Uplift Your Space With a Radiant and Colorful Color Scheme
Whether it’s repainting your walls or hanging art, adding color is one of the easiest ways to transform a room. The key is to select shades that are both eye-catching and compatible with your current color scheme.
Paint Your Walls
Painting your walls can be a labor of love, but the payoff can be huge. The right color can transform a room from blah into uplifting and inspiring.
The rule of thumb is that light shades make a space look bigger, while dark shades can visually shrink it. However, this doesn’t mean that a bold shade of red might not work in your home. Before you commit, paint a 4-by-4-foot swatch on a wall and live with it for several days to see how it responds to the quality of natural or artificial light as well as competing elements such as upholstery.
If you’re looking for a soft and soothing color, consider lilac. The 2014 Pantone color of the year, this hue is said to induce confidence and happiness. It’s a versatile shade that can be used in various ways to create an interesting and unexpected color-blocked wall.
Hang Artwork
Artwork and framed prints can make your space more radiant and colorful. When hung correctly, art enhances your room and brings the décor together. But hanging artwork can often feel overwhelming because of the number of options for size, orientation, and frame color.
On an unobstructed wall, the center of your framed art should be at eye level for most people. For rooms with low ceilings (8 feet or less), you may need to hang your artwork lower.
A grid of smaller frames can be a more cost-effective way to fill a large stretch of the wall than a single larger piece. When you use the same frame color, it can add a cohesive look to your gallery wall. You can also try using a mix of portrait and landscape-oriented prints like Justine did up her staircase wall.
Leave Your Windows Unobstructed
Leaving your windows unobstructed and using natural materials such as wooden furniture and wicker baskets are two easy ways to add earthy elements to a room. This look creates a serene space and can be used in any color scheme.
Adding a colorful pendant can be a great way to bring some dimension and interest to a living room or dining room. The best part is that pendants are an easy, low-commitment accessory that you can swap out as the trends change.
If you’re not ready to make a big commitment to Radiant Orchid, try painting the ceiling a cool shade of pink or purple. You can use a color like fuchsia that is easily changed out as the seasons change or even by the next trend! Just be sure to choose a paint with a high level of sheen.
Add a Mirror
The right mirror can brighten a room and make it feel more spacious without requiring any other changes. If your space has a window that only lets in a tiny amount of sunlight, for instance, a strategically placed mirror can reflect that light into the rest of the room and minimize the need for artificial lighting.
Similarly, a large mirror can enhance a wall-mounted chandelier or other light fixture by reflecting the color throughout the room. This also works well for a piece of furniture or rug that you’ve chosen to serve as a focal point, enlarging and amplifying its appeal.
A mirror can also add texture to a room by reflecting the pattern on the fabric of your toss pillows or rugs. This is especially useful in transitional rooms that feature both patterned and solid fabrics.
Plump Up Your Throw Pillows
Pillows give room comfort and coziness, and they can help to tie together the colors, patterns, textures, and style of the space. Throw pillows are also a great way to add a pop of color that can be easily changed out when you get tired of it.
It’s generally a good idea to follow the “Rule of Three” for pillow combinations – one large pattern, two small/simple prints, and one solid color. However, rules are made to be broken, so experiment until you find a combination that works for you.
Bold colors like Radiant Orchid can work well with neutrals and earth tones when used in accent pieces like throw pillows, rugs, and other accessories. The key is to keep them in the right proportion, so they don’t overtake the rest of the room.
Maximize the Light in Your Room
Natural light is a room’s best friend, as it boosts moods and saves on energy costs. However, even if your home has ample windows, it’s important to make sure the space is properly lit to avoid shadowy dark areas and claustrophobic spaces.
Luckily, there are many ways to brighten up your room with minimal cost. For starters, opt for furniture and decor that are lighter in color as these surfaces will help to reflect more sunlight around the space.
You can also use room dividers with shiny or mirror surfaces to help spread natural light around the room and make it feel larger and airier. Just be sure to angle these dividers so they don’t block your windows completely. Instead, they should be perpendicular to the window and wall for maximum light diffusion. Then, add in a few lamps to further enliven your home with beautiful light.
Avoid Fixtures That Act as Focal Points
A focal point is a feature that draws the eye and sets the tone for a room. Some common focal points include fireplaces, windows, and showy light fixtures.
However, not every focal point should be the main one in a room. Piling too much drama onto one area can leave a space feeling lopsided. Instead, consider using color to help balance multiple focal points.
For example, an accent wall can emphasize a painting or piece of furniture without making it the most dominant feature. Similarly, you can use a bright color on the ceiling to draw attention to a bare wall. A variety of textures and patterns can also energize a space, as can contrasting heights — like when a tall mirror frames a low sofa or chair.
Add a Plant
Unlike last year’s Emerald, which is best used as an accent or in small amounts, Pantone’s Radiant Orchid is bold enough to make a statement on its own. If you’re feeling courageous, consider painting a feature wall in this purple hue. If you’re less adventurous, try using an area rug or upholstered furniture in a shade of Radiant Orchid. For instance, a toss pillow made from a suzani fabric (which features a floral pattern that incorporates shades of Radiant Orchid) adds an on-trend pop of color.
Adding plants can improve indoor air quality by regulating humidity and absorbing carbon dioxide, which can lead to fatigue and headaches. Plants can also help boost mood by increasing concentration and awareness. One study found that employees in offices with plants were more productive than those in offices without them.
Create a Gallery Wall
A gallery wall can help you steer the eye to the focal point of a space. Whether it’s your favorite art pieces or family photos, grouping them together in a gallery display creates an authentic and bespoke style that speaks to you. If symmetry is your thing, try measuring your pieces to get even spacing.
If symmetry isn’t your style, try mixing up your gallery with different frame sizes for an eclectic look. Or, opt for a uniform approach by using matching frames to create a cohesive statement. You can also hang things other than framed artwork – for example, hanging plates is a great way to add patterns to a space (we love this idea from Homesense).
Add a Touch of Color
Painting your walls is a major project, but there are other ways to introduce color to your space without the fuss. Adding colorful accessories or updating the shade of your lamps is a great way to refresh a room without all the mess and stress of a paint job.
When introducing a new color scheme to your home, you can create a natural flow of colors throughout your rooms by using upholstery fabric, window treatments, furniture finishes, and rugs in different hues. For example, if you choose a mid-tone blue for the seat fabric of your living room sofa, consider repeating this color in smaller degrees as accents such as pillow and throw pillows, table linens, or even lamp shades in adjoining spaces.
Interior designers often talk about the fact that colors don’t have to match, they just need to work together. You can also introduce color through art, accessories, and plants that add personality and beauty to your home.