By Traci McBride
Surrounding yourself with colors that make you feel good is a gift that keeps giving. Color sparks energy, yet many of us play it safe, relying on neutral tones. I love my white couch, but I zhoosh it up with fresh, oversized green pillow covers trimmed with pom poms. It makes me happy.
Seasonal Switchups
Changing accessories and art to shades of green is a must-do for me this year; what color is for you? Each season triggers a rotation of our belongings. While my base remains the same, the supporting players get a refreshing rotation switch-out.
A passion I’ve followed for the past few decades is infusing the power of color in others’ lives, both in their spaces and wardrobes.
After visiting hundreds of homes and hearing from clients, friends and audience members at speaking engagements, I’ve heard plenty of color confessions. People don’t know where to begin or feel overwhelmed with options and ideas. Some worry that color will make their room look disjointed or clownish. Others are afraid to make wrong choices so waste time and money. Many have pinned colorful rooms on Pinterest yet never implemented the ideas into their homes. They lack the confidence to pull it off successfully.
Tips
Think of the most beautiful sunset you’ve ever seen; how did it make you feel? Could the colors be translated into your home decor?
Use art you already own and bounce those colors into the rest of the room where they are displayed. Repeating the pop of color in different shades of the same hue throughout the room and bringing it into other spaces in the home will create a flow. Use accessories, textures, paint, accent trim, and wallpaper to facilitate the connection.
Change the matting of your framed prints with a quick trip to Michaels craft store; they can cut any size with many options of both color and texture.
Consider pillow covers, vases and rugs. Color changes don’t need to cost much. Shop your home first; visit consignment and thrift shops to assemble everything else.
A common question is whether laying a rug on wall-to-wall carpeting is OK. Yes, it is OK. Not everyone has hardwood, and the carpet can be a quick, unifying way to pull a space together. Rugs create a warm, cozy space with dimension and punch of color.
For indoor rugs, let furniture mostly sit on the rug or at least the front two legs of the couches or chairs. Choose a thin rug on top of lower-profile carpeting. Add a thin gripper pad underneath to avoid shifting, and if the corners might be a tripping hazard, use corner carpet tape to secure them.
Outside
Patios and decks are places most of us use daily, so give these spaces love and colorful punches to magnify your relaxation and happiness.
Upscale your outdoor spaces by ditching the paper plates and plastic red Solo cups; add acrylic wine glasses and bold melamine plates.
Use outdoor rugs on the patio to add to the indoor feeling. Consider outdoor space as another room.
A color palette for cushions, pillows and plants streamlines to a lush, sophisticated style over a cluttered, busy one. Being intentional with color beats haphazardly adding random colors.
Creating a mood with color in your spaces and wardrobe will generate a ripple effect in every area of your life.
