10 Noncommittal Ways to Add Color to Your Home

It can be very intimidating to take the plunge to add bold and bright color to your home. The design blogs say “just add a pop of color—paint your dresser yellow or throw down a bright purple rug.” Well, it’s easier (and cheaper) said then done.

It’s hard to commit to color, especially when we are told every five minutes that yellow is in and green is out. Or fuchsia is the new black.

If you love and crave color, but don’t want to make any expensive, committal adjustments to your home decor, here are 10 ways to add that pop without going bust!

1. Hang a scarf on the wall.

Oftentimes, we are more willing to buy color to wear on our bodies than to display in our homes. What if you can use that clothing item to do both? Tape up a brightly colored scarf onto a wall that’s craving color. Don’t like it? Take it down. Well, that took all of 2 and half minutes.

Image via The Territory on Etsy.

2. Display a bowl of citrus.

You finally got that all white and granite kitchen you’ve always wanted and now you feel it needs some color. This is literally the easiest fix: fill a bowl, a tall vase, or a glass hurricane with lemons, limes, or oranges and put it on your counter. It will add a little sunshine to your kitchen, even on cloudy days.

Image via Heather Bullard.

3. Frame pages from a wall calendar. 

Remember wall calendars? You know, the ones you flip after the last day of each month, and then stare at a new pretty picture for the next 4 weeks? Well, believe it or not folks, they still make ‘em. Find one you love and frame 4, 9, or all 12 pages and hang them in matching frames in a grid. Now it can be April all year round.

Image via The Creativity Exchange.

4. Score some bright throw pillows. 

Does this living room sound familiar? Beige couch. White walls. Gray rug. The quickest and most effective way to add that color pop to your living room is with big, bold throw pillows and blankets. You can spend anywhere from $10 to $100 per pillow—have fun mixing pattern, size, and texture.

Image via VogueHome.org.

5. Stretch fabric in embroidery hoops.

When you design your child’s nursery, it’s tempting to paint a mural of cute lambs on the wall or to go for that classic baby blue or pink. But then, he turns three, and wants a race track. Don’t hold back on decorating this room—stretch fun fabrics in embroidery hoops and hang them on a neutral colored wall. Fun patterns with fruit, vehicles, or animals also give you something to point at and talk about with your growing babe.

Image via Chic Cheap Nursery.

6. Display painted sticks.

When you don’t feel totally set on color, you’re apprehensive about spending any money at all. Here’s a cool idea: raid your backyard for sticks and then give them a bright coat of paint. Stand them in a clear glass vase on your hearth or mantle.

Image via Decor 4 All.

7. Mat your photos in color. 

Do you have that wall of family photos down the hallway or up the stairs? Try replacing some of the photo mats with colored mat board instead of the traditional white. Choose one color or go wild and mix it up!

Image via Just Imagine.

8. Add a colorful swag over your window.

The options are endless when it comes to window treatments. Whether you have a rod with finials, an upholstered valance, or roman shades, you can add a swag of fabric to bring color or softness to your window. Think about a breezy summer scarf or that hand-embroidered tablecloth that never sees the light of day—how beautiful will they look draped over your window?

Image via Country Living.

9. Washi tape your walls.

If you don’t know what washi tape is by now, then you are living under a rock. MT makes wide rolls of tape, perfect for those aching for the wallpaper look. Easy to apply, easy to reposition, and easy to remove. Can’t get more noncommittal than that!

Image via Design Vagabond.

10. Hang some honeycomb balls.

Bright colored light fixtures are so trendy right now, but they cost a pretty penny. If you want to look up and see some bold color, think about hanging a gaggle of festive honeycomb balls. Mix sizes and colors for a fun and surprising burst of color above a dresser or in the corner of a room.

Image via Pinterest.