Color is the life of the party, especially in the hands of great designers, who rarely confine it to sofa pillows and vases. We reached out to eight talented pros and asked how they deliver color in savvy and surprising ways. Their answers go beyond the obvious, landing on overlooked surfaces, architectural details and bold applications that feel less like decoration and more like delight.
BOLD BUILT-INS
“I can’t think of a better way to add color to a room than through the architectural elements of built-in cabinetry. It’s a must-do in all of my very favorite spaces.” —CARA FOX, THE FOX GROUP
SHIMMERING STONE
“One of my favorite, and extremely underrated, ways to introduce color and drama into a space is by backlighting slabs of natural stone. When illuminated, the stone’s inherent veining and tonal depth comes alive, oftentimes revealing hues that could potentially go unnoticed otherwise.” —JULIA ROBERTS, HUGA HOME
UNEXPECTED ACCESSORIES
“I’m a big fan of [using] vintage toys or sports equipment as decor and shelf-styling opportunities. A thrifted vintage toy truck in a perfect cobalt blue, multicolor vintage rubber balls or skateboard wheels can be another nod to a color story.” —STEPHANIE HUNT, THE FLAIRHUNTER
WORK SPACES
“By embracing unexpected hues, utilitarian spaces—including pantries, laundry rooms and even closets—can shift from purely practical to powerfully memorable. Here, a bold, juicy wash of color and pattern transforms this pantry into an immersive design moment.” —KRISTIN ROCKE, K. ROCKE DESIGN
ACCENT LIGHTING
“We love using colored light fixtures as bold, jewelry-like accents, especially in a moody, monochromatic space. It’s an easy way to bring energy and make even the smallest room feel intentional and well-designed.” —MADISON STEWART, SENIOR DESIGNER AT ALICE LANE INTERIOR DESIGN
IN FULL FORCE
“We are currently loving the ‘color drenching’ trend. For a recent home office and music room project, we customized the wallpaper that wrapped all the walls in a gorgeous burgundy red. We then painted the ceiling and trim in a slightly darker shade. The resulting space felt intentional and timeless, although completely drenched in color.” —ANDREA WEST, ANDREA WEST DESIGN
CURATED COLLECTIONS
“We like to introduce color where it feels integrated rather than applied, using architectural elements, material choices and subtle finishes. Tinted plaster, expressive stone or softly toned drapery allow color to unfold naturally, while smaller details like picture frames and subtle embroidery add a collected, personal layer without overwhelming the space.” —YVONNE CHRISTENSEN AND NICHOLE SPEARS, HOUSE WEST DESIGN
ARCHITECTURAL TRIM
“I love introducing color in ways people don’t expect—through trim, molding, door and window casings, baseboards and even ceiling moldings. Painted thoughtfully, these architectural details frame walls and passageways, highlight the home’s design, and tie together a room’s palette. It’s subtle but powerful: a small splash of color in the right place can completely change how a space feels, giving it depth, personality and a sense of cohesion that you might not notice consciously—but you definitely feel.” —GREGG HODSON OF GREGG HODSON INTERIOR DESIGN
Color Crush
The paint colors top designers are loving most: MOUNT ETNA — Sherwin-Williams — Gregg Hodson, Gregg Hodson Interior Design. PARMA GRAY — Farrow & Ball — Cara Fox, The Fox Group. GARRISON RED — Benjamin Moore — Andrea West, Andrea West Design. BURGUNDY — Sherwin-Williams — Julia Roberts, Huga Home. TROPICAL ORANGE — Benjamin Moore — Kristin Rocke, K. Rocke Design. CHARTREUSE — Benjamin Moore — Stephanie Hunt, The Flairhunter.
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