Bold Color: Yes You Can!
Get ideas for lots of vibrant color around the house from 5 fearless designers and homeowners
One 2012 design trend that stands out is bringing bright bold color into your home. Make a departure from all-white and safe neutrals — you can save those for restful spaces like your bedroom. As for the rest of the house, bring in an exuberant rainbow. Here's a look at five homes we've toured that paved the way.
Browse bold, colorful home photos
Browse bold, colorful home photos
1. It gets dark very early on winter nights in Newfoundland, so people fight off the blues with, well, really bright blues all over the interior.
CapeRace Cultural Adventures has carefully restored and revived a series of cottages in the area that they rent out for authentic cultural experiences.
In rooms where walls are white or off-white, antiques collected from the region get fresh coats of cheerful and bright paint.
See the rest of this house and learn more about cultural adventures in Newfoundland
See the rest of this house and learn more about cultural adventures in Newfoundland
2. Accessories designer Tamar Schechner has no fear when it comes to spreading the color around her Vermont home. This vibrant entryway through a bright pink door lets you know you're in for lots of colorful treats.
Her creative eye took her straight to the stairs with a bucket of lively green paint.
If you're reluctant to dip into color, keep your investment pieces like a sofa neutral and add bright accessories like throw pillows and hyacinths.
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See the rest of this house
3. Speaking of reluctantly dipping your toes into color, Tara Seawright had to bring her clients around to color one tone at a time. She kept a blank white slate in the background and added color with replaceable pieces like these pillows, chairs and artwork.
A shower curtain is one of the easiest ways to change up the look in a bathroom; this one brings in pops of reds, oranges, yellows and blues.
Fashion is a good way to bring color into your home. Lots of people who are fearless with their sartorial choices don't know how to bring that attitude to their furnishings. Kartell Mademoiselle Chairs in a bold Missoni floral bring wardrobe boldness to a dining table.
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See the rest of this house
4. In this unique house in Colorado, interior designer Andrea Shumacher mixed in the client's antique collection with new pieces and infused them with lots of color.
In the kitchen, a custom wallpaper by Stark and a jewel-toned island are a departure from the all-white kitchen we're used to seeing paired with white cabinets and marble countertops.
A mix of colorful and collected pillows enlivens this comfortable corner.
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See the rest of this house
5. When interior designer Shirely Meisels first met this home, it was all builder's beige and rather boring. She amped the home not only with color, but also with bold prints and fabulous lighting choices.
When the owners decided to put a piano in this piece's designated spot downstairs, it did not go to waste. Meisels had it sprayed bubble gum pink and moved it upstairs to the owners' young daughter's room.
Using bold color at home does not mean you have to have it everywhere. The kitchen in this home is fairly neutral; color was brought in via elements like this plate arrangement.
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More:
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See more bold, colorful spaces
See the rest of this house
More:
6 Homes and Studios Where Creativity Happens
6 Favorite Family-Friendly Homes
Dream Spaces: 5 Seriously Glamorous Homes
See more bold, colorful spaces