Big Colour, Small Spaces

Bold colours are the style this year, but not everyone can really enjoy tangerine walls or an ultramarine ceiling. How can you bring big, bright colours into your decorating without feeling overwhelmed?

Here's a trick that works -- paint those bold shades into small spaces:

• The edges of shelves.You can even use multiple colours on a shelving unit for a controlled yet festive look.
• The back of a shelving unit or cabinet. Leave the shelves themselves neutral or natural and get a pop of colour behind the books or dishes. 
• The risers of stairs. Neutral walls and stairs with a great colour on the risers looks stylish without creating stress. 
• A focus wall. A large living room wall in solar yellow or cockatoo blue might be too much, but a smaller wall in a foyer, powder room, or kitchen can look fabulous.
• Mouldings and trim. This small areas have to be taped off and then painted carefully with a brush, but they're a great place for a strong contrast. If you get tired of it, you can repaint with a small quantity of paint, but think ahead. Choose a lighter bold colour and keep a darker, more subdued one in mind. Covering bright yellow with deep blue is easier than starting with scarlet and trying to cover it with biscuit. 

Before we leave the subject, consider that people really do get tired of bold colours. If bright purple is your favorite colour, you wear it often, and you always love it, then bellflower purple may be the perfect choice for you. If you have no purple in your closet, and you loved it in a magazine, remember that some of that may be the skill of the photographer or the appeal of a trendy look.