Decorating with Bold Colors
Ready to take a leap into bold color? Follow these tips and tricks for decorating with bold colors and your rooms will look stylish, vibrant, and gorgeous.
Decorating with bold colors—like jewel tones and dazzling, citrus hues—packs a visual punch. The trick is to make a bold statement without letting it turn garish. To pull it off, make sure your bold colors stay sophisticated. Choose shades that aren't too bright because bold paint colors with muted tones feel more visually soothing.
Before you pick up a paintbrush, determine your level of commitment to the colors you've chosen. If you are committed, but don't want bold color to overwhelm a room, confine it to a powder room, nook, or small space. You can also cheer up a space just by introducing a bold and colorful piece of accent furniture. Or, if you're uncertain and don't want to go all in, experiment with accessories such as pillows, bedding, and throws. Keep reading to see how bold color combinations affect different rooms in your home.
Use Neutral Backdrops
The navy blue walls in this living room provide a neutral backdrop that can pair with almost any other color. This room pops with the perfect amount of contrast thanks to all the red accents. Want an easy update? Try the bold blue color with hot pink, pale blue, bright red, or grass green—the sky is the limit. The beauty of decorating with bold colors is it doesn't take much (or cost a lot of money). Switch out the lampshades. Try an interesting throw. Or, for a low-cost DIY update, search for frames at a thrift store that can be spray painted.
Give New Life to Old Pieces
In smaller spaces (like hallways or powder baths) it's okay to be a little more brave with bold colors—and you don't have to break the bank to do it. One low-cost solution? Give a vintage piece of furniture a fresh lease on life with new paint. Just about anything you already own can be painted with a bold color palette for an instant refresh. When you're ready to try something new, just pull out a can of paint!
Experiment with Accents
When it comes to bold colors, you don't have to commit to an entire room. Here, a flash of peacock comes in the form of an accent chair and small accessories. Small pops of yellow from the sofa and window treatments playfully contrast the bold shade of blue. In the background, soft greys from the walls, floors, and accessories provide a soothing, balancing canvas.
Related: What Colors Go with Turquoise? 9 Ways to Style the Bold Hue
Go Monochromatic
The bold wall color in this living room provides the perfect backdrop for a pair of chartreuse club chairs. The look could have been visually jarring, but by painting the trim the same color as the cabinets and walls, the homeowners made the bold color feel cohesive and sophisticated. The monochromatic look keeps the space bold without being busy—despite the number of cabinets and shelves. Gold hardware and accents are then the perfect accessories to take this bold color combination from playful to downright chic.
Related: 5 Tips for Pulling Off Monochromatic Designs in Your Home
Find a Bold Color Anchor
There is so much to love about this delightful Palm Beach-inspired dining space. What makes all the bold colors work is the rug, which anchors the space and provides color inspiration for the entire room. High-contrast white woodwork and accent furniture pop against the warm sapphire blue walls. Metallic hardware and lighting lend high sophistication and vintage glamour—it's like the perfect vintage costume jewelry for the room.
Let Your Furniture Do the Work
Here, brightly colored ottomans punctuate a sitting area and steal the show with their friendly color placed front and center. If a large, brightly colored piece is too much for your space, add a modern bold accent with brightly painted stools or end tables. The versatile pieces work as a perch for setting down a book or glass and double as extra seating.
Create a Bold Color Zone
Neutral kitchens are another place to add a cheerful pop of color. In this kitchen, for example, bright bar stools create a happy snack zone. The bold kitchen color encourages guests to come and chat while food is being prepared. Even better, the bold teal can easily swapped as trends come and go. Having just a zonal swash of color makes it easy to convert the kitchen color scheme to bright red, blue, yellow, or green.
Related: 25 Ways to Brighten Up and Update a White Kitchen with a Pop of Color
Whether you are a homeowner, renter, interior designer, or novice decorator, don't be afraid to experiment with bold colors in your home. When done well, they can turn a ho-hum space into your favorite room. If you're unsure, start small and use simple accents like pillows, lamps, and accessories. Consider the color wheel when playing with more than one color and try using different tones of the same color to make the space feel cohesive. When you can, utilize the furniture and architecture you already have. Above all, don't forget the value of employing neutral backdrops to let your bold, colorful pieces shine.
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