Simple GIFs That Show How to Harness the Power of the (Color) Pop

It’s one of the most overused, annoying phrases in design writing: the “pop of color.” But this expression endures because using small, potent pops of color in a room is truly powerful. You can make a room look bold, dramatic and vibrant, without having to coat every square inch of a room in color. Need proof? Here are some GIFS that showcase the magic of the color pop (and the four most effective ways you can wield this design power).

I’m a huge fan of vibrant walls and rainbow furniture. But there are many reasons why you might want to resort to smaller doses of color instead. Maybe you rent and can’t paint your walls. Perhaps you’re fiercely practical and prefer to spend your budget on neutral furniture you can keep for years. You might prefer a room with an abundance of soothing soft hues with a tiny touch of color.

Whatever your reasons, behold the power of the pops of color below. You can see how even a few spots of color in a room can have a huge impact on the look and feel of a space.

This UK Victorian is filled with layers upon layers of eclectic vintage gems and global finds. Not to mention swimming in charming architectural detail. But you can see quite plainly how just four small spots of concentrated color, arranged symmetrically, change the whole tone and mood of the living room. Grays and natural wood tones are a perfectly lovely arrangement, but when the symmetrical pops of red are added to the mix, the room gains a ton of drama and interest.

Concentrating a pop of color in one central spot in a room creates a focal point, almost like an exclamation point in the middle of the room.

Start with one pop of color on one side of the room. Add that same pop of color in another spot in the room. Then another. Spread them out evenly. What will happen is your eye will skip around the room, like a stone skims across a pond.

Really take a look at the room above. Seems like a vibrant maximalist wonderland, right? But take note of how many colors are actually in the space. This room feels like it’s exploding with color and textures and yet there are actually only a few colors present. Unlike in the symmetrical example above, this room isn’t embracing symmetry, so the pops of color shouldn’t either. A nice random array sprinkled around the room can make the space feel more colorful than it may actually be.