Makeover Monday: Insider Tips, Tricks & Expert Advice

“Color creates moods — think of a serene aqua bathroom, a cheery yellow breakfast nook, or a kid’s room done in energetic primary hues. The optimistic colors found in this assortment of rooms are guaranteed to brighten your mood!” Here are a handful of ways to refresh the rooms in your home with color that I found from Better Homes and Gardens.

Accessorize with Color
“So you love pink (or purple or orange or red) but you’re scared to paint the walls your favorite hue, or invest in a boldly colored $2,000 sofa. Don’t worry; hot color is actually more powerful against a subtle ground. Just choose a few colorful accessories and place them throughout the room in a pattern that’s pleasing to the eye. Here, the focal-point floral pillow creates a visual triangle with the lampshade and vase on the mantel.”

High Contrast
“A surefire way to make any color pop is to showcase it against black and white. There’s only one color in this kitchen — blue — and there isn’t much of it, but boy, does it make a statement! The end wall is the key to this chic space: the wallpaper combines blue and white, with touches of beige found on the floor, while the bench ties in the black cabinets.”

It’s All in the Accessories

“Wouldn’t this colorful nook be a happy spot from which to launch your day? Looking closely, the space is really very neutral, with white and beige furniture, and walls that just whisper of yellow. The vignette’s outgoing personality stems from the fresh blue, red, pink, and green accents strewn across the surfaces.”

Add Some Spice

“Adhere too strictly to a color scheme and your room runs the risk of looking as flat as a model home. This trendy workspace was inspired by the terrific modern rug and its blue and green color combo, which is repeated throughout the room. But the eye immediately lands on the smattering of orange accessories that punctuate the space, adding depth and contrast.”

Limelight

“Imagine this room with exactly the same furniture and accessories — except the bed frame is stained brown or painted white. Sure, the bedding is still chic and there’s the stylish striped bench, but the space would have no oomph, no attitude. Sometimes all a room needs is one bold stroke of color for it to morph from dreary to dramatic.”

from: Better Homes and Gardens by Doug Hansen