EASY WAYS TO ADD COLOR TO YOUR NEUTRAL DECOR

Both The Hubs and I love a certain old pottery called 'flow blue'.  It was originally a mistake, back in the day when it was made.  The blue dye 'flowed' where it shouldn't when the plates, bowls, platters, pitchers and other tableware were fired/glazed.  The British manufacturers deemed it inferior and sent it to the colonies - but instead of garnering criticism, it became very popular... instead of a 'mistake' it was thereafter done on purpose as the demand for it grew.  I loved the deep blues of this antique dinnerware long before I learned the story - but the story served to make me love it even more.  

I also root for the underdog...

I have a good bit of this in my house, and so I add pops of color to my otherwise neutral decor by displaying the platters and plates and pitchers here and there.

Ceramics, pottery, and other like accessories can add pops of color in a small way, or you can opt for a more direct pop with paint.

While a whole room of deep blue might be a little heavy, anchoring a focal wall with color can bring some personality to a neutral room.  I love how in this neutral room, the blue wall adds a focal point and anchors the family photos - all black and white and framed the same size and the same way for uniformity. 

Fabric is a more permanent way to add color - in the ottoman above and the sofas below - 

definite color is added with furniture.  

When adding color, you can also think past walls and fabric to woodwork.
Think of the mantle or bookcases

or your kitchen cabinetry

A fresh coat of paint often updates tired pieces of furniture

Rugs can add color nearly anywhere

In this room, turquoise is repeated in fabrics, accessories and artwork to wake up a neutral room

Nothing wakes up a room quite like nature.  Fresh flowers, plants, botanicals... they add life.

I love to be surprised by color in an unexpected place.

If you want to color to your home, but are a little unsure how to achieve it...

  START SMALL 

 with an accent or two...

 BRING TOUCHES IN 

WITH  FABRICS

OR A RUG

OR A COLORFUL ACCENT PIECE

ADD A FEW ACCESSORIES...

JUST  REMEMBER TO KEEP THE COLOR CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT ANY OF THE ROOMS THAT ARE OPEN TO EACH OTHER.

 Good luck!

*******************************************************

 QUESTION FROM A READER:

Claudine,

I have just discovered your blog and I have spent the last few weekends going through your previous posts..love it!!  I need your help with selecting a paint color for my living room and dining room which are open to each other. Both are fairly open to the kitchen (can see both from kitchen with double width entries to both). With the help of another color consultant several years ago I selected BM mellowed Ivory for the kitchen walls, BM River Gorge Gray for my cabinets and BM timid white trim. 

Benjamin Moore - MELLOWED IVORY

Benjamin Moore - RIVER GORGE GRAY

She had advised that I paint the dining room area (3 walls) BM Timothy Straw and the Living Room Mellowed Ivory as well. 

Benjamin Moore TIMOTHY STRAW

The color were based upon the upholstery fabric in the living room. 

I like the cabinet color and pleased with the mellowed ivory for the most part (certain light it can be bit much) but I don't think I would care for it in the living room. I will probably purchase new furniture within the next few years so don't want to base my selection on the furniture (images attached ) but don't want it to look off either. Current floors will be replaced - will probably go with a walnut stain wood. Is there a neutral in the gray tones that would work? If not, open to any other suggestions. Note that we get quite a bit of morning/afternoon light. I appreciate any advise you can provide. Thanks, Cindy

Hi Cindy,

I think a nice neutral gray is exactly right for your color scheme.  Try a few of these colors out in your home and see what looks best.  I think you will really like the cooler tones with the upholstery you currently have.  And they are neutral - so will probably look as nice with furniture of the future as with the furniture you currently have.

Northern Cliffs (Benjamin Moore)

Seattle Mist (Benjamin Moore)

Silver Mist BM

BM Beach Glass

BM Smoke

Good Luck!

BEACH HOUSE NEUTRALS

Sometimes I feel that we are overdone here in the OC.  We have the ocean close by, the warm sand between our toes, ocean breezes to cool our summers, palm trees punctuating our neighborhoods and a surf board in every garage - but our homes look like carbon copy Spanish villas with red tile roofs and stucco walls and our interiors bear no resemblance to the coastal region we pay so dearly to be near.  

HOME DECOR: GOING COASTAL

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND THINK OF SEA GLASS

 

OF THE COLORS OF THE OCEAN

OF DRIFTWOOD

OR A SANDY BEACH

OF SUNBLEACHED FABRICS AND TIMEWORN FURNITURE

AND YOU HAVE THE ELEMENTS NEEDED FOR COASTAL DECOR

SO, TODAY I'M INTRODUCING YOU TO A STYLE THAT I LOVE

FOR ME ITS AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE,

A TUG AT LONG AGO MEMORIES OF BALMY NIGHTS, FRAGRANT BREEZES, AND SAND BETWEEN MY TOES

COASTAL COTTAGE

TAKE A LOOK AND TELL ME IF YOU LOVE IT AS MUCH AS I DO.   I COULD SERIOUSLY CURL UP AND LIVE IN THESE PHOTOS.

Coastal decorating - painted furniture, wooden floors, striped rugs -

(cottage style furnishings by Stanley)

(seriously love the deep teal color)

Coastal decorating takes the indoors out - creating inviting outdoor rooms with an inside feel.

You can enjoy this style even if you don't live on a coast

(coastal living magazine)

More coastal cottage furniture by Stanley

Crisp white kitchens are a mainstay of coastal cottage homes 

I love how the tiles here are the colors of the sea and sand

and I love the timeworn barstools

The bamboo/rattan chairs are a little more traditional in style but the feeling is unmistakenly coastal

My favorite touch is the lanterns - especially the green one ...

Living under the stars - seagrass deep seating, white slipcovers, teak table and painted white fireplace and cabinets - who would want to spend any time indoors??

A green painted buffet adds an inviting punch of color in this beach cottage entry

Notice the beadboard walls and touches of sea glass color in this inviting dining area

I love that Coastal and Cottage styles don't take themselves too seriously.  The furniture here has elements of treasured antiques, but the soft painted finishes and timeworn edges change the overall feel to casual and fun.

More from the Stanley Furniture line - simply adorable pieces

Love the high wainscotting - painted white, of course!

Amazing bed from Tuvalu Home

Dove grey - like driftwood and a cloudy sky - love the casual slipcovers

A soft turquoise dresser makes an impact in an entry

A very beachy floor covering - seagrass is classic and durable

Look at the lamp - I love this clear glass bottle lamp

Here is another, in green

Sea green subway glass tiles form the backsplash in this coastal kitchen

Simple furnishings, timeworn elements, slipcovers and touches of blues and greens are the formula for making this room inviting, fresh and beachy

Seagrass is a durable and virtually waterproof floor covering, perfect for coastal decorating, but also works well with many decorating styles.

It stands to reason that you would find coastal decor in a beach town.   I recently had lunch in Laguna Beach, and prowled around the town a little afterwards...

and came across a wonderful shop in South Laguna on PCH

called Cottage Furnishings

They very kindly allowed me to take a few photos of their treasures to show you

there were sprinklings of coral and shells

these wonderful wide molding frames

I especially loved them in groupings

Cottage furniture

or painted vintage furniture

(if you have the time, you can create your own)

lamps, textiles, shells and shorebirds

glass fishing floats and jade turbo shells

and wonderful stacked glass lamps

I love this piece that says "you have my whole heart for my whole life"

visit them when you get the chance, or visit their website here.

Coastal style can be as casual or serious as you choose.  It can feel like a vacation, or a fresh and inviting home.  It will be beautiful and comfortable as long as you don't take the shell and seaglass theme too far, and keep a nice neutral white palette with just touches of the blues, greens or greys you've seen here. 

I love this look - but I lived in the South Pacific for 6 years.

I'm interested in how you like it. 

Is it a style you would like to try?

In what room would you like to try coastal style?

I'd love to hear what you think