When you hear the word color, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s the hours you spent studying paint samples for a statement wall? Or the day you took a risk trying peel-and-stick wallpaper for the first time? When making decisions that involve color, it’s easy to go with what we know works. After all, home is our comfort zone, so it makes sense that our design choices would reflect that at times. In many minds, color = a commitment. But today we’re making a case that it doesn’t have to be.
Although paint and wallpaper are a worthwhile investment, there are plenty of other ways to color outside the lines when it comes to home design. Subtle hints and hues, here and there, can add personality without going all out. So, let’s get into it! We’re sharing a handful of low-risk ways to add a dash of color—no wallpaper or paint required.
01: Light the Way
A timeless go-to (and one of Jo’s favorite pieces to have on hand when styling): tapers + candlesticks. They offer more than just ambience—they add structure, height, light, and, in some cases, color! Choosing a few out-of-the-box hues to mix and match lends an understated palette to your tablescape or mantel decor. In our opinion, you can never have too many. Bonus: They’re easy to store!
02: Let Nature Flourish
If you’re looking for color inspiration, start outside. The colors out there translate just as beautifully indoors. They’re a lovely way to set the tone for the season at home. Consider leaving your farmers market peaches on display or filling a large serving bowl with harvest from the garden as a lively infusion of color. Plus, you’re more prone to use up produce if it’s in plain sight.
03: Play Up Shelves
It’s only natural we want our home to feel in order. Clean space, clean mind—right? But there’s a difference between clutter and a tasteful use of color. Consider going through your drawers and cabinets to find utilitarian pieces worthy of display. (Think patterned tea towels, colored glassware, enamel-covered spoons, etc.) Wall shelves and cabinets offer ample opportunity to highlight these daily essentials or knickknacks tied to a memory. You may be surprised how things hidden in the name of clutter can become focal points of a well-balanced home by simply bringing them into your line of sight.
04: Make a Vase of It
Where there’s a vessel, there’s a vase in the making. Baskets, pitchers, even a repurposed jam jar—they all have potential to carry color. This season, try clipping some garden-grown blooms or customizing faux greenery to naturally weave bolder hues into a room with more muted or minimalist tones. Displaying floral arrangements in unexpected places—like a shower ledge, bedside table, or tiny bud vase on a console—is a welcome way to add life and a shapely take on color. Plus, making this a habit can be a seasonal rhythm that fuels creativity.
05: Switch a Shade
Looking for a subtle way to switch it up? Take inventory of the lamps you have in each room and where there’s an opportunity to tap into a new tone. Our Mix + Match Lamps make this easy with interchangeable bases and shades that suit every style, any season. Don’t be afraid of a little pattern! Switching the shade and keeping the base the same is a risk-free way to try something new and shift the feeling of a room. It can be a trial run to see how a specific color or pattern brightens a space.
06: Layer Up
A neutral here, a pattern there. When it comes to layering in colorful textiles, sometimes less is more. It could be as simple as flanking your sofa with a pair of pastel-colored pillows in spring, or adding a flat sheet in a deep, rich hue to your bed stack in the fall. Refreshing pillows, throws, and bedding doesn’t always require an overhaul—start with a couple of new colors that speak to you and have fun adjusting as you go.
07: Create Your Own
Perhaps the greatest way to add color to your home is to create it through works of art. This doesn’t just apply to finished art—but the process, too. Creativity tends to spur more creativity, so leaving your hobbies and craft supplies on display can further inspire a home that reflects the things you love.
If you’re looking for a place to start, consider our Magnolia WorkshopsOpens in new tab on YouTube. These expert-led courses cover anything from the basics of paintingOpens in new tab to handcrafted home projectsOpens in new tab—and are completely free to watch!
