Unleash the Power of Vibrant Hues

Everywhere I turn in my Nell Hills stores, I’m greeted by color-rich, powerful, saturated palettes that make me want to dance. As we do every January, my team and I have been busy re-envisioning each gallery, experimenting with a host of new hues and adding pops of color through wall paint, vibrant textiles, sizzling accents, and arresting artwork. I have to say, I’m loving what I see.

But I know that for many of my friends and customers, decorating with bold colors can be a bit intimidating. They question their ability to strike the right balance, unsure of how much color is too little or too much. Or they aren’t quite sure how to seamlessly incorporate new color schemes into their existing décor. I get it – bold colors can be a daunting prospect.

That’s why I always take one of two foolproof approaches when it comes to interacting powerful pigments into a room. Let me share my secrets with you.

Balancing Bold Walls with Neutral Furnishings

If you’re feeling brave and want to make a statement with your wall color, my advice is to use neutrals everywhere else in the room. I’m crazy about bold, strong paint colors, and I’ve included a wide assortment of them in my Mary Carol Artisan Paint line. While everyone has their own “color quotient” – the level of color that feels just right for them – I find that these statement wall colors look their best when they’re balanced with plenty of neutral furnishings, artwork, and accents.

Take our Nell Hills Briarcliff gallery, for example, which is painted in a brilliant color called “Shuttered Window.” This soothing yet vibrant tone revives the senses like a picnic in a meadow or a walk in the woods (without the bugs, of course). To complement this stunning emerald wall color, we’ve added a playful pop of citrus through accents and artwork, while keeping the rest of the room grounded in crisp black and white. The result is a space that feels luxurious and saturated, without being overwhelming.

Another idea? My friend Julie just painted her kitchen walls in “Shuttered Window.” To balance the strong wall color, she painted her cabinets all white and dressed the windows in classic black and white ticking panels. Lovely!

Neutral Walls, Bold Furnishings

If you’re not quite ready to take the plunge with a bold wall color, you can still saturate your spaces with color without ever picking up a paintbrush. The trick is to layer up the tones through your furnishings, floor coverings, artwork, and accents.

In our Nell Hills Briarcliff gallery featuring the dramatic “Twilight” navy wall color, we’ve taken a more traditional approach, pairing the moody backdrop with classic furnishings and finishings. The creamy stone fireplace surround and wooden furnishings balance out the dark color of the walls, which seem to melt into the background, creating a sense of drama without dominating the space.

To add a touch of heat, we’ve incorporated a bold red leather chair – a piece that’s simultaneously modern and traditional. The strong dark tones in the room are broken up by the white lamp and stunning artwork, ensuring that the navy walls never feel overbearing.

Another idea? A friend of mine was tired of the drab green walls in her living room, so I urged her to keep the wall color but paint the ceiling in my vibrant “Peony” hue. We finished the room with cream-colored furnishings and a gallery of modern art, and the result is simply beautiful.

Finding Your Perfect Color Blend

Introducing color through your décor is a great way to wade in if you’re not sure what your “color quotient” is yet. Start by adding one pop of color – maybe through a brightly colored lamp or a side chair upholstered in a floral or geometric print. Then live in the room for a few weeks and see how it feels to you. If you find yourself yearning for more color, add another piece. Rest, then repeat, until you’ve achieved your perfect blend.

If you know you want to take things up a notch, consider covering several pieces of furniture in bold fabrics that include a variety of patterns and colors. Work in solid-colored accents that pluck out a few of the hues featured in your fabric. With your walls covered in a soft neutral like white, cream, light yellow, or light blue, they’ll balance the bold statement you’re making through your furniture and accents.

All it took in the Nell Hills Briarcliff room was a brightly colored chair to add zest to the space. But for extra fun, we mixed in a few more arresting colors through a darling blue and white houndstooth area rug, a sunny yellow lamp, and a vibrant green vase.

So, whether you’re ready to make a bold statement with your wall color or prefer to introduce pops of pigment through your furnishings and accents, I hope these tips have inspired you to unleash the power of vibrant hues in your own home. After all, as the renowned authority on color, Pantone, has declared, Emerald is the color of the year for 2023 – and who am I to argue with them?

When to Scrimp and When to Splurge

Next week, I’ll be sharing some tips on when to scrimp and when to splurge to make your rooms look their best. In the meantime, don’t forget that our special order upholstered furnishings sale is going on right now at Nell Hills Briarcliff. All our custom upholstered pieces are 20% off, Monday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm, and Sunday, 12pm to 5pm.

So why not visit us at Sofaspectacular.co.uk and let’s start planning your bold, vibrant, and oh-so-fabulous décor transformation?