Interior Design
10 Big-Impact Ways to Inject Colour Into Your Home
From colour on walls to subtle accessorising and oversized art, follow these tips for a cool take on colouring your interior with success
Let’s face it, unless you’re a minimalist master at heart (who can’t go beyond black and white), we could all do with a little more colour in our lives. Colours calm, stimulate, invigorate and energise us. They can have a powerful impact on our moods, both positive and negative too. That’s why it’s so important to choose the right mix of shades for your interior and always maintain a composed outlook by balancing out darker shades with light, neutral ones.
There’s something so alluring about a home that is tastefully done with a gorgeous colour palette to boot. Take these interiors for instance – each one is dressed with just the right amount of personality so that it provides the homeowners with a comfortable space they can call their own. Check out these 10 awesome ideas to transform your space into a colourful nirvana that will make your neighbours go green with envy.
There’s something so alluring about a home that is tastefully done with a gorgeous colour palette to boot. Take these interiors for instance – each one is dressed with just the right amount of personality so that it provides the homeowners with a comfortable space they can call their own. Check out these 10 awesome ideas to transform your space into a colourful nirvana that will make your neighbours go green with envy.
2. Defy conventional standards
Sometimes less is more but in this amazing apartment, more rules the day.
I love how the designer has combined two amazing elements: colour and a chevron print. The result is a gorgeous Missoni style interior that is bold and beautiful.
Clearly not for the faint-hearted though. I especially love the co-ordinated approach. Bespoke chevron cushions match the pouf and blend in amazingly with the bright coloured sofa as well. Stunning in my opinion, but definitely an acquired taste.
Sometimes less is more but in this amazing apartment, more rules the day.
I love how the designer has combined two amazing elements: colour and a chevron print. The result is a gorgeous Missoni style interior that is bold and beautiful.
Clearly not for the faint-hearted though. I especially love the co-ordinated approach. Bespoke chevron cushions match the pouf and blend in amazingly with the bright coloured sofa as well. Stunning in my opinion, but definitely an acquired taste.
3. Create drama with larger-than-life artwork
In my previous days as editor of a home decor magazine, lots of people used to ask me about having art in their homes. Because I’m a huge lover of art,
my answer always went back to utilising one massive piece (if that was all they could afford or had space for) to add character and a pop of colour.
That said, if you have a large or long wall to play with, adding massive colourful artworks on one long wall will achieve that stunning gallery style.
I especially love the quirky artwork in this home that gives it its defining character, while filling the space with a good dose of colour.
In my previous days as editor of a home decor magazine, lots of people used to ask me about having art in their homes. Because I’m a huge lover of art,
my answer always went back to utilising one massive piece (if that was all they could afford or had space for) to add character and a pop of colour.
That said, if you have a large or long wall to play with, adding massive colourful artworks on one long wall will achieve that stunning gallery style.
I especially love the quirky artwork in this home that gives it its defining character, while filling the space with a good dose of colour.
4. Vamp up the colour in your space by playing match up
So you’ve decided to colour one wall in a stunning shade of teal. Who says your love affair with this gorgeous shade has to end here?
One of my favourite ways to add intensity in a room is to coordinate with a rug in the same or similar colour. Choose a large-enough rug that will anchor the space well while giving your room that vavavoom!
It’s best to keep all the other walls fairly clean so you don’t overdo it, especially if your feature wall is in a deep or dark shade like the one in this home.
So you’ve decided to colour one wall in a stunning shade of teal. Who says your love affair with this gorgeous shade has to end here?
One of my favourite ways to add intensity in a room is to coordinate with a rug in the same or similar colour. Choose a large-enough rug that will anchor the space well while giving your room that vavavoom!
It’s best to keep all the other walls fairly clean so you don’t overdo it, especially if your feature wall is in a deep or dark shade like the one in this home.
5. Accessorise with a shade of your choice
If you’re nervous about using colour on your walls (or are renting and so painting a wall is out of the question), keep your walls neutral and add in an accent colour of your choice with wall art, cushions or other accessories like lamps. This is a subtle way to infuse colour, and allows you to change your theme whenever you feel like you need to, minus the hefty price tag or effort.
These teal blue accessories work perfectly in this bedroom while instantly adding a much needed sprinkling of colour to a white-walled home.
TIP: Opt for relaxing colours in the bedroom like muted blues or greens.
Add colour to your home without paint
If you’re nervous about using colour on your walls (or are renting and so painting a wall is out of the question), keep your walls neutral and add in an accent colour of your choice with wall art, cushions or other accessories like lamps. This is a subtle way to infuse colour, and allows you to change your theme whenever you feel like you need to, minus the hefty price tag or effort.
These teal blue accessories work perfectly in this bedroom while instantly adding a much needed sprinkling of colour to a white-walled home.
TIP: Opt for relaxing colours in the bedroom like muted blues or greens.
Add colour to your home without paint
6. Plant a vertical garden on one wall
They say having greenery inside your home has many benefits. Plants help to relax the eye and instantly inject a warm, relaxed feel unlike any other. Incorporating a vertical garden in your space is therefore one really awesome way to add a fresh take while injecting nature’s true colour into your space. Splash out with one entire wall in green or use flowering alternatives for a more vivid approach.
TIP: In case you’re a plant- killer like me though and just can’t seem to keep anything alive, fret not! You can always create a green wall with artificial potted plants instead. It won’t have the exact same effect but the green wall will still look amazing!
Bring the great outdoors into your apartment
They say having greenery inside your home has many benefits. Plants help to relax the eye and instantly inject a warm, relaxed feel unlike any other. Incorporating a vertical garden in your space is therefore one really awesome way to add a fresh take while injecting nature’s true colour into your space. Splash out with one entire wall in green or use flowering alternatives for a more vivid approach.
TIP: In case you’re a plant- killer like me though and just can’t seem to keep anything alive, fret not! You can always create a green wall with artificial potted plants instead. It won’t have the exact same effect but the green wall will still look amazing!
Bring the great outdoors into your apartment
7. Go bold with a multi-coloured approach
So you’re one of those brave individuals whose infatuation with colour is turning out to be a long-term commitment. Good on you!
This awesome home is awash with bright bursts from its energetic artwork, geometric rug and aubergine kitchen. And purple reigns (see my personal tribute to Prince there?)!
That said, it’s interesting to note that even though there’s lots of colour in one space, the main surfaces are kept neutral. Notice that walls and ceilings are white-washed except for the one feature wall, which is in a deep charcoal.
The best rule of thumb when using lots of hues is to ensure there are still surfaces that are void of colour.
This helps to balance out the bright bursts and tone down the look so it stays playful and doesn’t become gaudy.
Personally, I’m all for a playful space and believe that having this cheeky streak in your home can help to lighten the load of the daily grind anyway.
So you’re one of those brave individuals whose infatuation with colour is turning out to be a long-term commitment. Good on you!
This awesome home is awash with bright bursts from its energetic artwork, geometric rug and aubergine kitchen. And purple reigns (see my personal tribute to Prince there?)!
That said, it’s interesting to note that even though there’s lots of colour in one space, the main surfaces are kept neutral. Notice that walls and ceilings are white-washed except for the one feature wall, which is in a deep charcoal.
The best rule of thumb when using lots of hues is to ensure there are still surfaces that are void of colour.
This helps to balance out the bright bursts and tone down the look so it stays playful and doesn’t become gaudy.
Personally, I’m all for a playful space and believe that having this cheeky streak in your home can help to lighten the load of the daily grind anyway.
8. Inject a burst of energy with a piece of furniture in a sunny hue
When I was looking for furniture for my balcony, I specifically chose an outdoor swing and an awesome sunny yellow love seat like this one. The outdoor room is the perfect place to furnish with colour and you can jazz it up even more with an outdoor rug or some artificial turf.
Take this awesome occasional bench for instance. Even if you take away everything else in this space, the vivid yellow piece still makes an instant statement here.
Accessorise with outdoor cushions, a magazine and an ice cold drink and you’ve got the perfect spot for weekend reads.
When I was looking for furniture for my balcony, I specifically chose an outdoor swing and an awesome sunny yellow love seat like this one. The outdoor room is the perfect place to furnish with colour and you can jazz it up even more with an outdoor rug or some artificial turf.
Take this awesome occasional bench for instance. Even if you take away everything else in this space, the vivid yellow piece still makes an instant statement here.
Accessorise with outdoor cushions, a magazine and an ice cold drink and you’ve got the perfect spot for weekend reads.
9. Accessorise with one statement shade of your choice
Just because you love neutrals, doesn’t mean your home has to be bland and boring.
During my magazine styling days, I regularly had to source for accessories to help add colour to some homes that were lovely but just needed a little zing. As a general rule, I’d choose one stunning shade to vamp up the appeal, and coordinate cushions, rugs or other accessories. These sunshine yellow accessories, for instance, instantly add a much needed pop to a grey-walled home.
Just because you love neutrals, doesn’t mean your home has to be bland and boring.
During my magazine styling days, I regularly had to source for accessories to help add colour to some homes that were lovely but just needed a little zing. As a general rule, I’d choose one stunning shade to vamp up the appeal, and coordinate cushions, rugs or other accessories. These sunshine yellow accessories, for instance, instantly add a much needed pop to a grey-walled home.
10. Mosaic your bathroom walls and floor
Someone once told me that the best place to colour-drench your space is in the bathroom. Why? Because the bathroom is usually the smallest room in any home.
That said, choosing the right colour blend for your bathroom walls is integral because once you’ve applied tiles, it’s a pretty messy (and expensive) task if you change your mind.
For best results, choose a shade or theme that makes you feel relaxed and refreshed.
This awesome mosaic shower space is the perfect example of a bathroom that rocks its colour theme. Mosaics are utilised on one wall and continued onto the shower floor for that seamless, colour-intense look. The rest of the surfaces are left clean so the mosaics get your full attention.
TELL US
What awesome colour theme do you have in your space? Tell us your dream combo and how you achieved the look in the Comments box below.
MORE
Browse Colourful, Eclectic Homes
Bathroom Colour Schemes That Will Stand the Test of Time
Someone once told me that the best place to colour-drench your space is in the bathroom. Why? Because the bathroom is usually the smallest room in any home.
That said, choosing the right colour blend for your bathroom walls is integral because once you’ve applied tiles, it’s a pretty messy (and expensive) task if you change your mind.
For best results, choose a shade or theme that makes you feel relaxed and refreshed.
This awesome mosaic shower space is the perfect example of a bathroom that rocks its colour theme. Mosaics are utilised on one wall and continued onto the shower floor for that seamless, colour-intense look. The rest of the surfaces are left clean so the mosaics get your full attention.
TELL US
What awesome colour theme do you have in your space? Tell us your dream combo and how you achieved the look in the Comments box below.
MORE
Browse Colourful, Eclectic Homes
Bathroom Colour Schemes That Will Stand the Test of Time
So you’ve decided on mellow yellow for your walls. Instead of painting one wall as a feature as most people do, double the impact by drenching two walls in the same shade. Take this cheery dining room, for instance, which has two adjoining walls painted yellow for maximum impact.
Add in a gorgeous piece of art with tonal similarities for that million-dollar look.
TIP: A good way to unify different rooms within your home is to use one colour on all the walls. If you can’t resist using different shades – particularly for feature walls – then make sure these hues match tonally. In other words, just because you absolutely love colour doesn’t mean each room has to be painted a completely different shade.
It’s best to avoid clashing colours even if these are in different ends of your home as this creates chaos and can make a home feel disjointed. In this home, for instance, this rule would translate to the same yellow or a slight variation of this shade used in a different part of the house.