Veronique Lavallee
Whether you have lived in your house for years and are looking to add colour without repainting, or you are one of the many military families that were posted this summer, (in which case I say to you “Congratulations on surviving another posting season!”), introducing colour to your house can make it feel like home.” With your spouse back to work and the kids back in school, you might have a little more breathing space to take on projects around the house.
Paint colour is one of the first things we notice. We either like it, or we don’t. Perhaps the paint color in your home is drab and lacks personality, or it is too dark, or you have painted your home a neutral colour intending not to repaint it before you are posted again. If you are looking to add colour, ideally you would just paint over the current color, but this is not always a feasible option. Perhaps you are renting, you do not have the budget, or let’s face it, it’s more than you can handle right now. Here are seven easy decorating tips to add color to your house without painting.
Tips: Mix any of the two options above and quickly remove the drab from your home. Limit the number of colors to two as to not overwhelm a room, or keep to one color scheme but a variety of different hues.
Wall Art
Hanging wall art adds pizazz to any space. People tend to get small pieces, but the larger the wall art, the better. Oversized art is a statement piece and draws the eye away from the wall colour. Artwork can be found anywhere in a home: over a couch, a fireplace, a headboard, a bathtub, or even an empty wall space. Before buying art, make sure to measure your furniture.
A good rule of thumb for proportions is two thirds to three-quarters of the furniture length, and to hang the art six to 12 inches above your furniture. If you feel the paint colour is too dark, purchase a light-coloured piece. A safe bet to lighten the space would be white art or art with a white frame. On the other hand, if you paint lacks luster, a vibrant art piece will add character immediately.
Throws
A throw is another easy way to bring colour into a space. To make a space more coherent, select a throw color in conjunction with your accent pillows. Or place a bold-patterned throw on its own at the foot of a bed, on an armchair, or on a couch for a punch of colour.
You can also roll some patterned throws in a large basket. Again, if your space is dark, go for a light throw. Similar to accent pillows, play with colour, pattern, and fabric to change the mood of a room.
Accent pillows
Accent pillows can add colour to a living room or bedroom instantly. Pillows don’t need to match, quite the opposite! You will get a more professional look by mixing up patterns and textures. To add dimension, mix patterned accent pillows with solid ones to break up the monotony. In order to avoid any pattern clash, try to have different size patterns (ex: large floral or intricate patterns), a second less-dominant pattern(ex: stripes or dots), and your last pattern would be the most subdued, like a solid.
You can also play with fabrics like faux fur, velvet, knit, and wool. By mixing pattern and texture, you can keep the same color theme. An odd number of pillows gives a more modern take on a space, while an even number is more traditional and gives symmetry to a couch or bed.
Plants
Plants add life to a room, but they also add colour and texture, whether they are green plants or flowering ones. Make sure to get advice on what type of plant will survive in your home according to light exposure and safety for kids and animals. The bigger the plant, the larger the impact, so if you have a large empty space, think of a large floor plant. If you have a small empty space on a table, shelf, or desk, remember that plants come in a variety of sizes.
Instead of filling an empty space with more furniture or accessories, plants are a great and natural option. If you have a black thumb, select a succulent or cacti, which are heartier plants and very much in style at the moment. If a live plant is not an option for you, many stores offer a selection of plastic ones, which you can then easily move to your next residence.
Furniture
Another way to add colour without painting is to add a brightly coloured piece of furniture, such as a chair, couch, or an ottoman. Use a solid colour or a bold patterned fabric in order to make a statement. Again, if you want to lighten your wall colour, go with a light-colored piece of furniture, such a white coffee table.
Tips: Mix any of the two options above and quickly remove the drab from your home. Limit the number of colors to two as to not overwhelm a room, or keep to one color scheme but a variety of different hues.
