Color is powerful. It is a gift we can access every day. Color has the ability to evoke happiness, prosperity, self-confidence & health. It can stimulate self-love, passion, creativity, intellect & enthusiasm. It can calm, sooth & comfort.

All colors have their own powerful effect, but you have your favorite/s & that’s what I want to focus on, because designing with your favorite color is just what you need, right now.

look for inspiration & follow your heart

Like so many things in life, we tend to be stifled by what society dictates. Like, gray is in, so now you need to paint your walls 50 Shades of Gray. I’ve attended enough design seminars to know how trends come about. The economy & other factors weigh in on what we decorate with.

Gray has had it’s place over the last decade. It represents organization, dignity, self-control and responsibility. I believe that’s probably what many people needed after the recession that started in 2008.

But now, it looks like we will be spending a lot more time at home. Let’s live it up & enjoy the vibrancy of richer colors.

I have a confession to make, if you were to ask me what my favorite color is I wouldn’t know where to stop. I love color so very much & live vicariously through designing my clients homes in every color of the rainbow. But, I will admit that my least favorite color is gray. I actually tolerate it, because I have to. It makes me feel Blah.

Maybe because I live in the Midwest where we lack sunshine for many months of the year. It can be so drab outside, why would we want it drab inside? I’m not sure.

I’m asking you to take a leap of faith. Follow your heart. Conjure up the colors you loved when you were a child.

When my Granddaughter was born in 2017, I found it fascinating that my daughter used an app to see the way the world looked through her daughters’ eyes. It was drab.

It’s not until around 5 months that infants start to see the world more like we do. It’s no wonder we introduce colorful toys & books to them. Around that time you started to be drawn to certain colors. Bright, cheery colors. Those colors gave you energy & happiness.

My goal is to inspire you to feel that way again…you deserve that?

Do you remember your bedroom when you were a child? Was it a color you loved? Bright Pink, Ocean Blue, Red, Green, Canary Yellow. As a child & pre-teen I shared a bedroom with my 2 brothers. Our room was blue. Nice, but not me. When my oldest sister was married I moved into my 2nd oldest sisters room. We chose green. That’s a color I continue to be drawn to.

Last week I attended a Designer Showhouse in the North Shore of Chicago. It’s the community where the movie producer John Hughes lived & filmed many of his movies like Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Home Alone, & Sixteen Candles. Risky Business was also filmed there. The streets are lined with stately, classic, sprawling homes. This particular home was built in 1906 & renovated in the 20’s. 1920’s that is ;) It has white shaker shingles & black shutters & doors. From the front you couldn’t tell how large it was. It has a traditional layout that had a lot of private spaces. Here’s the link if you want to see more.

Every room of the Designer Showhouse is filled with vibrant colors & patterns. Fuschia, Coral, Emerald Green, Teal, Aqua, Soft Pink, Cobalt Blue. Colorful floral & geometric wallpapers. I sensed that the designers were utilizing their spaces to free themselves of the decade of gray. They were designing a space with their favorite colors.

I felt so exhilarated as I toured the home. I felt like a kid with the giant box of Crayola Crayons. Do you remember how happy all those colors made you?

We had fun then, right? Let’s do that again.

There are so many ways to design with your favorite color. Here, I’ll cover 4 ideas to get you inspired. Live a little because home is your safe haven, especially now.

Let’s be sure your home brings out the very, very best in you.

Let’s get started….

1. Walls

The obvious way to surround yourself with your favorite color is by painting it on your walls. For some this can be very intimidating. There are some basic steps to help you with this. If you haven’t already, be sure to register for my Free Guide, Selecting Color With Confidence. This will be a game changer for you. If you are already subscribed I hope you are putting it to use. Knowing these basic steps will give you the confidence to get away from gray & move towards a fun color that will enrich your life. I promise you ; )

designing-with-your-favorite-color- — Color is invigorating!

Create the happy space you deserve.

Wallpaper is another excellent way to add color. What I love about wallpaper is that it inspires a color palette. In some cases, a half a dozen colors to pull out & paint the surrounding areas.

This floral wallpaper inspires a palette to paint the adjacent walls a soft pink or aqua or maybe a vibrant green. You could carry the aubergine into the powder room for a bit of drama.

Surrounding yourself with your favorite colors is a great way to live.

Clients often ask me if wallpaper is in or out. I always say, It’s never out. I believe most designers would agree. It’s just finding the right wallpaper for you.

For more on selecting wallpaper that appeals to you, be sure to check out my earlier blogpost How to Select the Best Wallpaper for Your Home.

2. Furniture

Chances are you’ve played it safe so far & have purchased neutral furniture. Beige, brown, gray, black are among the most common colors. It feels safe & you can always add a punch of color with pillows. Right? I know, because I do this often for my clients.

However, just for a moment imagine what your family room or living room would look like if you had your sofa recovered in your favorite color. Teal blue, soft pink, gold, grass green, tangerine, baby blue ( I love you ;) whatever your favorite color is. Hey, you only live once. Why not do it with style. Be bold. Be confident. Have fun! I guarantee it will transform your space & make you feel great. I promise, no regrets.

3. Artwork

Artwork is a great way to add your favorite colors in your home. If you’re current art is lack luster then it’s time to search out artwork that speaks to your soul. It’s so important to be inspired within your walls. Your home is your safe haven. Colorful art is the perfect way to fill your home with inspiration.

It’s actually so much easier now that there are online art lines that encourage artists to submit their work. They offer a variety of sizes to fit your wall space. Here’s a line I was recently introduced to, by my daughter. Juniper Print Shop Really fun stuff. They carry a great selection of genres & a variety of sizes that fit in Ikea frames. Yes, you heard me right, Ikea that same place you shopped for your college furniture.

I also like Art.com. Another fun line to shop for a curated look. I have a lot of experience with them & it’s all very positive. I’ve actually never been disappointed & either have my clients.

Another great way to get creative & add YOUR pop of color in a very economical way is to select FREE images on Unsplash. It’s an awesome & inspiring place to look for unique art. But what do you do with them? I’ve got that answer too. Winkflash. They’re my favorite when it comes to printing large canvas prints. I’ve used them dozens of times for commercial design applications & have turned many clients on to them as well.

You can use your own photography as another option if the file is large enough for the size of canvas you need. Often times vacation photos work beautifully to create a one of kind piece of art that stirs up great memories.

No excuses for empty walls. Get busy & have fun.

For finding the right height to hang your art please be sure to read my earlier blogpost. How High to Hang a Picture.

4. Objects

Objects are another form of art where you can add a punch of your favorite color. Vases, books, decorative plates, sculptures, figurines, lamps, photo frames. Anything that sits on a table or shelf would fall into this category. Be creative & have some fun shopping at your local retail or online vendors including Etsy & Amazon. It’s easy to find if you know where to look.

Color is your friend. Greet it. Welcome it.