’s Instagram, Home of Orange Brown.

Murals and custom furniture have become a central aspect of all Megan's designs. "I’m always planning projects that require furniture or lighting that either don’t exist or I am unwilling to buy; building my own customizations (furniture, lighting, etc.) has helped me put a home together that really isn’t like any other."

Hester Vogelzang's retro interior-themed Instagram tagline is “Born in the nineties, living in the seventies,” and that applies to the home shared with boyfriend, Jens, and newborn son, Wobbe.

Emily Brinkley is an illustrator/designer working for a small company that designs games, toys, books, greeting cards, stationery, and gift wrap. She describes her London flat as being a totally beige, blank canvas when she first moved in.

Interior decorator Dani Klarić lives in this large, loft-like apartment in Miami with her boyfriend, Bello. Dani pulls a lot of her home's interior inspiration from the Art Deco era, but you'll also find nods to the 1960s, 1990s, and even some mid-century modern vibes, too.

Charlotte Violet turned an attic space with gorgeous original Victorian cedar beams in her small UK home into a dreamy bedroom, sunset-watching spot, and home cinema.

Raquel Lily is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and online content creator, and she released her debut full-length album, "Fixations," in early March. She lives in this colorful, musical house in Atlanta.

Francesca owns Francesca Grace Home, a home staging and interior designer company, and her California Craftsman in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood is full of vintage furnishings, modern lines, bold colors, and energetic patterns.

Sarah Coleman and her partner had to decorate their Miami house on a very small budget. "Everything we did was stencils and paint because it was the most affordable option. I wanted the gorgeous wallpapers and new shiny fixtures, but we had to do everything little by little and do it creatively, so we weren’t broke all of the time!"

Caley Adams is the founder and creative director of Wildes District, an NYC-based design studio that specializes in design for emerging women's and e-commerce brands. She shares a beautiful house on a small cul-de-sac with her husband, Max, and their 1.5-year-old son.

Carla and Fraser hand painted the tile pattern on their kitchen floor using stencils to mimic some expensive tiles they found online... and that's just ONE of the many DIY projects they've tackled in their UK home.

Grace Atwood has written the lifestyle blog, The Stripe, for twelve years now, and is also active on Instagram and has a weekly newsletter. She worked with designer and Elements of Style blogger Erin Gates on decorating this Charleston, South Carolina rental apartment.