Decorating With Color Like The Pro’s
#TricksOfTheTrade / #ThingsWeLove
A Fun Twist on Decorating With Color
Neutrals are a safe bet. Whether you’re decorating your own home or you’re designing a place to rent/sell, painting the walls and furnishings (cabinets, mantels, etc.) natural or soft colors will appeal to a wider audience. Pink tile around the fireplace will really narrow down your audience, ya know what I mean?
That being said, if someone has the desire to paint their kitchen bright orange, they’ll walk into your off-white kitchen and see their vision. On the flip side, it’s probably less likely that someone who wants a white kitchen will walk into an orange kitchen and get excited to paint it white.
I stumbled across this article (click to be directed to the original post) by one of writers at Martha Stewart Living and I really loved his take on decorating with color. Particularly, I was intrigued by his suggestion to accent with neutrals instead of using your bursts of color as the highlight, try decorating with a bright green corner chair, adorned with a cream-colored pillow.
Living-Room Color Schemes: How to Rock an Alternative Palette
Don’t be afraid to go for the goldenrod! Here’s how to create a colorful space that feels both fresh and familiar.
It’s all well and good when the living room is gray or beige. It’s what’s expected! But introduce a nontraditional palette, and you’re playing with fire in a space that’s all about making people feel comfortable. I love color, and I believe it can be a delight rather than an affront to the eye. You just have to be smart about how you use it.
My favorite trick is to redefine the “accent color.” Pairing blue with gray or green with beige helps keep things from feeling too crazy — but why not make the color your base and the neutral your accent? You’ll be surprised at how much color you can get away with when you pair it with a tone that’s more understated, even if the ratios are reversed (think: sky blue couch with dove gray pillows).
It’s worth noting that not every color is best for the living room. I like blues, greens, and yellows best for this space — they tend to be soothing colors in a room that’s all about relaxing. But the next time you consider redecorating, don’t be afraid to go for the brightest (or most vibrant) yellow and create a space that feels 100 percent you.