Don't just add a "pop of color"- my pet peeve about this design phrase and what to do instead

A room with well-balanced color

The phrase “add a pop of color” is long overdue to be retired. I don’t mean that you shouldn't add color to a room, but this phrase makes people think they can choose a color that they like and drop it in. See a green pillow on sale? Oh, pop it on the sofa for some color. Feeling a little too neutral? Let’s pop in a blue rug.

This room feels flat and half-decorated because colorful accents were "popped" in without a sticking to a comprehensive color plan.

The problem with this is that color in a well-designed room should be systematic. Interior designers don’t just “pop” in color on a whim - things like balance, temperature, scale, pattern, and movement are considered.

So, how can a casual decorator replicate designer approach to color? If hiring a designer isn’t in the cards, here are a few tips for making wise color choices.

Stick to 2-3 colors per room

This room was planned around blues and rusty orange, with neutrals to mute the space.

While there are amazing rooms that use more than three colors, the average person designing for their own home is going to have difficulty pulling a room together with a large number of hues. On the flip side, using only one color will look flat unless you’re an expert at texture and layering. Two to three colors is the magic number.

Decide on your color palette before designing your room

The bedding in this room was carefully coordinated with the blue and purple artwork.

If you’re starting from scratch, this is (relatively) easy. Choose only items that are neutrals or that fit in your color palette. If you’re looking to redesign a room that already has several colors, first identify the items that you can't or won't replace. Decide on a color scheme based those items, then be flexible about donating or moving around items that don’t match the new palette.

Find inspiration for color combinations all around you

For help choosing color combinations, look to your favorite design magazine, fabric swatch, or photograph for clues. Tons more about finding color inspiration in a post coming soon.

Thanks for reading!