Adding Colour to Liven Up Spaces

Word has it that people have had it with boring greys, beiges and greiges! 

I am over the moon with this new trend to add colour because I have ALWAYS felt bored with boring tones.

There are so many more colours on the spectrum apart from grey, beige, white, black and brown.

It’s like eating mac n cheese or roast chicken everyday and being scared to experiment or experience other foods and flavors that we are surrounded by.

Here’s the fun thing about bold design: it doesn’t have to swallow the room whole to make an impact. You can absolutely embrace pattern, colour drenching, and statement pieces – even in small doses – without tipping into visual chaos. Let’s break down how to do it with confidence and intention.

1. Temporary Décor

• Start with baby steps, add bold colours through smaller items like accessories, throw pillows, and lamps. These accents can be easily changed out according to the seasons, making them a low-commitment way to experiment with color without spending too much. 
  
  • Check out some great accent pieces from Surya – we have lots of these to view in our showroom

•  Use peel-and-stick wallpaper or removable decals to experiment with bold patterns and colours

2. Focal Points

• Changing out artwork, be it a painting, photographs, wall art, mirrors could make a difference in the way the room looks too. Could be a boldly framed gallery wall.

3. A step up

• adding colourful and bold rugs and window treatment. This is more of a commitment as those pieces can cost more and be less easy to swap out.

4. Bold wall colours make a huge impact without breaking the bank as well.

• • You could use paint, wallpaper or woodwork to create that bold statement focal point.
    
    
    • Benjamin Moore is a fav of mine for bold statement walls! View some options on their site.

• Ground bold colors with a neutral palette of whites, grays, or beiges.

• Let that one piece be the star and let everything else support it.

• Colour drenching is another great idea, but in micro zones. Some ideas for that:

• Painting just the inside of a bookshelf

• Colour-drenching a hallway or powder room

• Painting trim, doors, and baseboards in the same bold hue

It creates a jewel-box effect without committing the entire home. Also, this contrast allows vibrant hues to shine without feeling overwhelming. Like white walls with emerald green accents.

5. Use Pattern in Controlled Quantities

Patterns become overwhelming when they compete. Instead:

• Mix one large-scale pattern with one small-scale pattern

• Keep patterns in the same colour family

• Use patterned accessories (pillows, throws, ottomans) to test the waters

6. Bring in Big Accessories – Strategically

Oversized pieces actually make a room feel bigger when used well.  Too many of us clutter the room or table with a lot of small accessories and tchotchkes.

Try:

• One oversized vase on a console

• A large abstract painting instead of a gallery wall

• A chunky, sculptural coffee table

• A large statement area rug

The trick is scale – one big piece reads cleaner than many small ones.

7. What to Avoid

❌ 1. Too Many Competing Focal Points
If everything is bold, nothing is bold. Choose your star and let the rest be the supporting cast.

❌ 2. Mixing Too Many Colour Temperatures
Warm bolds + cool bolds can feel chaotic unless you’re very intentional. Stick to one temperature family for cohesion.

❌ 3. Tiny Bold Pieces Everywhere
Lots of small bold items create visual noise. Go for fewer, larger, more intentional choices.

❌ 4. Ignoring Lighting
Bold colours and patterns need good lighting to shine. Poor lighting can make them look muddy or heavy.

🌟 How to Knock It Out of the Park

✔️ 1. Repeat Colours Purposefully
If you introduce a bold colour, repeat it at least twice elsewhere in the room. It creates harmony and intention.

✔️ 2. Balance Bold with Breathing Room
Pair bold elements with:

• Neutrals
• Natural textures
• Clean-lined furniture
  This keeps the space grounded.

✔️ 3. Use Texture as a Quiet Bold
If colour scares you, try bold textures: 

• Bouclè

• Rattan

• Velvet

• Plaster finishes

They add richness without shouting.

✔️ 4. Test Before You Commit
Paint swatches, fabric samples, and mockups are your best friends. Bold choices look different in different light.

If this is still too much for you to comprehend and you are still struggling, I am here to help you create a beautiful room without that added stress or regret. Book an appointment with me!

Some room ideas:

Mixing patterns to liven up the space.

The only bold colour is the emerald green, it feels grounded with the greys and beiges and not too overwhelming.

Large scale artwork that totally creates a room with so much drama, while keeping the large furniture pieces neutral. The artwork is used as inspiration to draw the colours from it for the rug and pillows.

In this room a bold rug is a statement in the room without having to change anything else out in the room to give it that va va voom!

Visit La-Z-Boy

Designing an colourful space involves more then just splashing a little colour in one room.
Visit Michelle in our Langley store to see how you can liven up your space and add some colour without going overboard! Book an appointment with her.

Michelle Picardo

In- Home Designer – Langley
La-Z-Boy Greater Vancouver