Color Curious

Vibrance, saturation, richness. More and more, you see interiors of beige and boucle taking a backseat to homes that are rich in color. I have, admittedly, largely lived in the neutral camp. For my personal spaces, I appreciate environments that are compelling but generally bring a sense of peace. 

Yet despite my natural leanings, I’ll be honest with you: I find myself color curious. The beauty of personal style is that it evolves and matures. It isn’t supposed to be stationary. So when that inner voice perks up and says, “Hey, that's interesting.” Listen. Explore. In interiors as in life, the only way you evolve and improve is if you’re willing to try new things that are outside your comfort zone.

If you’re a kindred spirit who is unsure but interested, I wanted to share a few ways you can calmly dip your toe into the color wheel. Don’t love it? No harm done. You can retreat back down Beige Boulevard any day. The fun part of design is creativity and curiosity, and the only rule is: listen to what resonates with you. So let’s jump in, shall we?

4 Ways to Experiment with Color

1. Start small

While I typically appreciate the bold gesture, in this case it can be expensive and time-consuming to implement and reverse. So before you paint your walls ox-blood red and invest in that saffron sofa, start small. Pillows, throws, lamps, glassware, vases. Pick a few items that are more affordable and easier to change out. Incorporate them amongst your beige bedfellows.

One of the things you’re determining here is if you’re chasing the color craze because it’s “cool” or because it’s truly compelling. Don’t love it immediately? Sit with it a while and see if it grows on you. A lot of things we end up loving in life are acquired tastes. The same could be true here.

2. Don’t pop

Is there a more famous interior phrase than “pop of color?” If I had a dollar, right? But common as it may be, it’s bad advice here. Pops are bold, isolated, a little too strong. Instead, especially if you’re not drawn to loud design, you want to incorporate color in a way that it travels through the room. You don’t want your color to feel random, but balanced and cohesive.

To accomplish that, have it meander throughout your space, making an appearance in a few elements. From pillow stripes and book covers to lamp shades, let each piece quietly join the conversation so the color permeates, not pops.

3. Try one room first

Pick one room and start there. This is valuable because, like point #1, you don’t want to jump in headfirst if you’re unsure you like to swim. Revamping your whole home colorfully is an unnecessary, grand gesture.

But secondly, trying one room first gives you the benefit of comparing how rooms rich in color make you feel in contrast to rooms that are grounded in neutrality. Maybe you’ll find there are spaces, like your living room, where you love the liveliness, but other spaces, like your bedroom, where you want to maintain tranquility. Listen to how you respond to the environment and design accordingly.

5. Slide the scale

The color-usage I find myself most drawn to in interiors isn’t bold or bright, but saturated and soft. It still evokes that sense of calm, but brings an added layer of intimacy and character. It’s also often not the predominant feature of the room, but plays second fiddle.

When it comes to design concepts that are “trending,” it isn’t an all or nothing deal. You can and should take from the trend what resonates with you and apply it accordingly.

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