It’s usually our walls that get the most attention when we consider integrating color into our spaces, but I’m excited to share this article I collaborated on with Redfin and other amazing design experts to reveal 23 unexpected places where you can get creative and add accent colors to liven up your home!
Spoiler, mine is #14! Which is your favorite idea?! Let me know in the comments!
First published on July 19, 2021 by Hannah Tan
The yellow paint behind the media center creates a fun focal point while infusing color and character. Image sourced by Redfin.
1) Paint a mini accent wall behind floating shelves
For a perfect DIY decor project with little work but lots of impact, add a square or rectangular block of a bold color behind the shelves. If you’re terrible at painting straight lines, you can frame the block with rail molding or use bold wallpaper. Include items on the shelves that coordinate and compliment the bold accent color. This allows your shelves to look bigger and gives an intentional feeling to otherwise plain shelves. –Amble & Awe Interiors
2) Bring character to your walls and surfaces
A splash of color on a feature wall can go a long way in giving your space a makeover. You can paint a design or lean on contrasting colors to completely change a room’s look and feel. And even if you’re a renter, there are plenty of products on the market specifically designed for renters with an eye for design who want to incorporate accent colors into their space. Use temporary wallpaper and stickers to change the appearance of your walls without falling foul of your contract. –Cobalt Blue 1802
Dramatic bold navy adds a sense of intrigue to the entryway. Image sourced by Redfin
3) Add colorful personality to your front entryway
You have your own personality, so why not have it also shine through your home? Your front entryway is your guest’s first impression when walking into your home, so let it stand out by adding a bold accent color. You can do this by painting a console table or even adding a bold printed wallpaper to a furniture piece or wall. –Kenna Mae Interior Design
4) Pull color inspiration from your decor
Spruce up your boring walls by pulling a bold, bright color from an existing pillow or draperies in your space. You need to ensure that the bold color relates to something else in the room to give that true ‘designer look’ and tie the space together. For example, you can pull a bright orange from a pillow and incorporate it into a bench seat while also applying it to one of the walls. –Jil Sonia Interiors
5) Give your kitchen cabinets a bold makeover with an accent color
Painting cabinets is a surefire way to liven up any kitchen! View more from this portfolio project here. (c) Liz Gaffney Design
Adding a paint color can make all the difference to your space. For a bold and quick makeover, paint your cabinets using Sherwin Williams Universal Khaki (SW6150) to add that pop of color your kitchen needs. –CW Design
6) Don’t forget the fifth wall – add color to your ceiling
Not sure where to add some color? Just keep your chin up. Take full advantage of the fifth wall by adding some color or pattern. The ceiling is often a forgotten space, but it’s the perfect accent wall because it covers the entire space. –Inside Stories
7) Add a pop of color to your powder room
If you’d like to add bold color to your home without overcommitting, try paint or wallpaper in your powder room. It can offer a fun, unexpected element to an area where friends and family typically spend a short amount of time. And don’t stop at the walls; the ceiling is a great place to add unexpected color too. –Letter Four
The light pink ceiling beautifully softens the intensity of the blue walls. By painting the ceiling, the design is further dramatized. Image sourced by Redfi.
8) Highlight hallways doors with accent colors
Hallway doors, while highly functional, tend to be mundane. Breathe life into your hallways by painting the doors in beautiful colors. Whether you unify them with one single hue, watercolor them with different shades of the same hue, or go all out in an homage to the rainbow doors of Ireland, this design statement will change the way you feel about hallways forever. –Gretchen Schauffler
9) Introduce accent colors to your kitchen cabinets
If you are looking to add a splash of color to your kitchen, consider painting your cabinet doors a contrasting color to the base of your cabinets. This will create another layer of color and add a new dimension to your space. Ramp it up a notch by replacing your cabinet panels with glass. –Lindsey Murillo Interiors
10) Add interest with a vibrant trim
People tend to think of a bold color for the wall paint – but it’s much more unexpected to do a pop of color on the trim. A cherry red, navy blue, robin’s egg blue, or even mustard would look chic on the baseboards, crown, and window molding. Pair with a complementary wall color, wallpaper, or a soft white for a unique and memorable look. –Maggie Stephens Interiors
11) Refresh your stairs with accent colors
I LOVE a fun powder room!! This wallpaper blends the power of pattern and character of color all in one. Image sourced by Redfin
Instead of leaving your staircase to fade away into the background, incorporate it with the rest of your home’s color scheme by painting it a vibrant color. Not ready to take the plunge? Test the waters by painting a lesser-seen set of stairs first – like your basement or attic stairs. –Arters Design
12) Use accent colors to highlight a focal point in your home
Accent walls are a great way to add unexpected excitement to your space. Use color to emphasize a focal point in a room, such as a fireplace, built-ins, or a large window. Balance an accent wall with a neutral color on the other adjoining walls in a light to medium neutral color. –Dwell & Oak
13) Personalize your space with colorful fabric
One of my favorite ways to add color is with fabric. If you’re a little scared to upholster your entire sofa, liven up your pillows with a fun pattern. Pillows are the perfect place to start, and you can always switch them out when the time is right. –Lauren Ashley Design
Throwback to when I transformed the closet in our bedroom into a temporary nursery… Don’t underestimate the power of a closet folks! View more from this project here. (c) Liz Gaffney Design
14) Add interest to your closet with a fun color or wallpaper
Consider revamping a closet with a fun color or wallpaper to create a beautiful space for an entirely different purpose. We painted our closet a deep shade of blue and outfitted it with a changing table, wardrobe, shelving, a rug, and décor to create a makeshift nursery for our new baby boy. Repurposing a closet to utilize as an office, craft area, kids play space, or reading nook are great creative options, too. –Liz Gaffney Design
15) Use your artwork as inspiration to form a color palette
Buy a piece of art or choose a beloved piece that you already own and pick out 3-5 of the brightest colors in the artwork to use as the accent color palette in your home. From there, you can take a leap and be bold when you are painting your home. Take color risks in smaller rooms like powder rooms and guest rooms, and paint the color you love on all the walls and ceiling (use a washable low sheen paint so the color appears more saturated).
Bonus tip: Nix the matchy-matchy. One common mistake is trying to match everything to each other. For your home, try to pick five colors you like together as a base for your decor. Three of them should be neutrals, and two can be bright accent colors! –Color & Design Collective
16) Add accent colors to a folding screen
In 2021, the use of folding screens has become very popular as we can use them as our Zoom backgrounds while working from home. I recommend that the screens be painted quite soberly on one side, matching your neutral wall decor, while the other can incorporate a more adventurous zing of vibrant color. I love Farrow and Ball’s Yellow Cake or a neon-esque hot pink opera rose red hue like Benjamin Moore’s Blushing Red. –Áine Atara
17) Refresh utility rooms with accent colors
The vibrant and eclectic decor inspired the choice of color for these walls. View more from this project here. (c) Liz Gaffney Design.
Who said utility rooms have to be boring? Be daring with your color choices. Midnight blue cabinets with hot pink interiors set against a crisp white background will undoubtedly get you in the mood for cleaning. Complete the look with hot pink and luxurious gold decorative accents to really pack a punch. –L’atelier Kauldhar
18) Give your mudroom the attention it deserves
Make your mudroom colors a bold and welcoming accent to your home by incorporating bright colors, both on walls and millwork. Don’t be afraid to try classics like Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy or North Sea. Should you feel especially inspired, try a stand-out color like BM’s Admiral Blue. Add a whimsical touch by using a chalk paint for writing family schedules, shopping lists, messages, and inspirational words. –Luxe Design
19) Use a bold accent color to create a cozy atmosphere
Most have heard that dark ceilings make a room feel smaller, and while this is true, it doesn’t make it a no-no in all instances. Sometimes when a room is too large to relax in, and you need a cozy, more human scale space, a dark ceiling can quickly reduce the large expansive feeling of a room to that of a perfect nook to lounge in. Bold saturated colors in paint or wallcoverings on the ceiling is a great way to personalize and humanize large spaces to feel more comfortable. –BMorCreative
20) Spruce up your wall trims
After the gloomy year we’ve experienced, color pops and accents are the perfect additions to making your room unique and happy. Pops of color enhance the feel and interest of a room, and adding bright trim paint to your room awakens the space and makes it shine. –Jenn Cameron Interiors
21) Add a wow factor to your entryway by painting your stairs in a bold accent color
The blue theme carries throughout this otherwise very simple space. By adding the wallpaper on the back wall, I was able to achieve a pop of color without it being overwhelmingly bold. View more from this project here. (c) Liz Gaffney Design.
Stairs are usually a boring feature in any home. Why not transform them into a statement piece? You could paint the individual spindles on your staircase in graduating shades or paint the face of each step in different colors for a rainbow effect. –Loving Quarters
22) Incorporate accent colors in high traffic areas within your home
A mudroom is a hectic space where families drop off their gear, whether it’s a book bag, handbag, or briefcase, but it doesn’t have to be left out. Painting the walls an accent color can lift the room, bring it to life, and make it the perfect first impression. I recommend Benjamin Moore Night Train 1567, Benjamin Moore Metropolitan AF-690, Benjamin Moore Hail Navy HC-154, Benjamin Moore Navy Masterpiece 1652, or Benjamin Moore Nantucket Fog AC-22 as accent color options for the space. –Bina Murphy Interiors
23) Frame fabric to create a colorful art piece
Do you have extra scraps of colorful upholstery fabric from past projects that you have tucked away in your home? Use the leftover fabric and place it in a frame with matting. Framed fabric art is a simple way to add interest and texture to your home without a lot of effort. –Jewel Marie Interiors