It is my quest to share with you that color can create an inspiring, desirable, and welcoming space. So I set out to see what the everyday person, may or may not be a designer, is doing with a space that does not include the color beige.  After browsing the top rated rooms on the HGTV website Rate My Space I found the following rooms to be very inspirational.

New York City Apartment: I chose this room for it’s creativity with wallpaper and pattern in a small space. What works is the simple color palette of three colors, repetition of print and decorative elements (i.e. bold graphic wallpaper, curtains, and pillows), and the use of a white sectional as the largest element in the room.

Spicy Kitchen: The next space is a winner for its use of spicy color in the kitchen. Shades of red increase the appetite and also create the psychological desire to linger over a long dinner. The unexpected element in this room that I found inspiring is the ceiling treatment. The linear lines create a grand sense of space and the fact that it is wood brings coziness to a welcoming family kitchen.

Contemporary Home Office: If color is still a little overwhelming to consider for your home, I highly recommend shades of gray as a neutral backdrop (in place of the common builder beige). This home office is successful for its soft palette of gray and white. The unexpected element that brings visual texture and, lets face it, excitement is the graphic zebra rug. The versatility of a rug is a great way to experiment with color and pattern in a room because it is a simple change you can make on a whim.

Artful  Home Office: Another inspirational home office and example of good use of a small space is this room. Repeating the art along the one wall adds a visual to the room that creates the illusion of a larger space. Keeping the color palette simple and use of repetition in the space makes the room feel larger. My favorite elementi s the throw pillows on the guest chairs. There are a lot of hard surfaces and square edges in the room and the pillows add a touch of softness.

Little Girl’s Bedroom: Last but not least, and most likely one of my favorites, is this sophisticated little girl’s room. While it is meant for a baby girl she can easily grow into this princess bed. The one element I am so glad is missing is the literal use of princess themed items. The soft colors, use of multiple patterns, soft surfaces, and grand chandelier makes you think of a princess without the actual presence of a tiara or cartoon character.

I’d love to see how you are using color in your home. Send photos to me at darcy@theidesignbox.com and I will share them in a future posting!