5 Ways to Add Interior Color Without Paint

Color can set a mood, especially when it comes to one’s home. For many, the idea of committing to a set color palette and actually rolling on paint can be intimidating. Here are 5 ways to color your world without visiting the paint store.



Fabric - In areas such as living rooms and family rooms, the use of lively throw pillows, deeply colored or soft-hued draperies, and upholstered pieces is a no-brainer. For foyers and dining rooms, rugs and table runners are also established solutions for brightening up a room. Since beds themselves take up most of the bedroom’s space, using colorful linens, quilts, and spreads can work wonders. For a tranquil tone, think soft, monochromatic shades and for cheery or cozy, choose colorful patterns or prints. If your home has high ceilings, fabric covered cornices are yet another way to pump up the color.



Potted Plants - Whether you use live plants, cut flowers, or natural, dried arrangements, strategically placed pots and plant stands can be an effective means to bring color to an interior space. When it comes to pots, containers, and vases, there are choices to fit every style, taste, and budget. From the artful to the dramatic, you’re sure to find it, and the search will be half the fun. For clear glass containers or vases, consider using colored stones or marbles. The use of Asian, Italian, or Mexican pottery can help initiate both color and style.



Art - Of course framed art is what comes to mind in this context. However, in addition to traditional wall art, there are so many more ways to bring in color. Liven up a room’s ambiance with decorative screens, framed wallpaper panels, and fabric stretched onto a canvas frame. Large pieces and carefully placed groups of such items work wonders for drab, colorless corners. Collect wall or tabletop frames that are the same shades in varying sizes and group them together for a vibrant display. Finally, decorative wall decals and rub on murals are a new, easy, and fun way to add colorful art to your walls.



Accessories - When using accessories to accentuate a room with color, it’s best to remember that tried and true decorating rule, "less is more". Keeping it simple is also something to remember when using decorative objects. After you decide which colors you’d like to accent, think about achieving it with functional pieces rather than those that are purely decorative. Consider lamps, bookends, candlesticks, and trays, and other items that serve a purpose, rather than ceramic doo dads and cutesy bric a brac.



Lighting - Natural light is preferable and will enhance your home’s interior colors or lack thereof! It is amazing how natural light can enhance or change certain colors depending on the time of day and direction of the sun. Another way to improve color is with colored bulbs and LED lights. Whether you use them often or occasionally, experiment with different ones, to discover what works best. Small strands of twinkle lights like those used at Christmas are another option. Drill a hole in the base of a large glass urn, fill it with colored lights and viola you’ve created a unique sculptural accent!



Need more ideas? Check out a few books from the library; pick up a few decorating magazines, or surf the Web. Also, as you contemplate which colors you want to bring out, select one or two special pieces, like a painting or rug, and go with the colors that inspire and invigorate you.



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Lisa Andree is a marketing professional who helps real estate and mortgage companies promote their brands and products such as 30 year jumbo mortgage loans and 7 year jumbo ARM mortgages online.