Affordable Ways to Add Colour to Your Home
Do you ever find yourself scrolling through Pinterest, seeing all of these beautiful spaces that have gorgeous pops of colour, and everything just seems to work so seamlessly, but when you apply it to your space, it doesn’t seem to quite look the way you want it to? I think most of us have been there, if I do say so myself. I’m by no means a certified, or educated interior designer or decorator, but I do love interior design, and I am an educated graphic designer - if you’re familiar at all with design, you know that whether you’re talking about graphic design, interior design, or just about any other kind of design, a lot of the basic principles all stem from the same “rules”, such as levels, texture, colour theory & everything in between.
In this blog post today, I hope to give you guys some tips & tricks, as well as share some of my design knowledge to help you figure out how to add those pops of colour that you’re searching for in your space. I want to start by sharing space-specific items, and follow it up with some general items & tips for you when you’re creating your dream space! Let’s start with the living room & bedroom (since they share a lot of similar items - I want to be comfy in both spaces!). Since I’m such a big pink-person, the colour featured in this blog post is going to be pink, however these same principles can be applied to any colour of your liking!
Bedroom & Living Room
Starting in the most comfortable spaces in your home — the bedroom & the living room! Some of the most affordable items to add a little pop of colour to the space would be with decorative pillows & throw blankets. If you’re invested in the colour scheme you’ve chosen, you can even spend a bit more and get some nice sheets for the bed, or a duvet cover/comforter for your bedroom. In the living room, instead of buying a couch in a bold colour, opt for a slip-cover so it can be changed if you change your mind about your colour choice, or just if it needs a good wash.
Kitchen & Dining
The kitchen can be a place where you may wonder exactly the best ways to add pops of colour, especially since the era of the all-white kitchen seems to be coming to an end. As always, one of the cheapest home-improvements you can make is with paint, so either painting your kitchen walls, or even the cabinetry, you can make a bold statement. However, it is a little more tedious to swap out. For something more affordable, go with colourful dishware, towels, napkins and other decor around the kitchen like flower vases and oven mitts.
Home Office
If you ask me, the home office is one of the spaces you can have the most fun with. It’s probably the easiest & most affordable to switch up, and you can really get into this space to truly reflect you, and inspire you while working. A more affordable option to add some colour is with a funky lamp, or even an office chair – it can really add some personality and boldness to the space. If you want to invest a bit more, an area rug could be a fun way to add that colour you’re looking for.
General + Tips & Tricks!
Now, my personal favourite section – my tips & tricks, as well as general items that can apply to multiple areas of your home. Let’s start with my tips and tricks for getting a colourful space.
If you’re like me, and change your mind about colours and styles you like all the time, avoid buying investment pieces like a bed frame or couch in a colour. Instead, get a neutral colour, and add colour with things like blankets & pillows.
Swappable items are always going to be your friend. Instead of getting a pillow that’s stuffed, get an insert and pillow cover, then when you want to switch it up, you just change the cover. This makes for easier storage & more options (especially during holidays when you may want some holiday-themed items). This also applies to things like duvet covers & digital downloads for wall art.
Lastly, but certainly not least, you don’t just have to stick to one colour. Mix it up with differing colour palettes (monochromatic, complimentary, etc – use a colour theory chart or website to help you figure out what looks good together!), and switch it up with different patterns & textures as well to add some dimension to your space.
1. Curtains · 2. Wall Art · 3. Area Rug · 4. Faux Flowers · 5. Accent Pillow · 6. Throw Blanket · 7. Wall Paint · 8. Scented Candle
To finish off this super lengthy blog post, here are some of my personal favourite general items to use throughout the home and work in a bunch of different spaces. Like I mentioned above, accent pillows are a great item to add some colour, but so are throw blankets! They’re on the more affordable side (when you consider how much furniture and reupholstery costs), and can also add some nice texture. Don’t forget to dress up your walls with some wall art, especially if you’ve got a more neutral colours like white, beige or maybe even grey or black throughout your home. Another item that is also affordable, but not in the above photo, is planters! If you’re a plant-lover like me, get yourself some colourful (and maybe even textured) planters for your babies to not only make ‘em look cute, but help make your space look cute too.
If you read all of that, firstly, I’d like to say wow! That’s impressive. Even I’m getting sick of my blabbing, hahaha. And secondly, thank you for reading along. I hope this post provided you with some insight on how to create a more colourful space in an affordable way, and especially if you change your mind all the time (I can relate). See you again on Friday for a new blog post!
* Note: Some links above are commissionable links.
