Colour: 9 Ways to be Brave With Colour

Before you think colour just isn’t for you, take a look at these modern, fresh and – yes – sophisticated schemes

11 September 2014
Meet Mila, entrepreneur and founder of The Luxury Code Interior Design. Mila has been in the Interior Design industry for over six years splitting her time between curating design content and Business Coaching and Mentoring. Through studying Interior Design Mila learned so much about how to design and style spaces to cater to the clients' preferences and choices and remain in-keeping with the latest trends and long-term, timeless fashions. Mila works out of her own home that she shares with her fiancée of 10 years Carlos, her 3-year-old daughter Theadora and her 6-year-old beagle Dash.
Meet Mila, entrepreneur and founder of The Luxury Code Interior Design. Mila has... More
Comment3
Click "Embed" to display an article on your own website or blog.
Let’s be honest, colour – especially bold brights – can be a bit scary. How much easier it is to go for neutrals. But colour can really lift a home out of the ordinary and give it a modern update. It can help to wake up a plain room or highlight a centrepiece feature. From a simple hit of a saturated shade to a careful mix of zingy brights, slotting in strong hues is more effective – and easier – than you might think. Take a look at these 10 schemes and see whether any catch your eye, then start exploring the colour wheel.
Contemporary Bathroom by Yorkshire Design Associates
Yorkshire Design Associates
Dive into turquoise
With its ocean associations, blue is a natural choice in a bathroom, but some shades can be on the cold side. This turquoise immediately says warm tropical waters, and gives this neutral scheme a serene, escapist mood. Choose a rich matt emulsion to give the colour depth and flank it with white to really highlight its beauty.
Tropical Living Room by John David Edison Interior Design Inc.
John David Edison Interior Design Inc.
Restrict your palette
Despite the apparent riot of colour in this room, there are actually only three brights at play. Restricting your palette like this allows you to use colour everywhere without it overwhelming the room. The other key decorating trick here is the use of black, which anchors the scheme and links all the elements together.
Contemporary Living Room by Niki Papadopoulos
Niki Papadopoulos
Boost with a single bright
Nervous of adding colour to a sophisticated grey and white scheme? Choose just one delicious bright and use the same shade in several places to add warmth in a cool way. Imagine this room without the purple – it would be colder and have less depth. Other colours that work beautifully with grey include yellow, chartreuse, cerise and turquoise.
Contemporary Living Room by Nicole White Designs Interiors LLC
Nicole White Designs Interiors LLC
Warm with orange and purple
Burnt orange and palatinate purple are, in theory, clashing colours, but, as this image shows, they actually make great partners. The purple adds an elegant note to this grey sofa, while orange is energising and lifts the mood of the room. They both add richness – especially in velvet – and do their best work in north-facing rooms.
Eclectic Kids by Love Your Room LLC
Love Your Room LLC
Build on stripes
Stripes are a great way to introduce several shades into a scheme, as you can see at a glance which colour combinations appeal to you. Picking out the hues in this wallpaper for the furniture and soft furnishings has helped to create a colourful scheme that really hangs together. This purple bed linen might not have seemed the perfect partner for a teal chest of drawers, for instance, but the colours look so pleasing together in the wallpaper, it was a safe bet they would make a great team.


Explore 10 ways with a striped wall
Modern Living Room by Watermark & Company
Watermark & Company
Add a riot in one rug
One feature can be enough to bring in lots of colours. This rug introduces a rainbow of shades and acts as a cheerful centrepiece in an otherwise calm, neutral room. It’s a movable feast, too, and could easily be swapped for something plainer to change the mood.
Contemporary Kitchen by Roundhouse
Roundhouse
Say yes to a little zest
The kitchen splashback is a classic place to use colour, allowing you to introduce a bold shade without a big commitment. This orange glass splashback gives the all-white scheme a little zesty zing. Citrussy shades, from orange to lemon and lime, look beautifully fresh, or why not try a little pattern to really create a focal point?

See more bold splashback choices
Contemporary Kitchen by Gort Scott
Gort Scott
Rev up with red
Passionate, fiery, energising… What better colour for the scene of culinary creativity than red? These glossy, rich red cabinets add spirit to this airy kitchen. Lashings of white prevent the look overheating, while a row of plain red pendant lights keeps the units company and completes the scheme.
Contemporary Living Room by LLI Design
LLI Design
Team warm and cold
This royal blue sofa is stunning, but it could look cold in this pale room. Teaming it with a chair in warm chartreuse adds a sunny note to the space and brings the blue alive. A smattering of cushions and knitted pouffes in the same shades reinforces the combination, while glossy white and shiny chrome pieces sharpen the scheme.

TELL US...
Have you used bold colour in your home? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Comment3
Comments (3)
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
PRO
It's a Beautiful World!
This article is a really enjoyable read, as well as a feast for the eyes. Well done, Mila! So true, no need to be afraid of colors, nature is full of them and they do make any home look more modern. We love experimenting with different color combinations. Here are a few examples from our Abstract Art series. Hope, they will inspire Houzzers to bring more color to their homes. Enjoy!... Raisa
https://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/5161ac99012af5ae_9-9905/contemporary-fine-art-prints.jpg" src=" https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/5161ac99012af5ae_9905-w240-h360-b0-p0--contemporary-fine-art-prints.jpg" data-pin-no-hover="true" width="240" height="360" onmousedown="preventImageDrag(event)" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false" oncontextmenu="PhotoContextMenu.show(event,2985680);return false;"/>
Painted City Fantasy Cityscape, by Ben & Raisa Gertsberg, Art Prints, many sizes · More Info

https://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/8501e51e01241cb3_9-3412/modern-fine-art-prints.jpg" src=" https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/8501e51e01241cb3_3412-w240-h240-b0-p0--modern-fine-art-prints.jpg" data-pin-no-hover="true" width="240" height="240" onmousedown="preventImageDrag(event)" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false" oncontextmenu="PhotoContextMenu.show(event,2922799);return false;"/>
Moving Parts No 3, by Ben and Raisa Gertsberg, Art Prints, many sizes · More Info

https://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/00d16c4601384a97_9-3610/contemporary-fine-art-prints.jpg" src=" https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/00d16c4601384a97_3610-w240-h160-b0-p0--contemporary-fine-art-prints.jpg" data-pin-no-hover="true" width="240" height="160" onmousedown="preventImageDrag(event)" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false" oncontextmenu="PhotoContextMenu.show(event,3127856);return false;"/>
Rippling Colors No 1, by Ben & Raisa Gertsberg, fine art print · More Info

https://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/0ff11f8a0124250e_9-3500/modern-fine-art-prints.jpg" src=" https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/0ff11f8a0124250e_3500-w240-h240-b0-p0--modern-fine-art-prints.jpg" data-pin-no-hover="true" width="240" height="240" onmousedown="preventImageDrag(event)" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false" oncontextmenu="PhotoContextMenu.show(event,2923253);return false;"/>
Patchwork I by Ben and Raisa Gertsberg, fine art print, giclee · More Info
8 Likes    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
PRO
The London Tile Co.
Love the turquoise bathroom wall contrasted by the white tiles!
3 Likes    
Thank you for reporting this comment. Undo
PRO
Sagiper North America
#1 and #7 are the best for me. Never tried going for a bold colour, but the turquoise one for the bathroom is really inspiring!
   

Related Stories

More Rooms The 5 Most Popular Laundry Rooms on Houzz Right Now
By Victoria Harrison
Get decorating ideas for your laundry or utility room from these most-saved photos on Houzz
Full Story
Dining Rooms The 5 Most Popular Dining Rooms on Houzz Right Now
By Kate Burt
Vintage furniture, great lighting and top tables – feast your eyes on dining room ideas collated from your own clicks
Full Story
Colour 8 Clever Ways to Use Strategic Colour Blocking in Your Home
By Kate Burt
Paint can do so much more than refresh your walls. Explore ways to highlight features, zone areas and trick the eye
Full Story
Utility Rooms 15 Richly Coloured Utility Rooms
By Sarah Alcroft
The trend for strong, earthy tones has reached the utility room, with hues from plum to ochre to deep green adding depth
Full Story
Kitchens Which Kitchen Worktop Colour Should You Choose?
By tidgboutique
Consider these popular colours and styles to get the look you want, no matter which material you use
Full Story
Colour 8 Ways to Work a Rust Red and Blue Palette in the Bedroom
By Kate Burt
We’re seeing variations of this combination all over Houzz right now. Check out these tips for trying it yourself
Full Story
Colour Creative Ways to Make a Feature of Structural Beams
By Amanda Pollard
Turn your RSJ into something more than just functional with these clever ideas from our Houzz Tours
Full Story
Gardens 9 Ways to Enjoy Colour in Your Garden All Year Round
By Kate Burt
However your garden grows, you can add colour with hardscaping, furniture and accessories
Full Story
Gardens What Will We Want in Our Gardens in 2024?
By Amanda Pollard
Discover the gardening trends homeowners will be bringing into their outdoor spaces this spring and summer
Full Story
Kitchens What to Expect at the Biggest Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom Show
By Amanda Pollard
Plan ahead with our rundown of what’s in store at the kbb Birmingham event this March
Full Story
| ABOUT | MOBILE APPS | PROFESSIONALS | BUTTONS | FAQs | CAREERS | BRANDS |
Terms & Privacy
Houzz Inc. © 2024