The Easiest Ways to Warm Up Any Room
Decorating with bold reds, fiery oranges and juicy pinks doesn't have to be intimidating. Here are eight bright ideas for incorporating color into your space.
They say painting a small room white can make it look larger, but ask anyone who's ever spent a winter in a bare-walled dorm room how that worked out for them. Instead, follow color consultant Leatrice Eiseman's advice: "Why not have a sense of humor and paint it a bright or deep color?"
If you're still worried about overwhelming the space, use a vibrant hue on only one wall and set it off with a white border.
Photo: Zach DeSart, designed by Celerie Kemble
You don't always have to think big. Colorful accent pillows can be as lively and refreshing as freshly cut flowers—and they don't require water.
Photo: Thomas Loof, Styling: Tristam Steinberg
When you're working in a room with a lot of natural light, experiment with multiple shades of a single color and see how they look at different times of day, suggests interior designer Antonia Hutt.
A bright customized static-cling window decal is a clever way to take advantage of natural light in a bathroom while maintaining privacy.
"Orange can be difficult to work with if you're using it in a big way," says decorator John Loecke. "But as an accent, it gives the room a lively punch."
Photo: Thomas Loof, Styling: Tristam Steinberg
Color is something you feel. Bold hues are usually stimulating, but with a soft lighting scheme, they can be soothing as well.
Energize a room with a neutral palette by adding a single colorful item, like a pink bedspread.
Next: A design expert reveals 3 ways to transform any room
Published 09/20/2012
