karen paul interiors We've been living in a very safe (protected) world for about 6 years now. I'm pleased that we will begin to experience color this year and next. It is our way of emotionally breaking out from our safe, neutral prison. Never in my design lifetime have I seen so many white/stainless kitchens/gray walls/granite countertops...an unwillingness to make independent decisions and to feel vulnerable. We have really been through the mill and back. The first murmurings of change are just beginning to gurgle to the surface. I am celebrating the ever so slow transition to "the way we were"! I feel as though we are witnessing a miracle!

Marie Hebson's interiorsBYDESIGN Inc. My professional opinion on colour is that you will either feel completely confident in investing in colour for your interior design, or you won't. The problem with lots of colour is it used to be "dating" or "too trendy". Now, its all about what makes you happy, and incorporating it properly so it depicts your taste and style. My clients will either go for colour or they won't because that scheme will make them happy. Colour is as personal as the perfume you wear, and it doesn't always fit the same person. Below is the exact same fireplace setting - one with colour, and one without. Neither one is boring, each one has personality, whimsey, comfort and textural appeal. I find that neutral palettes can get so boring so quickly if you do not add layers of textural and tone on tone neutrals. Something I strive for in all my designs is a level of sophistication and worldly appeal now and 10 years from now...

midmodfan People should not dare to use color/s just because they fear criticism! It's YOUR home, after all, and it is nobody's business how you decorate it.

I personally love neutrals. Lots of white, hardwood and a bit of dark gray is our backdrop. We add color with art, rugs, cushions, planters. Right now we have a bright red sliding door and some other red and orange accessories.

I do like colors, though. Where they belong (in my opinion -lol). For instance in a caribbean house, or in the home of someone with a 'colorful personality', who loves whimsical, collections, awry handmade things and such. But that's not me. And one thing I have learned over the last 50+ years: be true to yourself.

tcufrog One thing that I've found makes it less stressful to choose color is to choose a uniform color palette for adjoining rooms. For the public spaces in my current house I choose to use autumn colors such as brick red, sage green, cream and brown. In different rooms I use a different mix of the colors and occasionally will add pops of a different color. In the living room I added a little of pumpkin and the kitchen has a cream and mustard yellow pattern on the walls. The formal sitting room has some antique gold.

The rooms have a nice flow but don't all look the same. It's also easy for me to choose furnishings and accessories without worrying about whether they'll work and I don't have to worry about the rooms' decor looking dated quickly.

In the kids' rooms though I go crazy with color using paint and inexpensive accessories. I figure they will get bored of the theme after a few years so I might as well have fun with it.

Donna I live in New England by the water. My spring & summer design is very different than my fall & winter. My base colors are neutral. For spring & summer I go with a beach house look. Light, bright and airy. For fall & winter I add throws, pillows, window treatments and accessories to add warmth & color to the home. Cozy, warm and relaxing. Its almost like having 2 homes. I bring the four seasons that N.E. is so loved for into my home.

jaxsue In July of 2011 I bought a midcentury ranch in New Jersey. While it had its charms, its walls were all painted in a white that was so cold it was almost blue. The living room fireplace, with its glazed off-white tiles, seemed invisible in the surrounding whiteness.
Having lived in apartments for 4.5 yrs and putting up with white walls, I was ready for some color! Like a previous poster, I used colors that were compatible yet different, since my living areas flow into each other.
In order to highlight the fireplace, I painted the wall immediately above it in a warm gusto gold (Sherwin Williams); i also painted an interior living/dining wall the same color. The remaining living/dining walls are inviting ivory, which is more neutral. The kitchen is a soft yellow, which is ideal for its midcentury vibes.
Artwork and decor in the living areas pick up on the wall colors, and it all ties in beautifully.
I am so glad that I wasn't afraid of color!

gillianne Love of neutrals doesn't always = fear of other's opinions. I'm past the mid-century mark, and it's taken me nearly this long to realize what works for me: mixed neutrals (not stark all-white) grounded with touches of black and little pattern but lots of texture in wood grains, varied metal finishes, plants, and accessories. That base can lean rustic, coastal, contemporary, or transitional. Like others, I switch out some accessories seasonally to lighten the space or cocoon through wintry months. Home decor really is, or should be, about pleasing oneself (and others who occupy the space). If this article has one take-home message, I hope it's not "don't fear color" but "don't fear what others may think." It's YOUR home!

frenchdecor Design is my profession and in some areas hobby, and I am self learner. I like color, but was not confident with colors. I simply purchased a book "color design" and started study it. It was the best few $ I spent. The most important things I learned, for instance, which colors to use in North facing room with little natural light to make it feel warmer, or South facing room cooler, small room bigger, big room cozier. In general I understood that color has much bigger effect than simple preference. As I know now science based color basics I change color scheme seasonally with confidence, just a little thought and no fear. Most people ask wrong questions such as, "What color should I use" and answers "gray", no farther questions asked, which indicates on both sides clueless how to approach to subject. My suggestion is do yourself a favor and learn basics. I have couple of each design books: garden, garden structures, home design, fashion, color, textile, window treatment book design, those are my "bestsellers" to which I refer from time to time to refresh my knowledge or for the next project. Those areas are our day to day lives, why not to do some studying?

tcufrog Jaxsue...
Yellow is a wonderful kitchen color. At our old house I had strip off the hideous wallpaper (blue and white checks on top and eggplant on bottom) before I felt ready to move in. I painted the walls a beautiful sunshine yellow that woke me up in the morning and felt cheerful on dreary winter days. It was better than a cup of coffee.

Jacquie Cleaver I always loved colour in my house - yellows, oranges, pumpkin, etc. but I have gone completely neutral now. Taupe is now my favourite colour. I need to have a sense of calmness when I walk through my front door.

gaillorene Interesting discussion! I like bright color--in other people's houses! My next door neighbor has black kitchen walls with a diamond patterned backsplash of red, bright blue, yellow and green. The rest of the house is equally as bright. It is beautiful. Mine is a soft gray with greens and a little burnt orange. When visiting their house, I think it should be featured in a magazine. BUT, I need calm surroundings. I would go nuts living with so much color. Some people need and like that stimulation, kind of like skydiving. Others like to snorkel.

jaxsue Tcufrog, i had the fun job of removing 56 years' worth of paint and wallpaper in the kitchen. There was pink paint, eggplant green paint, bad 80s wallpaper (seafoam/peach), and the original 50s wallpaper (teapot themed). I felt like an architectural archeologist! I agree - yellow is a very cheerful color to wake up to.

amycecchi I agree with gaillorene! Our homes are personal spaces and although I too can appreciate beautiful design with bright colors, I like a more natural and serene space as at home. Am I afraid of color? Nope. I love bright flowers, children's art work, colorful table settings, etc. We are constantly visually assaulted with color in the commercial world. I just want my eyes to relax when I am resting in my home. Anyone who designs spa interiors would understand this concept. Colors affect us psychologically. We decorate our homes for the effect we desire.

solichin Color is the key to a decoration. With a combination of different colors to make the room more comfortable atmosphere. Please visit http://inhomeinterior.com

Kathleen I realize that over the years I have always gone back to a certain mix of colors. It didn't matter where in the country we were living or the style of house. Go with what makes you feel good and you are comfortable with. It also makes things easier whe you move or buy new furniture.

Serena Jenichs I find it interesting that our interior decorating and designing tastes are parallel to our fashion choices. I am a color and pattern addict. i have recently started trying to raise my awareness of my excessive eclectic tendencies and slow down to consider going for the neutral..."will I get tired of looking at this style combination anytime soon?"
I like the point made that neutrals allow you to change your accents frequently. large pieces in a neutral color are brilliant for this.
"The more color you have, the more color you can use with it," -I chose to be inspired by the color wheel and a tapestry that was gifted to me. Blue and Orange. Complementary colors can really get you started throwing art together, choosing accessories, painting, and keeping the vision alive. I knew especially moving into my beach neighborhood pool house which was painted in all quiet neutrals need more WARMTH. The copper curtains were a great success!
When in doubt of color choices I like to refer to my energy book, 'The Energy Secret' by Jane Alexander. (She is a genius.) There is a section on Environmental Energy that shows each color and the energy it provides & where in your home or office it may work best.
"Orange promotes joy and brings confidence and sociability. Powerful color, handle with care. Use it in rooms for entertaining."
"Blue promotes relaxation and peace. Restful and also promotes good communication."

I just tell myself, Be on Purpose.

Thank you Houzz for the food for thought and lovely photos!

Pär Wallin am soo surprised ..cos the colors presented here was reali famous on the walls in swedish homes durin the early 19th century ! Strong colors makin the contrasts vey distinct ..yellow blue dark red nd violet..n even orange or cerise! dis sounds little like ur examples here .. :D //.. Pär Wallin

mcd53 I have been so surprised by people that are afraid to use color because they're afraid of what their friend's may say or their designer has 'told them they can't. Designer would run from me if they told me I couldn't do something I wanted to do. I noticed that with someone earlier this yr...her husband wanted ceiling fans, but her designer told her 'they were the kiss of death'. Her husband got some of the ceiling fans he wanted, but I couldn't imagine someone letting someone else tell them what they could n couldn't have in their home. And she was so upset she didn't know what to do.

Elisabeth Clark Once my husband and I ripped out the white plain woodwork and trim; then replaced it all with beautiful natural dark dark oak...then all those jewel colors tumbled in all around us. Goodbye White! Fog out gray! It's color all the way!

magnolian For me, lack of color makes a house feel like a rental. The presence of color makes it feel like a home.

kennedytarheel I was intrigued by your article and comments indicating that some might or might not paint their homes with color because of a perceived rebuke by visitors. There is truth in that I think. If everyone in your "friend circle" has a beige/greige/gray interior, I suspect that you would be the talk of the circle! What would free us from the opinions of others, unshackling us to live in the house of the colors of OUR choice? I can't answer that. Perhaps we tend to be most comfortable in colors that were in our childhood home? Maybe the reverse; any color except those in our childhood home. Either way, you have done an excellent job identifying the psychological issues with color choice...though I suspect you have only exposed the tip of the iceberg.

Pär Wallin I post a pict from ma place a 18th century house wth delicate wall paintings nd color sceme .its named Ystegårn from Halsingland, pls wiew dis page for more examples : http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/gavleborg/SiteCollectionDocuments/Sv/samhallsplanering-och-kulturmiljo/byggnadsvard/projekt/halsingegardar_sveriges_nasta_varldsarv_2.pdf

Kit Lang I love colour but find bright or saturated colour often (not always) looks juvenile and/or inexpensive even if high end furnishings are used.

Because I am no expert, I use neutral backgrounds (currently bright white walls and trim, warm white soft furniture and medium/medium dark tones in woods) with lots of bright colour in the art, cushions, floor and window coverings.

Prior incarnations in my homes have used warm beiges with dark wood and rust/orange/gold accents and light gray with white trim, white furniture and black wood, black/silver accents. For someone who's not a master colour mixer like myself - neutral with a pop of colour is the only safe route to go!

Pär Wallin try again to post .........

kimlschwartz You can always pair a neutral with a complementary color ~ I love the grey/muted purple combo! It's not too feminine and makes a bold statement if the grey is dark. Red or green can be paired with taupes/browns successfully also. You don't have to choose one over the other - mix them!

hopingtogetfit I could care less what anyone else thinks of my house. Recently, we had our living room, kitchen, breakfast area, and dining room painted an off white. My friends thought I was crazy. But you know what? I LOVE IT, so I don't care. It's my house. It's soothing, crisp, and bright without being cold. I love color, but only in tiny doses (like in a throw pillow). Any more than that, I am unhappy.

gwen47 To say that people don't use color because of fear is just plain silly. All color is color, bold, neutral, even white is a color in the context of art and design. I do what I like, I don't care what others think and I don't judge others for what they like.

Yes, I have heard that ceiling fans are now passe. Really? It's not like they are difficult to change out if you sell your house and the buyer doesn't like them.

If people really care that much what others think, then using bold color isn't going to fix their problem.

Sabine French I love a room of textured neutrals, yet I am not lacking in confidence, couldn't care a twit what others think about my house, am not afraid of making a decorating mistake, etc, etc. There's a simple reason for my love of soothing neutrals: colors are too stimulating. My brain is filled with enough colorful ideas as it is. Color tires me out. Fast food restaurants are painted in bright colors -- to impart a feeling of energy, but also to keep you moving out the door! I want my home to be a retreat. Neutral color (with lots of interesting texture) does that for me.

pitbulls My husband and I have hectic demanding jobs. I want my house to be a calm serene oasis and neutrals do that for me.

Pär Wallin personally a agree wth ppl dat like calm eart colors.. like egg white n sand beige or soil brow, it is what i preferr too.. or the swedish bluegrey Gustavian style....bat still cn be amused by colorful interiors...as a contrast
I post an example ov de calm swedish bluegrey Gustavian style color.. from a Garden house wich I built some years ago...

PaintColorHelp.com Dallas Here's a big secret: it's less about what color you put on the wall, than what you put -against- it. Marie Hebsen's photo is a great example of this. You can make almost any wall color (if not too neon) look good, with the right furnishings. Or you can ruin a perfectly good paint color if combined with carpet, drape, and sofa colors that clash. And finally, a room can lack color and still be interesting, but the lack of contrast is the kiss of death.

Fabienne Gerard I like to use pastels as a way of using color in a serene, calming way the way neutrals tend to do. A mix of white and pale wood furniture and pastels make me happy, calm and inspired. What more can I ask for in a home? I don't like beiges or shabby chic, just contemporary and feminine. And let's not forget some pink ;-)

susanintoronto We have had a fairly strong yellow in our living room, dining room and up the stairs since the 90's. I've loved it but we know we need to repaint so today we actually went out and picked up a sample can of white paint. We're planning on white walls with a bright teal accent wall (we picked up a sample can of teal as well). We have a lot of colourful accents (Turkish carpets, cushions, art, etc.) plus 2 red leather tub chairs. Our sofa is oatmeal Irish linen. I'm looking forward to seeing how it looks! I honestly never thought that I'd have white walls! Mind you, I think we'll just repaint the kitchen and small TV room yellow - I love a yellow kitchen.

kbea I am not a color-phobe, neither am I afraid to use it. We recently bought a house, but before that, shopped A LOT! I've walked into rooms that practically glowed. So, while I approve the use of color, I also advise it be used tastefully. Also, from my experience (and yes I painted with a salmon pink), strong, neon-like colors grow old quickly. I'm presently redoing our master bedroom, and chose a fabric with strong colors with which to upholster my headboard and make matching cornices. It's a wonderful fabric with chocolate browns, light olive green, tans, and a touch of light aqua. I'm leaning on using a wall paper on one wall that accents the green, white shades with brown accents, and painting the other walls in shade with the lightest hint of aqua. So, while some may view neutrals as boring, they're incredibly easy to mix and match, and incredibly soothing!

devonthoney1 We are in the process of finalising a very big rebuild and my children have forced me out of my neutral focus, well certainly as far as their bedrooms are concerned. I had, for over two years, planned white and cream and stone for every room with splashes of appropriate colour in furniture and accessories. But, if I am to retain any level of credibility with my kids, that just won't be happening! My daughter painted 8 different purple swatches on the wall before selecting (and I am eternally thankful) a very lovely tone which will cover three of the four walls in her new bedroom. I am about as ready for this as I am for the teen years! My son has chosen white, red (more deep orange/red) and grey as his theme, and this sounds fabulous except that the red will go on the main focus of the room - the walls of the bay window. I have had to be pretty flexible about this and I think it will work really well, but you can tell I am VERY nervous! I will post pics when its done (if it works that is!). They have also insisted on a white and lime green bathroom which has rattled me, but thankfully they have left me to choose the exact colour which will be on the softer side of lime green (if there is such a thing!).
You are so right - we have been brainwashed into thinking neutrals are sophisticated and colour is not. The challenge for me is proving that point with the choices my children have made!

danavalery I have lots if woodwork and trim and we are repaint ring while house. My first choice was ivory white for trim but now I am afraid it won't go well with grays(do plan in using warmer grays). It's an old Victorian and I have three little kids so bright white not really am option. Advice? All Ben moore colors needed for painter. Cloud white? Seashell?

bomm Colors and even rooms that balance shades of the primary colors read as neutral, which is one reason that "muddy" paint colors such as Farrow and Ball make look so good on the wall and let you add lots of color in furnishings without making a room feel loud. Neutral does not have to mean beige or cream, and color does not have to "pop." These choices are fine; just saying you can have a room that is both colorful and serene. I was very frustrated trying to pick wall colors until I understood that "neutral" isn't (or doesn't have to be) a set of quiet colors but can result from a balance of richer colors -- an effect of the overall room, not the paint color on its own. Still needed a designer to help me achieve this, tho!

katwishing I wasn't afraid of color at all in my first home and discovered--to my surprise--that I'm very sensitive to color in my daily life. I made so many mistakes in that first home with bold colors, and then slowly learned how to use color. Sometimes a solution was counterintuitive. For example, a red sofa (mistake purchase!) actually looked less appalling once I added more red to the room. I learned that part of our reaction to color is the color balance in a room, not just the color itself. I still couldn't wait to get rid of all that red in my next house (and got a brown sofa that is so much more versatile for design), but for the time I still lived in my old house, correcting the color balance helped me live with the red. In my house now, I've selected a much more neutral palette, but in colors that I really love. I've learned I'm generally a "warm" color person for wall colors; for me, cool colors work better as accents. I know the types of color undertones I lean toward, and I've learned how different textures in a room can add almost as much interest as color. I do still have color throughout my home, but the neutral versions of them make me happy. They're peaceful, but not boring. Bold color is not something I can personally live with, as I discovered through personal experience. I also can't live with decor that's too neutral and monotone either; I need something in between. But to be honest, how can anyone learn what colors they love and live best with if they're not willing to experiment? In my mind, all my color mistakes were worth it because I finally learned what my decorating style really is. I absolutely love the style of my home now; it feels like me. I look around my finished rooms (my house is still in progress), and they continue to make me feel good, even as time passes--the true test of design done right for the homeowner.

marsia I am going with mostly neutrals for our remodel for a number of reasons. One is that we live in a house that is half in the bright sun and half in the dark shade, so I am choosing a warm neutral throughout for continuity that works everywhere and then making accent walls that go with each individual space. Also I am more into color than my better half, so agreeing on a color that we both will love is easier with neutrals. Also, we have very high ceilings so we are going to have to break out scaffolding to paint, so I am not going to want to repaint any time in the near future. Also with neutrals the walls can disappear and art and sculpture can pop.

I love how color subtly changes your mood if you are looking at large patches of it. When I look at how people painted, I first feel if the feeling I get from the color matches the feeling of the setting. If it does, I tend to really respond to the color and to the space it is in. I think that is hard to do as a non-design-professional. I tend to go for glowing and/or rich colors in my own houses. I really agree with the woman above who likes to layer texture. I think that can take the pressure off of color to provide all the interest in a room.

Nora Qudus I painted my bathroom Purple( Purple Rain Benjamen Moore) It was a makeshift bathroom added in a shed 75 years ago. I am new to the house and a can of paint was cheaper than a remodel. If I could not have elegant.... I did fun. I am happy every time I go in and I am in there more just to clean it more!

Sierra Jones I agree with most of the neutral posts. I love the calm flow of neutrals. I also love the 'pop' of adding accenting colours. I added bright green accents to my brown & taupe living room. Looks amazing!
Recently just finished our bedroom. I found the colour in an ideabook on this site, and could not match the colour code here in Canada. (American colour code) Had the hardest time matching colour based on only a picture on this site....but I DID it. The colour is a cross between deep purple, brown and mauve. I accented frames, art, & nick nacks in silver and black. All our crown and trim is white. I still can't believe I pulled it off. Even my husband
( who rarely appreciates design) stepped back when it was all done and was like 'Wow, it looks really good'.
I like what an earlier poster said when they wrote ' It's your house and once you are happy, that's all that matters!'

JAN MOYER I did this room for a client two years ago with white walls. Everyone loved it, but ...I had a yen to do it darker inky navy. Hauled out the cans again, and called the painter back... and now we are all happy. Never ignore that first urge that says GO for it. It's just color! I should add it used to be an un used living room, and changing to four chairs, plus a FLAT tv...yes!!! made it a favorite grown-up hangout.

karen paul interiors Jan, I love what you've done with the place! This is a favorite palette because it's very soothing and colorful.

JAN MOYER At KarenPaul Interiors
: ) Thank you Karen, they adore it, and note to all of us pros who only once in a "blue" moon second guess ourselves.....Don't second guess yourself! The first urge is always the BEST urge lol.

karen paul interiors It's happened to all of us from time to time. I'm in the midst of a color crisis as I write. I have a client who wanted a neutral palette and purchased a red sofa. I told her I could work with anything...and I can. However, I find myself needing to resort to an even more neutral palette to offset the red sofa. It is a piece I selected and she chose a "chameleon red" velvet for the upholstery. So it will go with many things but in the meantime I need to draw ye old color triangle long before I was ready to address it.. My original wall color was to be in a gray and then I began second-guessing myself. Now I'm doing a warm gray with white kitchen cabinets and a white built-in bookcase in the living room...all open to one another. So a large piece of "red" art in the living room, fresh red flowers in the kitchen and Barrique blanc porcelain "wood floors" to bridge the visual gap will be a start. Gray it is. She also wanted white! :)

JAN MOYER @Karen paul......
I have to wonder how she came to pick red when she started wanting a neutral palette? I always say... " Hey, I'm the travel agent . Want to go to Paris? Off we shall go, but if you take the detour alone and end up in Tijuana, don't blame the "travel agent"!". I may write a book some day..... that only other designers are allowed to read lol. Warm gray sounds good! Good luck!

karen paul interiors I just lost my coffee! I think she had a "red" moment. It's delivered and she's in love. Hopefully I can stuff her into my car and put a leash on her when she goes shopping OR perhaps put on some sort of tracking device that goes off when she's alone and at a cash register. :)

JAN MOYER @KARENPAUL
LOl I snorted my pinot! I NEVER let em off the leash! Got an e-mail the other day with the usual "what do you think links... rsvp??? I RSVP... "tell ya what! I promise not to go in the basement and put all your mistakes in the dumpster in the driveway, if you will promise not to shop?!" I hope she isn't ticked, but seriously.... why are you doing my job? Huh? I wish I had all that wasted $$$ as she tells me not to buy pillow fill, as she has "tons of leftover IN THE BASEMENT!!" The book is coming...soon.........: )

susanintoronto Wow, Jan Moyer, I hope your clients never read your comment about 'never let em off the leash' - they might just be looking for another designer.

JAN MOYER Oh girls , have a little fun huh? And if you want the best from any professional doing any kind of work in any endeavor , whether inside or outside or around or behind your home, let them first attempt to fully do what you hired them to do. Then if you aren't feeling "happy", explain why. But they are there to please you, are dying to please YOU, who hired them. And part of that, is keeping you on the path to where you said you wanted to go. If you changed your mind, they (that includes me) will be happy to adjust to a new destination. As KarenPaul is doing with the red sofa. ... but a chicken casserole rarely contains mint chocolate chips in the recipe so...don't wander too far off the aisle please? Merci !!! : )

Doreen Schweitzer Interiors, Ltd. Visual learners need color to keep their interest. Auditory or kinestetic learners can find color distracting or agitating. Neutral color schemes need texture to make them more interesting. I live in a climate with 4 seasons and I like to be surrounded by warm color.

bdcook I find it quite annoying that articles on color always are biased toward bold colors. If you think I'm wrong, read the articles and you will see the difference in language. People who like neutrals "tend to play it safe", are "afraid" of color, or "can't make up their (apparently inferior and timid) minds". Those who like color are "bold", "courageous", "adventuresome", "daring", and "confident". This mantra is repeated endlessly in design magazines, and I have yet to see any kind of proof for these statements. Maybe people who like neutrals are 'confident' and 'classy', and maybe people who like bold colors are "color challenged" or "see color oddly"!

I like neutrals because I don't like a room that 'shouts' at me - I think the most important things in a house are the people, and many rooms are designed "empty". The room then becomes 'the' thing, and people are drowned out by glaring colors and tons of accessories. And maybe it is just possible that color choices are physiological, i.e. people 'see' color differently and that there is no value judgement at all for the choice of neutral or bold colors.

pitbulls My sister is an artist and she can live with bold color.I like neutrals.I think they can be sophisticated. There is no right or wrong colors but know what makes you happy

Britastina bdcook:
Yes! Yes! Yes! Your statement about the "people in the room" has been seriously lacking in all the entries from the design professionals. We don't hire designers to further their careers. We don't live in magazine layouts. Not all of us spend our lives trying to impress any/everyone who enters our homes. My advice? Take your time. Use the colors you love. Enjoy your home with your family. If you need a professional, look at their portfolio. If you have the feeling they are not on your wavelength - wave them bye-bye! Your house - your rules! Unless you chair the Opera Gala and need your house to be "done" by the most popular designer in your city, relax. Make you and your family happy.

judyg Neutral is a word which should never be used in design because it means "lacking distinguishing characteristics". There is no color which is lacking. White can be just as astonishing as red. It is never the color, it is all about what you do with it.

astraea @bdcook – I’d take that a stop further, about “biased words”. The word bias exists no matter what position an author/designer takes; it’s written from their perspective & definitely not unbiased. The other bias is “trend”, where if something isn’t this year’s latest & greatest, you’ll hear those negative words as well .. when you know darn well that only a year ago, when that style was “hot”, the same people couldn’t say enough things about it. That’s why it’s so important that people read all the commentary .. then go with what THEY like the best!

JAN MOYER There are no "bad" colors. no right or wrong colors. There is only the wrong use of a color if you had a specific goal in mind, and you find you are met with a disappointing result. White is a color, black is a color, so are all the so called neutrals. So are magenta and school bus yellow. There is no color ANYWHERE without light. If you go in a small closet and shut the door, what color is it in there?? So it all comes down to the effect you want, the colors you like, and how they look in your light, and what you are trying to achieve. And that usually means in what proportion will you use any combination of "colors", and where, and on what!

amycecchi Astraea and Jan are right. I am not sure why such a personal decision is such a controversy. But isn't that just human nature? I can't feed my kids a snack (even if it is a piece of fruit) without someone having an opinion about it. However, individuality is what makes the world of design so incredibly interesting that we all spend so much time on Houzz! I just hope we can keep comments constructive and positive, with respect for designers and clients (who will be reading each other's comments) as partners. The designer has expertise and experience that allows clients like myself to go out on a limb, whether that is a beautiful, textural neutral palette or mind-blowing jewel tones. The best designers are flexible and aware of their client's personal aspirations for their home, and the best clients will communicate constantly with their designer so he/she can do the magic they do best. I love this website for that reason - it opens my mind to ALL of the possibilities to make my home - my environment and a reflection of my personality - exactly what I never could have dreamed by myself. Thanks to all of you who are so passionate to take the time to share, advise and commiserate! Keep the ideas and pictures coming!

JAN MOYER You go girlfriend Amy!!! Here's the thing I most notice lately: Technology has fueled desire to unreasonably lusty proportion. Often it is frustrating for clients with fewer resources, or just a desire to parlay resources in something more important to them, because one is easily led to believe that everyone lives a certain way, gets to decorate to their hearts content, has the home that dreams are made of. It simply is not true! During the Great Depression, you would have had the Sears "wish book" That's it!! Few got to travel outside their own town, let alone around the world on a laptop. The lust was attainable reality, if only because the dream wasn't as far out of reach, both literally, and figuratively. No longer true! It seems to be making people tightly wound, cranky, demanding, frustrated, and ready to shoot a messenger when the dream takes more bucks than pockets allow. So it is time for all to step back! Never lose your sense of humor about home, or the life within. None of the colors, or the sofas, or the tables can be taken with us. Am I diminishing the importance of making a home hat feels good to you and yours? No! ! It is my living ! But your children and dog, and "hubby" will be the same in any decor, any house. Health and happiness have nothing to do with a table, or the newest kitchen. And feel free to say the decorator said so, to anyone who disagrees. Have fun, spend wisely, get help, but in the end....remember the most important stuff comes first. Then laugh loudly and joyously, and carry on.

gwen47 I find this conversation very interesting on a number of levels and would like to point out that there are two groups here, looking at things a bit differently. There are people like me, trying to decorate my own home and there are professional designers. As a graphic designer, I can understand their pain somewhat. I consult with my clients all along the way and often give them what they didn't even know they wanted and they are delighted. However, there are those who keep throwing me curves and/or think they know more than they do because they worked on their high school yearbook, and insist on things which degrade the overall look of the piece. It is hard when you have created a piece which fell together even better than you expected and the client destroys it. You may think my attitude is arrogant, but I am a trained professional with some innate eye for the printed page, and if the final result is unsatisfactory, I am the one who looks bad.

So, if you're going to hire a professional, find one who will work with your tastes rather than insisting on their own and then don't go out and buy something without consulting with them.

If you're doing it on your own, do one or two things at a time rather than everything at once. That way you haven't blown your whole budget on something you end up not liking.

gwen47 I didn't see amychecci 's comment before I made mine. She said what I was trying to say much better.

bdcook @gwen47 - I used to be a forms/system designer for a large company, and spent my days designing for function. Is it clear? Is it the 'right' size for the task? Is it necessary? Useful? Easy to understand without special training? Reasonable to produce? I am not a professional home designer, but ended up getting interested when my house burned down and I had to rebuild. When I look at home design, I ask the same questions that I learned in workplace information flow design. The most important question is: Who is your audience? In a home, the audience is usually the homeowner, but may include guests or tenants. When I look at color, it must serve the audience - bottom line. That may be why I don't like color to take a center stage - it is just one element of the whole. I suspect that your background in graphics makes you have a similar mindset. I enjoyed your post and the other responses - a nice discussion!

Sheila Rich Interiors, LLC Why can't we have it both ways? Neutral, soft, monochromatic rooms can be as beautiful as dramatic colorful rooms with bold contrast. Both approaches can work together in the same house. It all depends on the mood you want to create in each space. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Good interior design has proper proportions and great interior design has happy inhabiatants.

Emiy I think we should be able to find a middle ground! See I'm a student in interior design and I love colour!! My colour teacher on the other hand tends to like the neutral better. So when I have a project to do and I want to colour I find a middle ground, let me give you an idea of what I mean :

Shea Joy The photos accompanying this article go from neutrals to extremes of color. Your points could have been better made with some mixes of neutrals and colors, as well as some softer or more sophisticated complex colors. Personally, I think the all-neutral room is dated and too safe. And don't get me started on the subject of the ubiquitous "Candice Olson" et al aquas. I'd love to see some before and after photos of rooms brought to life with more color.

JAN MOYER I think Vanessa did a great job making the point that the "camps" are split, and include EVERYTHING in between a whole "lotta color", no "color" and calm with a little color, or a lot of color with a little calm neutral tossed in. Or a mix! My guess is she doesn't get to do a 200 photo ideabook for each and every scenario one can envision, or needs advice on, or likes. You can add and subtract color at will, and there are no rules. What makes you happy? But I don't understand what the brou- ha is in the first place, as there are no bad colors. Only a bad proportional use of them or a result that disappoints you. If you're happy, no matter where you fall on the spectrum or color wheel and it's endless possibilities... it is as intended. Happiness : ) But Vanessa made her point pretty darn well in text and photo compilation!

Britastina Please, please, please! This isn't about vibrant vs neutral. This is personal. But. It should be about walls, windows, natural light (or lack of) and how you and your family wants to feel in the room. The house and how it is situated on the lot that will dictate a lot of your color choices. Also, the windows that control how much light is allowed in each room and the walls/doors that cut off the light will have an impact. Three different houses will elicit different color choices no matter which side of the spectrum you fall on. Calling everybody's baby ugly simply alienates everyone. I lean towards calmer colors. I also appreciate and use vibrant colors. I use both liberally. I have owned 10 houses and none have resembled the others. The climate, weather and the setting and landscaping have influenced each home. My advice: relax, make your home your own - one your family is happy in. When you walk in the door, you know you're home!

jojodave I've found that a very grayed down shade of a color still has plenty of punch when painted one walls. Often these grayed shades look drab on a sample, but are full of color on walls.

tammytimamy I love colour, but tend to go for a neutral base, so accessories can easily be changed if I fancy it e.g. my bathroom has had blue accessories, then red, now grey and black, just because I needed/fancied changing the towels and bits and bobs, all in the space of four years!
As I live in rented (military) accommodation, I can't do much proper decorating, so I went for chocolate sofas and a large beige rug, and oak furniture as a backdrop for calming duck egg blue and touches of deep blue accessories in the living room and kitchen/diner. It's calming but cosy, and I love the softness of the blue.
Upstairs in the north facing guest room I have deep browns with orange accessories with hints of teal (so the browns and 'blue' tie-in with downstairs). It really 'warms' that room up!
My bedroom is a contrast to the rest of the house with dark would contemporary furniture, black curtains, lamp shades, rugs and cushions, mixed with neutral bed linen and lots of silver and sparkle! There are also just a couple of hints of deep plum/pink in a canvas on the wall and a jewellery box. It feels really cosy and inviting when it's bed time!

Cozy Casita @Par Wallin .. Thanks for posting those fabulous photos !

Pär Wallin ur welcome !am happy you like them !

Aprilis One of my biggest issues is I am a bohemian color-lover and my hubby is a beige and brown kinda guy. I have been able to work pretty well with that...not without some conflict...but then my mother comes into the picture and her very strong opinion (which she gives freely) speaks the the very traditional (Veranda, Traditional Homes, etc.) and she wants to come into my house and "fix" my choices. I struggle with that a lot. I have a pair of curtains from a beloved aunt's house (she has passed away) that I have carried for 20 years. They are from the late 1960's and excellent quality. I have them in my living room. They are very bold and patterned and boho like me. What can I do about being affected by Mom's opinions about my choices????

Autumn Barnum Love the bright bright colors! I do not care for neutrals. However since moving into an apartment after owning a home for 30 years it has been a difficult transition, I have added lots of color around the place and that helps some;but just not the same as paint. When My husband goes on a business trip the next time; I am painting these walls!!

Pär Wallin hi again.. a will post a vid from a swedish wooden casle from the 18tht century..notable is the pale colours..that became so swedish during that period..

Pär Wallin it is a representative vid showing one of swedens most complete cultural heritages Gunnebo Casle.

cheals This article brought back such a funny memory for me. After my husband and I bought our first home we painted it all kinds of what I thought were fun colors. We had some friends and family over soon after we were done painting. My husbands cousin (not knowing we had painted) told us the house was great and it would look even better once we painted it... :)

Elisabeth Clark I agree with karen paul interiors. Color can be heavenly artistic. I'm already sick of gray walls, stainless steel, and white white white.