Color is everywhere. In nature, on TV and computers, at work and at restaurants. You can’t help loving color, embracing it and expecting it. “Since the '60s, we’ve had more significant experiences with color,” says Margaret Walch, director of the Color Association of the United States. “People in their 20s grew up with color and expect whatever they want to be available in the color they want. I remember having to accept color, going to buy a car and the only option was gray. It’s now a matter of color expectation.” So why so many bedrooms are still blah beige and living rooms as neutral as Switzerland? Perhaps it’s time to take advantage of all the color that’s out there and welcome it into our homes. After all, “color adds life and interest,” reminds Watch. And with a little advice from experts, it’s easier than you may think to take color by the horns and tame it for your home.

The Rule of Three
“Most people are afraid to use too many colors, but what they often fail to see is that it’s the way they use and place color that can make or break the room,” says Forobabel.org design consultant Margaret Sheldon, who proposes an easy “rule of three” that can help infuse your home with vitality.

Decorate your space with tiers of color. Begin with a rug, fabric or wallpaper you love and look closely at what colors are in it. “The rug is a good place to start because it warms the room and you can build up,” suggests Sheldon. “You want the color you choose to appear three times in the room. For example, in the rug, in the drapes or sofa fabric and then in an accent like throw pillows, decorative balls or even a mantel’s candlesticks. Mantels are a great place because they’re at eye level.”

Accents are an easy, inexpensive way to add color to an interior that needs a boost. Colored pillows or a chenille throw stylishly draped over your sofa are simple but powerful design solutions. Area rugs, vases and even fresh flowers are other options you can easily add and change to match your mood.

The Front End of the Rainbow (or Where to Begin)
Color is personal. You need to select home colors that you like and can live with. Consider these questions:

• What colors are already in the room? Do you have a favorite piece of furniture, fabric or rug?
  If you already like a color, it’s a great starting point, because you know you can live with it. If your favorite piece has a pattern, look closely: it can give you clues as to what colors work well together and in what proportions.
• What colors do I love? What colors make me happy?
  If you don’t have an immediate answer to this question, check your closet. Does one color dominate? Design consultant Sheldon, who is trained as an architect, was recently working with a client to choose wall colors for a new house. After finally finding the perfect bedroom color, the client realized it was the same shade as her favorite coat. When you like a color, you really like a color.

Keep your eyes open – beautiful color and color combinations are all around you. Home magazines, stores and restaurants are good places to explore your palette preferences and can help you see how colors work together. Think of places that you enjoy and how their decor and color scheme contribute to your pleasure. “When you’re a kid, you pick a favorite color and you always buy the same color lollipop at the store. As an adult, when you buy sheets, you probably stick to the same color families and tones. It’s an instinct. You should pay attention to that,” advises Edmund Wise, another design consultant at Forobabel.org.

Creating Your Environment

Colors have both visual and psychological effects on how you feel. People react differently to colors, just as they like and dislike certain foods. Even colors in the same family can evoke very different responses. For example, lime, forest and sage green each bring a distinctive tone and attitude to an interior while having the same base color. Greens, like other cool colors, make rooms feel lighter and bigger. Although these hues can feel cold on their own, they can have a dramatic effect when combined with other colors. Most greens lend a quiet tranquility and, in dark hues, recall the richness of nature. Use in kitchens, bathrooms, living apartments, dining rooms, patios and any place else you want a sense of the great outdoors. Light blue adds airiness and evokes the sky, perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, saunas, nurseries and any other space for relaxing. Rich blues allude to night skies and create deep, quiet drama; turquoise freshens up a space, clearing your mind and aiding in communication – a good choice for small rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and studies.

Reds, oranges and yellows add warmth to a space and make an interior cozier. Red is better for small spaces and finishing touches than large areas. Because it stimulates your metabolism and neural development, bright red is a good accent choice for kitchens, exercise rooms and playrooms, while deep reds work well in dining and living rooms. Pink is more nurturing and encourages rest and relaxation. Try it in bedrooms, rooms for the elderly and spaces where therapeutic and tranquil feelings are the goal.

Orange can offer an upbeat, supportive and friendly tone. Try it in kitchens, playrooms, studies, halls, living rooms and dining apartments. Peach tones, which make everyone look good regardless of skin coloring, are terrific for any room where you want your guests to look their best. Yellow adds the warm energy of a sunny day. This mentally stimulating color is suitable for living rooms, dining rooms, family rooms and kitchens. A creamy yellow adds a bit of life to bedrooms and studies without overwhelming.

You’ll want to be sure you can live with violets, purples and magentas – a little bit goes a long way. These colors create rich cocoons that are warm but very powerful. Try in bedrooms, entrances, studies and meditation spaces. Click here to learn more about “Color Theory” and how to use this powerful decorating tool.

White, black, brown, gray, gold and silver are all neutral colors, most often used to contrast and highlight cool and warm colors. Black tends to make spaces appear smaller; brown conveys earth, nurturing and warmth; gold adds sparkle and inspiration and silver signifies change, coolness and femininity. But mixing neutrals does not always result in a dreary monotonous scheme. In fact, contrasting dark and light neutrals can create a sophisticated, understated look, recalling modern and Oriental designs. Even pale neutrals can be used together for a Zen-like effect. And mixing it up where textures are concerned can make your apartments that much more luxurious. Just remember, confidence and a love of color can go a long way together.

Whatever color you choose or however bold or subtle you decide to go, color is about personal style. “Luckily, furniture is so transitional today, incorporating traditional motifs with more modern appeal, that people may comfortably work with nearly any color range they like,” notes Wise. “As long as they are coordinating colors and patterns, they will be able to create a living space that is ideal for them.”