Painting with Bold Colors

Bold Color in Small Rooms

Q: I love surrounding myself with bold colors, but I don't want to overpower the small rooms in my older home. How can I incorporate bright colors?

A: You don't need to paint an entire room to brighten it up. Colorful accessories such as rugs, throw pillows, and window treatments will add punch to a room painted a neutral shade, and the color will be contained in small areas, making it easy to change or eliminate if you decide later that you don't like it.

If you truly want to surround yourself in color, take some tips from the pros:

• To avoid shrinking a room, use a light or medium color on all four walls and the ceiling.
• If you want to use a darker color, consider painting one accent wall in that color, then painting the remaining walls with a lighter tone of the same shade (mix in white paint), or with a different neutral color that sets off the bold color.
• If your space is more modern, consider painting bold stripes on a neutral wall. Vertical stripes will make a room appear taller, and horizontal stripes will make it seem wider.