How to Decorate a Room With Colours, According to an Expert

Two yellow vases, a bouquet of flowers and white coffee table.

Decorating with vibrant colours can add energy and life to any space. But moving away from minimalist colour palettes can be daunting for even the most passionate interior design enthusiasts. If you’re craving more colour and bold patterns in your home but don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered.

We asked Red Barrinuevo, an award-winning property stylist, interior decorator, and the Principal Designer at REDESIGN4MORE, for his expert advice on bringing colour to your home.

How to Incorporate Colour Throughout Your Home

If you prefer to keep your furnishings and accessories monochromatic, introduce pops of colour through artwork and photography. A colourful piece of art can add an interesting focal point to a room and can be changed out easily to keep your space feeling fresh and new.

Similar to artwork, you can slowly incorporate more colours into your home through pillows, lamps, bedding, or a brightly-coloured sofa or accent chair.

Red’s favourite way to integrate colour into a space is by opting for a vibrant rug.

“A rug with a colourful pattern will present you with a foolproof colour palette and add some interest underfoot,” he says. Similarly, rugs can always be swapped out if you decide to change your colour scheme in the future.

The Easy Way to Decorate With Colour: Pick Up Some Paint

Another way to add colour to your home is by simply picking up a paintbrush and giving your walls a fresh coat of paint. “Every paint colour has its own personality; it evokes a feeling,” says Red.

“A feature wall in vibrant colour or vibrant wallpaper can immediately change the feel of a space.”

Just be sure to test the colour in a room before committing, Red recommends. After all, paint colours always look different depending on the room’s orientation and time of day.

“Get a sample paint and paint it on the wall. See how you feel about it as the light changes throughout the day.” Looking for expert-recommended paint colours? Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent share their favourite paint colours for 2023.

The Golden Rule of Decorating With Colour

“If you’re decorating with colour, the key is to create a balance. Use complementary colours so the vibrant colour doesn’t over dominate,” Red says. His design secret? Always use a touch of black to keep a colourful space grounded.

“Whether it be a rug, a piece of furniture, a lamp – just something black. It also helps if there is a continuity of colour in the adjacent rooms.”

Decorate With Colour: Utilize the Power of Plants

Keep costs low by turning to plants and flowers for an affordable way to add more colour to your home. “A colourful floral arrangement or house plant will not only add an organic element to your space, but it will also add a vibrant hue,” Red shares.