Video:How to Add Color to a Room

Transcript:How to Add Color to a Room

Hi, my name is Greg Dunlop with About.com and as a professional interior designer, I frequently get asked about color. People want to know how to use it, what colors to pick, and where to put it. Well, I'm here to tell you what all designers know – there's no hard and fast rule. There's no right answer.

Use Paint to Color a Room

The first way to insert color into your living space is through paint. Whether you want bold, rich colors or soothing, muted colors (show palettes) painting a room is a great way to bring color into your home. It's also an easy "do it yourself" project with some basic supplies and a little bit of elbow grease.

My first suggestion is to bring your paint samples to the room you want to paint and look at the colors at different times throughout the day. Light affects color in a dozen ways so look at some of your favorites in the morning, the afternoon, and at night with lights on. A soft yellow might turn into a mustard color at night when the sun goes down.

Use Paint Colors Creatively

Also, be creative about how you use paint colors. If there's a dark color that you love but worry it's too bold or could overpower the room, try anchoring painting just one wall and go neutral or muted on the other walls. Take a look at this kitchen that I painted – it has a rich terra cotta color seen from the dining room but a neutral khaki color on the other walls. I decided to make a bold statement in the neighboring half bath by painting all four walls AND the ceiling in the same dark color.

OK, so a painting project might be more work than you're ready for. Don't worry - there are a lot of other ways to bring color into your home and they can be found in basic everyday things.

Add Colorful Objects to a Room

Here are some things that I've collected over the years that help me integrate color into my home. A plate I brought back from Italy, a vase that belonged to my grandmother, some basic pillar candles in a variety of sizes, and some books that I've been collecting since college. As you think about decorating with color, consider groups of three. It creates some visual interest and looks better than one item sitting by itself.

Insert Color With Pictures

Also, try using photographs to bring some color into a room. These days digital cameras allow each of us the chance to experiment, so go outside and take some close up shots of flowers in your yard or the city you live in. Take these photos as examples: I took this picture at a flower stall in Rome, this series is of a castle in Spain, and this one is a close up of an iron fence at a church. Don't be afraid to blow up the photo to a bigger size either. Take a look at some pictures from your last vacation or family reunion and I promise you that there will be some great color in there to enhance any space.

Paint Furniture for Color

Some other great ways to decorate your space and bring in some color is to paint an old piece of furniture. Here's a project that I'm in the middle of – I bought this old chair for $10 at an antique fair, stripped the old stain off of it and I'm going to paint it a really cool color. I did the same thing with an old mirror that my mom bought at a garage sale when I was a kid and it still hangs in my guest room today.

Bring Color Into a Room With Nature

And finally, what better way to bring color into your home than with nature? I bought these flowers at the supermarket and stuck them in a couple of simple glass vases. Nothing too fancy but it was a quick way to bring in some color. Fake flowers can help you do the same thing and, obviously, last longer.

So, we've talked about painting a room to bring a dramatic change in color to your space while also looking at some simple things that can be colorful and easy to work with. What's the bottom line? Don't be afraid of color and experiment with colors you like. Remember, there's no "right" answer with color. If you like it – that's all that matters.