How to add bright colour to your home

By Dave Nemeth

A burst of colour can enhance a home, but be careful not to make it too busy, creating an overwhelming and unnerving space that is anything but relaxing. The biggest mistakes with colour often come in the largest areas, namely the walls.

There are a number of things to consider when you are planning to add a bright and dominant colour into a space. The three most important factors are:

1. The overall size of the room;
2. The height of the ceilings; and
3. The amount of natural light that enters into the space.

Al of these will play a major role in getting the overall scheme to work.

If you don’t have a large room and the ceilings are standard height, but you do have ample natural light streaming in, you may want to consider painting just one wall boldly. A feature wall works very well in a limited space and still allows for that funky, fresh splash of of colour. If you have very high ceilings and want a colour burst, adding a bright colour to a ceiling can also bring a new look to a room. Just remember that if you try this on standard ceilings, it will make the room seem smaller.

Just as you need to be careful when painting large surfaces, so too should you act with caution when looking at brightly coloured furniture. A bright-red sofa will immediately bring character to a room, but you could easily tire of the colour and a replacement fabric will be a costly exercise. The better bet is to select an occasional chair or ottoman for bold and courageous treatment with accessories.

Accessories are generally the best route to go to add bright colour to a space, due to the fact that they can be changed seasonally for a completely different look and feel. These can include scatter cushions, objets d’ art, lampshades and wall art.

With roller blinds currently being so on trend, you may want to consider adding a splash of colour here. Technological advances with these even allow for these to be printed with different designs and artwork.

When it comes to colour, there are no hard-and-fast rules. Go out and experiment – but plan carefully, to avoid expensive mistakes.