For the simple, monochromatic friend who’s ready to spice things up
I totally get it. There are so many reasons why neutral decor is gorgeous and desirable. I personally love most pieces in my home to be neutral too! But sometimes, incorporating some color into your home is the best idea you could consider. If you’re looking for ways to work some new hues into your space, I have some tips for you.
Start Small
It’s no secret that colorful sofas and wall paint aren’t your go-to, so don’t force it. I’d recommend starting with smaller items that aren’t as shocking. You can do that by incorporating color into accessories rather than your upholstery or casegoods. Bring in a few pieces of art that include the colors you’re going for, but not in a way that they’ll take over the room. You want them to blend and compliment your space, not make a statement. Throw blankets, pillow covers, vases and books are other perfect items to use. Don’t go overboard here. Not every accessory should be colorful. Add a blush pink pillow next to your gray striped pillow and you’ll be well on your way to bursting out of your shell.
Stick with a Pre-Determined Color Palette
However, let’s not get too crazy with the small stuff mentioned above. If you bring in color through art and accessories, it’s smart to stick to a certain color palette. Incorporating too many colors into one space may scare you away from this whole color idea. I would suggest your palette include your neutrals and one other color at first. Add in another accent color from there if you’d like. I would top it at three hues maximum along with your neutrals to prevent things from getting too crazy and overwhelming. After all – a lot of us prefer neutral spaces because of their soothing aesthetic.
Use Muted Colors
Okay, one more thing on choosing your colors. If you’re used to your typical whites, grays, and beiges, you’ll probably want to start off with adding equally as calm colors. Bright yellow or neon green may not be the right call just yet. I would either recommend going with darker hues or pastels. There are a few dark colors that aren’t super saturated and therefore, feel like they are neutrals as well. Navy blue and hunter green are the most popular. However, if you’re not a huge fan of contrast, you may opt for the second recommendation: pastel colors. Pastels are known for being calming and peaceful due to their high value and low saturation. These hues won’t cause any strain on your eye and often create a sense of relaxation.
Bring In Subtle Patterns
You may not know where to begin when it comes to incorporating colors into your neutral space, especially if you fear that the new colors won’t blend with your current aesthetic. Patterns are the perfect way to naturally bring in additional colors and have them work well together. Find a pattern that you love that incorporates both neutral colors and one or more other hues. You can do this with rugs, pillows, accessories, drapery and more. You’ll then play off of that item to keep adding in more color. You’ll become familiar of this concept in my blog post: How To: Refresh Your Space With A Small Budget by studying the pillow combinations towards the bottom of the post. They’re all able to work together because one pillow has a color that the next one can play off of. This concept can work here by starting with a pattern that integrates neutral colors and other hues.
Have A Vision
It’s easy to lose sight of your desired end result if you don’t have a plan. If you’re truly hoping to spice up your space and burst out of your monochromatic box, have a vision of what you’d like your space to end up looking like. If you don’t, it’s possible that you’ll purchase several things hoping that they’ll work together to bring out more color, only to have a disjointed result. I suggest planning out any space before implementing your ideas to ensure that your expectations are set, however it’s particularly important if you’re trying something new like adding color to your neutral home. You can plan digitally using programs like Adobe Illustrator or Microsoft Powerpoint or you can print images and use images of products from catalogs and magazines. Check out my design boards for some inspiration. Don’t hinder yourself by neglecting to determine your vision.
By now, you might be bursting with new ideas for spicing up your living room, bedroom or other space in your home! If you have any uncertainties while taking the leap, shoot me a message!!
Photo sources (linked on each photo): Neutral Living Room with Blue Accents: Pure Salt Interiors, Color Palette Image: Sarah Ann Design, Gray Sectional With Patterned Rug Room: Weeth Home Co. from Arianna Belle Blog, Slipcover Sofa with Burnt Orange Pillows: Life On Viriginia Street Blog
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Looking for more interior design tips? Keep on reading:
Storage Solutions for Every Room
Hanging and Selecting Drapery: The Right Way
7 Ways To Incorporate Statement Color Into Your Space
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