How To Embrace Color After Living In A Sea of Neutrals

As a textile company, we don’t discriminate when it comes to style. We appreciate the classic look of black and white, bold colors, and everything in-between. 

Design trends have leaned toward neutral tones over the last few years, ranging from modern to traditional interiors. We have loved incorporating layers of creams and texture in the last few years, but we’re beginning to change our tune. If you too fell in love with this trend, then you’re likely living in a very crisp and clean feeling environment.

We can’t help but admire those who commit to a style and run with it. Recently, we’ve been admiring the rainbow-hued interiors of those who never gave up on their love of color. From colorful walls to brightly painted furniture and dramatic patterns, we’re excited to see more people embrace variety again!

Inspired By Bold Colors

When we first started seeing colorful interiors trend again, it was a bit shocking to the system. After all, we have been enjoying the soothing tones of cream, white, tan, and black for a few years now. Over the last few years, seeing a pop of red was shocking, and bright color combinations felt unfamiliar and unexpected. While we will always feel connected to the serene feeling of a neutral home, we were getting a bit bored. 

If we’re being honest, the colorful interiors are growing on us, but it’s going to take some time to warm up to the all-out rainbow explosion. We want the coziness of color and visual interest of contrast. So how do we navigate the shift from neutral to color? Moving from the world of black and white to living color can feel challenging, but we’ve got some ideas on how you can start. 

Take Inventory 

Did you happen to hold onto any colorful home decor when you switched to neutral home decor in 2019? 

Take a look at what you already have on hand and put it on display again! Dig deep into your storage closet, drawers, or anywhere else you’d store items from design trends passed. 

Once you’ve gathered the items you’d like to rework into your home, think about where they could fit within your home. Keep in mind color, design style, and what you’d like the result to look like. 

Are there any neutral items in your home that you’d like to update with bold colors? Which of your home decor items could use an update? Maybe your sofa needs to be reupholstered or the curtains in your bedroom need a refresh?

Shopping for new furniture, decor or fabric can be a bit overwhelming. By taking note of what you already have or need improvement on, you can more clearly see which areas of your home would benefit from an update. If you already have a list of wants and needs then it will be easier to make thoughtful changes over time. 

Balance of Bold Colors

When you’re working with a blank slate, adding touches of color can seem very dramatic at first. If you have one piece of orange decor in one room and a green item in another, the overall design can feel random or choppy. That’s unless, of course, you’re going for the one-color-per-room style, in which case we say go for it!

If you’re looking for more of a seamless look, take note of the colors you want to use and consider how you can incorporate them in each area of your home. This process can take time, so don’t stress having a finished look. 

Gather Ideas

There’s a reason interior designers work with mood boards and inspiration images; they work! 

We can pin photos on Pinterest all day but curating a small group of images or ideas will help pinpoint your desired aesthetic. 

As you curate more items and make minor adjustments over time, you can refer back to the mood board and make sure you’re on track to achieve your design goals.

When looking for mood board inspiration, consider what you feel most drawn to in a space. This can be somewhat difficult for design lovers because we tend to appreciate it all! Just because you can admire a modern kitchen doesn’t necessarily mean you want one for yourself. 

Tap into what you love most about the places you’ve visited, traveled to, or stayed in. What about them did you enjoy most? Was it the layered rugs in the hotel lobby or bright vinyl upholstery? Include these ideas and preferences in your mood board, so you have them when sourcing items to add to your home. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when building your design mood board:

  • Which bold colors am I most drawn to? 
  • What do I have in my space now that I don’t really love?
  • Which colors work well with my preferred design style?
  • Does this color or piece of decor bring me closer to my desired design aesthetic?
  • What colors would work well with my existing colorful home decor?
  • What places have I visited that had beautiful interior design?
  • Where in my home do I want to add color?

Inspiration Is Everywhere

We like to look for design influences outside of social media when in doubt. If you’re feeling stuck, turn off your phone and take a walk to enjoy nature or admire local architecture. You can also never go wrong with a trip to your local art museum, library, or performing arts center. 

Think outside the box when it comes to inspiration! You don’t have to upholster your sofa in green velvet just because everyone else on Pinterest is. We each have strong connections and memories to bold colors. This is a great way to decide which colors to incorporate into your home! 

Having a longstanding memory associated with a particular color makes decorating even more special.

These are a few ideas to consider when looking for color inspiration:

  • What color do you associate with a happy childhood memory?
  • How does color affect your mood? 
  • What colors make you think of your favorite people?
  • Where do you enjoy seeing color in other people’s homes? 
  • Does any particular color symbolize happiness or success for you?

Having an emotional connection to color doesn’t have to make logical sense. All that matters is that you enjoy the color and what it brings to your home. If blue kitchen cabinets remind you of baking Christmas cookies with your grandmother every year then consider doing the same in your own space!

Q & A

Question: How do I add bold colors to my home if all I have are neutral pieces? 

Answer: Take a look at what colors you like to wear, the color of flowers you enjoy, or even the colors your favorite brands like to use. These can be good touchpoints to use as inspiration for adding color to your home. 

Question: I don’t love color but think it looks lovely mixed with neutral home decor. How do I add color without it taking over?

Answer: Begin adding color by using muted tones. These can be dusty oranges, pastel blues, or deep greens. If you’re feeling good about adding muted colors and want to continue to branch out, slowly incorporate more saturated hues. The more saturated the color, the more it stands out.

Question: Is colorful home decor a trend that will go away soon?

Answer: We believe that color is here to stay! Trends will come and go but having a space that reflects your style will last longer. With that, we encourage you to only bring items into your home that you love.  

Question: What if I want to ditch neutrals altogether and fully embrace a rainbow interior? 

Answer: We say go for it! There’s something so refreshing about switching up your interior, like getting a new hairstyle or starting a new job! Making drastic changes in your home decor is exciting and fun. 

Bold Colors Galore!

The best part about being in the design industry is seeing trends cycle from fashion to interiors and beyond. While we know not everyone is looking to have their home reflect the bold colors of the rainbow, something is exciting about pushing the boundaries of our design comfort zone. 

There are a million ways to incorporate color into your design aesthetic. Whether you’re running out to buy cans of colorful paint or choose to admire color from afar, we hope you enjoyed learning more about how to embrace color in a sea of neutrals. 

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