How to Add Color to Your Home
Color can be exciting and at the same time, overwhelming and confusing. Choosing color is not natural for everyone, even designers struggle through building a color palette and pairing hues. So fear not, we’re here to walk you through the process. The snapshot is we’ll begin with what you already have, identify what you want to keep or purge and then craft a color palette that suits YOU. Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Start with What You Have
Before rushing to the nearest paint store, take a close look at your existing furnishings and decor. What do you like in your space? Focus on the things that make you feel good and what their colors are. Do you have a favorite painting, art piece, or photograph that you love? Pull 3-5 colors from that piece and now you have the foundation for your color palette!
This is the beginning of a color palette for a cabin we did last year. Yes, even a blanket can be your inspiration!
Step 2: Decide What to Keep and Get Rid Of
Go piece by piece and ask yourself, does this piece make me happy, does it serve its function and does it align with my vision for the space? Items that don't resonate with your style or color preferences can be donated or sold. Clearing out the clutter will make way for a fresh canvas to introduce your chosen color palette. Those items that you love but don’t work with your vision don’t necessarily have to go. There are tons of ways to give a piece new life through fresh paint, a new stain, or reupholstery.
Teal loves the shape and comfort of this CB2 boucle chair but the cream color wasn’t right for the space so she had it reupholstered in a fun accent color with texture to spruce up this living room.
Step 3: Craft Your Color Palette
Building a color palette is like curating a vibe. Consider the mood and atmosphere you want to create in each room. Warm colors like reds, oranges, and yellows can add energy and vibrancy, while cool colors like blues, creams, and greens bring a calming effect. How do you want to feel in the space? Based on how you want the space to feel, start pairing colors that evoke those feelings. Remember, you can have a couple major colors and play with shades and texture. Don’t feel like you need a bunch of colors to have a sophisticated palette.
Remember, whenever you choose the color for any large item in the room (wall, sofa, rug), allow it to help you identify how you move forward in your next selection. That’s when you head back to how you want to feel. Move slowly through the large items in the room and make note of how you react to them over time. Save styling and sprinkles for the end as this stuff is no joke.
In our Shuksan Cabin project, we kept soothing blues and greens and added colorful pops of red/orange while playing with different fabrics and textures.
Step 4: Gradually Introduce Color Through Entry Points
Once you have your color palette, begin incorporating it through entry points that catch the eye and set the tone for your home's ambiance. Some great entry points for adding color include:
Throw pillows & blankets - These are low-risk entry points for experimenting with color. Try swapping out your neutral pillows for your chosen colors. Move them around and see how they play with the space and how they make you feel. If your sofa is a bold color this should indicate you can incorporate more neutral and textural pillows. If your sofa is neutral, experiment with incorporating color and texture!
Artwork and Prints - Look for art pieces/prints that feature the colors of your palette. They don’t have to exclusively feature all your colors but rather a few. This ties in the space and allows your walls to talk to the rest of the room. Art is personal, the fallback here is your art needs to make you feel something and it might not necessarily match the palette. That is OK, art is a statement!
Area Rugs - Colorful rugs are a fantastic way to anchor a room and introduce a burst of personality. Go to your local rug store and snag some samples to try out.
Accent Walls - If you’re feeling ambitious and want to go for a bold accent, pick one of the colors you love from the palette and paint one wall in a room. Paint or wallpaper instantly adds depth and drama to a space. Teal Tip - One accent wall of paint is sooo 2010, let’s commit and paint the whole space people! I dare you to paint the ceiling.
Blinds and Drapes - Don’t forget your windows! Drapes go up for drama and sometimes assist in finishing a space or creating a dab of sophistication. Blinds go in for privacy or sun protection. However, both of these can be a great opportunity to play with texture and pattern in your color palette.
Bonus! Do you have cabinets or a built-in bookshelf? You can totally elevate that space by slapping on some high gloss or matte dark & stormy for an unexpected pop of color.
Teal’s Kitchen Cabinets
Teal’s kitchen cabinets provide a nice pop of color without being too loud.
Step 5: Embrace Layering
Don't be afraid to layer colors throughout your space. Use varying shades and tones of your chosen colors to add depth and dimension. Mix and match textures and patterns to create a visually stimulating environment. One rule of thumb is try to find a louder color or pattern and a quieter pattern where the colors complement each other (orange and green are across from each other on the color wheel). You have to play with them a little bit to really see what you think pairs well together, keeping in mind you need your eye to be able to rest (two big loud patterns in the same color way next to each other might be too much for the eye to handle)! If you have a ton of color going on with patterns and textures, try adding a solid color to give the eye a moment to rest.
Teal Tip - Sit on this. Leave it out and let what you’ve chosen marinate. Remember pattern and texture separate things naturally and you don’t have to try too hard. For example, you can have 2 cream or off-white fabrics with one flat and one very textured like a woven sweater (a la boucle) for immediate differentiation.
Here are three examples of color palettes we created using fabric samples. Notice the variation in color shades, textures, and patterns.
But what if your partner is cough cough, not big on loud color, how do you compromise?
You SNEAK it in through subtle accents like picture frames, colored glassware, pillows, and art. The overall theme will still align with their preferences but you can experiment with the accents.
Infusing your home with color is a rewarding and exciting journey. By starting with what you have, identifying what you want to keep or get rid of, and building a well-crafted color palette, you can transform your living spaces into sanctuaries that resonate with you. Remember to start with entry points like decorative objects, throw pillows, and artwork to introduce color gradually.
We’re always here to help, checkout our PowerHour session if you’re needing more guidance. We can help you with everything from purging pieces, seeing the potential those you want to keep, and curating a palette you love!
Affiliate Disclosure: Teal and Wendy hand pick every product they recommend. Some product links are affiliate and may provide a small kickback to T&S at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate they earn from qualifying purchases.
