Reinvent Your Space with Color

At the beginning of every summer I draft a list of house projects to complete before the fall semester starts.  Now that stores are stocked with back-to-school supplies and my work inbox is seeing substantially more email activity, it's obvious that we're nearing the final hurrah of summer -- and that my window for home projects is shutting.

Given that, it's high time to share the DIY highlights from the summer! 

This week on the blog I'll be posting about decorating ideas, organizational tips, and simple DIY projects that have helped me beautify my space creatively and economically.  Today's post is all about color

Historically, I've been a person who's a bit skittish about extreme color.  (This may originate from one bad experience in my early twenties with hair dye.  Never again.)  I've played it safe and kept the walls of my house neutral.  Still, neutral walls and floors provide a clean foundation to bring in the colorful accents that you love.

Right now, I'm drawn to bright, fresh hues of green and blue.  Lime green especially.  Lime it up, baby.  These four streamlined pots in this eye-catching shade brightens the half-wall that separates my kitchen from our family room without major color commitment.


If you're looking for more commitment, one stand-out piece of furniture (in this case, an armchair that I picked up at a discount furniture store) can highlight a beloved color.  I snagged the accent pillow for $5 at a housewares store and then picked up the ceramic footstool (also at a significantly discounted price due to a chip on one side) for one final pop of color.

  
If you're nervous about taking the color plunge, remember that color almost always can be changed.  If I'm tired of lime green in a few years, I'll simply spray paint the pots and ceramic footstool, which is a remarkably easy and inexpensive way to freshen up an old piece.

Speaking of paint, this bench sits at our table along the half-wall in our kitchen.  It sees a lot of wear and tear: food splatters from meals, spilled drinks, and messes from kid's craft projects.  To protect and beautify the bench, I lightly sanded and sealed it with three coats of high-gloss paint left over from my computer desk project.


What a difference!  The green is now carried through my house: cabbage green bench in the kitchen and on our computer desk, lime green potted plants on the half-wall between the kitchen and family room, and the chartreuse arm chair in the family room.


Of course, once I start painting I tend to get on a roll.  I've owned this decoration for nearly a decade, and while I still liked the form and concept, I wasn't crazy about the colors. 


The solution was obvious: paint.  I lightly roughed up the individual plates with fine sandpaper, kept the largest center plate untouched as an anchor for the piece, and then branched out with a soothing palate of greens, blue, and neutrals before sealing the decoration with a low-gloss polyurethane spray.


And just like that, with a few simple accents and coats of paint, a fresh color scheme weaves its way through all the rooms on the downstairs level of my house. 

Like I said, lime it up, baby!
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Stop back tomorrow for a terrifically simple DIY tip that solves a common problem in small bathrooms.  And if you haven't already, feel free to hang out with me on Facebook or even have new blog posts delivered directly to your inbox!  (Simply add your email to the email subscription box in the right column.) 

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2 comments

  1. I love all the LIME! Beautiful and such pop and pow!

    Such clever solutions to transform the look of your home. I especially love the pots... perfectly green.

    Thanks for sharing! I can't wait to see what else you have in store for us.
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jennifer! I love the lime, too! It's instantly added personality to the home. :)

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