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Refresh!

Colorful design ideas can revitalize your home.

StatePoint
his season, take your design
vision to the next level with easy
DIY projects that enhance neu-
tral room settings using colorful home
accents, wallpaper and lighting.
If you are looking to elegantly redesign
the spaces in your home, consider taking
your cues from the latest trends in the
luxury market. Neutral color palettes and
soft, soothing shades, such as gray, taupe
and cream are on the rise among today’s
luxury homes and adding touches of
color will help personalize these spaces.
“Neutral color schemes are versatile,

T

sophisticated and best of all, easy to live
with,” says James Thomas, senior product
designer for residential lighting manufac-
turer Progress Lighting.
But design experts point out that add-
ing carefully selected accessories and
home accents in bolder colors can be a
pleasing way to customize the spaces in
your home.
“Color selection is one of the first ways
I create visual interest in any neutral
space,” says Tracey Amadio of Porch
Daydreamer Design Blog, who lists sap-
phire, turquoise, dusty pink and lavender
as popular color choices.

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40

August 9 • 2018

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To add a splash of color to your neutral
settings, try these design ideas.
• Refresh home accessories: Home
accents, such as throw pillows, blankets
and rugs, are items that can be quickly
updated and, therefore, more trend-cen-
tric. These items are guaranteed to add a
pop of color to the room.
Additionally, Amadio says, more and
more designers are choosing rich hues
over white for accent furniture, kitchen
islands and bathroom cabinets.
• Update an accent wall with wallpa-
per: Wallpaper is making a comeback in a
big g way.
patterns and
y There are lots of fun p

colors to explore. Incorporate textured
wallpaper to a powder room or smaller
living area to add color and dimension.
• Incorporate mixed metals: Mixed
metals are also emerging as a way to
bring dimension and interest to a home’s
color palette. This look can be achieved
through mixing fixtures with different —
but complementary — finishes.
“Many of our new lighting offerings
showcase dual finishes or mixed metal
accents that really punch up the look of a
fixture, which would be an eye-catching
addition to a neutral color scheme,”
Thomas says.
y •