COLOR IS A DESIGN ASPECT THAT IS OFTEN SEEN AS A DO OR A DON’T, USED HEAVILY OR NOT AT ALL. Whether you are an avid color user or a bit color shy, there are a few important aspects, as well as easy steps, to adding just the right touch of color in your home.

Balance & Harmony

When working with color, remember to always strive for balance. No matter if you are using an abundance of color or just a subtle touch, the key to achieving a well-colored interior lays in the hands of balance and harmony.

A balanced, harmonious interior will not be overwhelming to the eye, nor will it have too much of any one color. A colorful space will benefit from this balancing act by avoiding one specific color stealing the show, and a neutral space will benefit by balancing out the neutral tones with touches of color, bringing life to the space.

Finding Your Color Inspiration

To avoid mixing and matching colors too much, it’s important to find your piece of inspiration when planning out a design. This could be an area rug or piece of art, full of colors that you wish to integrate into your space. Or a coffee table or sofa with such a unique design that you want it to guide the room’s style. Whatever the inspiration may be, start with that piece and build around it – adding colors and furnishings that complement it (and each other), and inevitably tying the whole room together.

Fabrics

Including colorful fabrics in a design is a favorable option, as they can be used in strong or soft tones, be matched to the color scheme quite easily, and can also be used to add texture.

For example, a multi-colored area rug can work to bring all the colors of the room together – accessories, wall color, artwork, and other decor pieces. Such an area rug will ‘anchor’ down the design, creating a balance and purpose for each color.

In a less chromatic space, a single or two-toned area rug, curtains, or throw pillows will add a delicate pop of color. The colors don’t need to be extravagant or too vibrant, but some touch of color will prevent a neutral-toned space from looking bland or feeling stagnant.

It’s important to note that fabric colors do not need to be independent of the room’s design, the colors should complement, or bring together, the other colors of the walls, furniture, decor, and accessories in a balanced manner.

Wall Colors

Walls, either in bold or understated colors, can create such a dramatic look and feel to a room. However, the goal of integrating colorful walls into a design – full wall-to-wall or an accent wall – is to make sure it doesn’t become overwhelming and still ties in with the rest of the room’s color scheme.

Colorful, vivid walls can bring a powerful and cheerful vibe to a room as well as having the ability to complete a design. When working with rich, vibrant colors, however, make sure the walls don’t become too ‘loud’ or take the focus away from the overall design of the room.

Pastel or neutral colored walls can also be as equally powerful, but be sure to choose a wall color that will complement the whole room and that isn’t too closely matched to the furniture and decor colors, creating too much of one color in a single space.

Artwork

Artwork is another effective resource for bringing color into a space; it can be used to add to, or tie in with, the existing color scheme, or offer small dashes of color in a simply designed room.

Art can also be used to dictate what colors will be used, basing a room’s design around a chosen piece of art.

Either way you decide to integrate art will work as long as the art is compatible with the overall color scheme and design of the space.

Take time to explore what colors speak to you and your design. Once you find your inspiration piece the color scheme will become much more fluid – almost as if unfolding before you.