Beige has often been pooh-poohed by interior decorators and designers as a bad decorating decision but in this contrary world it’s not surprising that the color would hit its own stride with a decorating frenzy. Beige is the decorating color of the season but beige on beige is not like white on white, to give the color beige excitement and energy it needs to be accessorized.
Metallics
One way to infuse beige with vibrancy is by adding metallic touches throughout the room. Copper, gold and bronze are typically complementary colors for beige and can make beige walls and furniture pop. Silver and chrome are contrasting colors to beige and add a zing that instantly excites the eye.
Texture
The eye is visually bored by beige so exciting it is key to making a beige decorating color scheme vivid. Texture is an excellent way to get the eye bouncing and interested in what’s in front of it. Shiny surfaces reflect light and add depth, lush shag provides a sense of rich softness, grass paper makes walls come alive.
Pattern
Similar to texture, pattern provides an undercurrent of energy. If the furniture is a solid beige turn up the heat by piling on the pattern. Look for flooring options with loads of pattern moving through. Decorate walls with artwork and photos that feature movement and keep the eye darting from place to place, then the beige on a wall almost provides a nice matt appearance.
Color
Select a couple colors to carry throughout the decorating scheme. With beige as a primary color the other colors selected become even more important and will be more evident. Soft accessory colors like pastel versions of turquoise and pink are complementary to beige and will create a soothing feeling. Using exciting saturated colors like red and black will pump up the excitement in a room and the beige then serves as a nice backdrop.
Whimsy
Beige is thought of as a faded color and often associated with aging, one way to combat this feeling is by throwing a bit of whimsy into the decorating scheme. Unexpected twists are always an eye catcher and create a buzz among guests. Find personalized whimsy by reaching back to childhood memories or toys to display or take hobbies and collections and give them new importance.
Lighting
Overhead lighting gives a room a fairly unified wash of light that is uninteresting and with beige it can be deadly boring. Don’t rely on one overhead light but incorporate several different lighting options with different bulb wattages that bounce light in interesting ways.
Using beige as a base for a decorating scheme is a new trend that shows promise as it requires some serious decorating vision to make it really work. Rather than being a safe boring color it is now a challenge and a vibrant option.
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