Photo by Rachel Claire
If you’re finding your home a little uninspiring at the moment, adding some touches of colour here and there can help liven things up and make you fall in love with home again. An injection of colour can also help lift your mood if you’re feeling a bit down.
It doesn’t have to cost the earth and doesn’t necessarily mean transforming your whole house or taking on a massive project. You can achieve small but impactful changes on a small budget without it causing you stress or anxiety.
Introducing subtle changes like colourful homeware or accessories can perk up your home and your mindset in no time.
Colour scheme
The first thing to think about is picking a colour scheme. You might be naturally drawn to certain colours which you want to incorporate. If you’re not sure, think about how you want your home to feel, as certain colours can evoke particular emotions. For example, you might find earthy tones comforting or blue tones calming; or if you want to feel more energetic and invigorated, bright citrus tones can help.
When considering your colour scheme, it’s a good idea to pick a few complementary or contrasting colours, depending on how you want your room to look. If you want a more subtle look, you might want to go with variations of one shade and add an accent colour to create points of interest. You can do this by adding colourful homeware in a brighter shade of the main colour.
Alternatively, if you’re feeling a bit more daring, you could use contrasting colours for your colour scheme. Just make sure the colours are of equal tonal strength, for example, making sure they’re all bright so that none of them get lost amidst the others.
Here are some affordable ways to infuse your home with mood-boosting colour.
Colourful artwork
Shop our Chrysler Building New York City Art Deco Art Print
Artwork in vibrant colours can be a great way to add a pop of colour to otherwise boring walls, or you can use it as an accent colour to complement similar shades.
You might think buying artwork is expensive, but if you think of colourful art prints rather than intricate, one-of-a-kind paintings you’ll find it a lot more affordable. Strategically placed artwork can create a real focal point in rooms, drawing the eye to a particular area and offering a great talking point when you have friends and family over.
If you like your artwork a bit more subtle you could always brighten up a neutral print or painting with a colourful frame in a vibrant shade.
Vibrant paint
Photo by Ivan Samkov
The most obvious way to add colour to a room is to paint it. Once you’ve decided on a colour palette, have a think about whether you want to paint all the walls within a room the same colour, or if you want to paint one or two walls to contrast with the others and make a feature. Painting a feature wall will be more cost-effective than painting a whole room.
You could also experiment with painting doors, window frames and skirting boards to add interest or attract attention to a particular area. Bear in mind that the shades you choose may affect the light levels and sense of space within a room, so think about how that will impact you before making a decision.
You can then use colourful homeware to compliment or contrast the paint, depending on your preference.
Bright mirrors
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Using mirrors to brighten up your home is a low-cost way to add colour, with the added advantage of reflecting light into a room. You can use colourful mirrors to showcase your personality and make a statement, and jazz up otherwise dull decor. Even small mirrors can make a difference and add interest to a room.
If there is a particularly dark space within your room, think about using a large mirror to lighten the area up, and complement this with colourful homeware and accessories.
Plants and flowers
Photo by Huy Phan
There are a variety of benefits to adding house plants and flowers to your home, aside from their aesthetic value. They can be a low budget way to add a fresh splash of colour to a room. The great thing about plants is that you can choose from a variety of different sizes, depending on how much colour and interest you want to add to your home.
If you’re a fan of lots of colour and texture, you can add a mixture of large floor plants and smaller plants on shelves or coffee tables. Plants will freshen up any tired looking decor while helping you feel invigorated. A brightly coloured orchid will make a statement, as will cut blooms of roses or tulips.You can then use colourful homeware to either contrast with or complement the colours, depending on your overall colour scheme. Incorporating plants and flowers into a space will fill it with colour while improving the air quality in your home. If you’re not a fan of real plants, you can always experiment with fake ones to add texture to a room without the hassle of keeping the plants alive!
Accessories and ornaments
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One of the most inexpensive ways to add some colour into your home is through accessories and ornaments in vibrant shades. You can place these wherever you want to brighten up a space. Colourful coasters, for example, will attract attention and bring you joy whenever you see them, and you can convey your personality with bright ornaments and trinkets. Again, you can mix and match and play with different sizes depending on how much colour you want to add.
Some other ideas for colourful homeware and accessories include lamps and light shades, candles and diffusers, storage boxes, vases, rugs, and picture frames.
Cushions and throws
Adding colourful throws and cushions to sofas and armchairs will not only brighten up a room but also keep you feeling snug. It’s a low-cost and versatile way to add dashes of colour to drab decor and furniture, or complement existing colours in your home.
With cushions, you could choose a combination of colours with a similar tone and alternate them to add interest and brighten up a dull sofa in a subtle way. Alternatively, if you want as much colour as possible, try cushions in a contrasting shade to the colour of your sofa and don’t be afraid to experiment with clashing colours.
Colourful throws can also add vibrancy to an otherwise plain room and look super cute and cosy. You can experiment with different textures at the same time to add variety. A throw in a bright shade can really liven up a tired sofa or chair without breaking the bank.
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Hopefully, you’ve now got some good ideas for adding colour to your home in an easy and inexpensive way with colourful homeware and accessories. The sky really is the limit when it comes to colour; there are so many ways you can use it to give a room a refresh and inspire you on a daily basis, without leaving a massive dent in your bank balance!