Brigid Arnott
Bright colours and bold statements are something many home-owners shy away from. While neutral colour palettes and white-washed interiors are considered timeless, bright colours can be just as long-lived when used smartly.
Colours are personal and emotionally charged, so make sure you pick shades that resonate with you, as you’ll have to live with them. Start off small and work your way up to big permanent colour changes around the home. Interior stylist Julia Green specialises in using colour, and has some excellent suggestions for working it into your home.
Tip One: Use the right colour for the space. If you want a calm retreat opt for a softer palette in calming colours rather than vibrant colours.
Tip Two: If you’re nervous about using colour, start by introducing brightly coloured foliage to your home. Live with it a while to see how it makes you feel, then if you love it you can add to it with other soft furnishings. For those nervous with colour, go slowly.
Tip Three: Cushions and textiles are an affordable way to inject colour into your home, and the beauty of them is that they’re easily movable, so that you can change up the colour accents into different spaces.
Tip Four: If you want to paint walls it’s wise to start with a patch test on the intended location and watch what it does as the light changes.
Tip Five: Artwork is a fabulous way to inject colour and personality into a space, and can inspire the rest of the palette of the room.
Tip Six: Colour requires a commitment of sorts. If you just dabble in one room, it may look disjointed. It’s best to spend time with tear sheets, decide on a few colours you love, and attempt to thread it through the home for a considered feel.
This article originally appeared on Better Homes and Gardens.
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