If you're paint shy or living in a rented home, these helpful tips can help you add color to brighten your environment.
If you’re paint shy or living in a rented home, these helpful tips can help you add color to brighten your environment.
Not everyone thinks that painting is a quick and easy way to change the appearance of their home. Some people love their wall color, but still want a fresh new update. There are also a lot of people who rent their homes or live with other people, so painting isn’t an option. No matter which category you fall into, you can use the following tricks to bring color into your home without changing the paint color on the wall.
- Window Treatments. If you’re crafty you can probably whip up a new set of curtains by yourself, if not you may have to spend quite a lot to update your window treatments, but the results are worth it. Adding brightly colored window treatments gives the room a different feel and creates a glow when natural light shines in that can alter the room’s entire mood.
- Shelving. Whether you fill your shelves with books, knickknacks or electronic equipment; shelving can make a big difference. For hesitant decorators, try smaller shelves in neutral or natural colors but for those brave souls out there, buy some large bookshelves or shelving units and paint them one or more splashy colors. This trick is pretty inexpensive and gives your collectables, even tattered old paperbacks, new life.
- Cover it up. Go crazy with the fabrics and get or make slipcovers, blankets, throw pillows, and rugs. If you can cover it, then do it with aplomb. Imagine how incredible your home would look with plain white walls and a brilliant gem colored accent on almost everything.
- Lighting. Lights have become more important in today’s modern decorating, and if you can master the art of home lighting you can create some incredibly dramatic effects. Try using a small spotlight aimed at a blank wall with a colored gel to give the wall a whole new color. Changing the color is as easy as changing the gel.
- Artwork. This catchall can encompass a nicely framed and hung picture, a collage of handiwork, cleverly painted furniture pieces, hand knit blankets, anything that you consider art. Treat your little treasures with a lot of respect and give them a place of glory in your home. With proper placement and arrangement you can turn your room into a comfortable home gallery.
These tips can be used in combination or separately to give your home a little more life and personality without putting a drop of paint on your walls.
The copyright of the article Add Color without Paint in Interior Decorating is owned by Kristin Abraham. Permission to republish Add Color without Paint in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
