Are you in love with Very Peri - Pantone’s Color of the year in 2022 - just like us?
As the global authority on color trends, Pantone chose Very Peri to reflect the spirit of the transformational times we’re living. It’s dynamic, creative, and radiates positive energy.
Our long-term clients have been asking how to incorporate this bold but serene color in their NYC homes, which inspired this post.
So, bold colors in small spaces - sounds intimidating, doesn’t it? Conventional design wisdom discourages homeowners from using dark and bold colors in small spaces to avoid visual shrinking and overcrowding.
And we get that.
But that doesn’t mean you have to stick to neutrals all the time, especially if you like bold colors. Your home can and should reflect who you are!
Keep reading to find out how you can incorporate bright and bold colors in small spaces (including some bonus tips on using Very Peri in your NYC home).
1. Personalize your space with colorful home decor
Decorating with colorful accessories is a smart, low commitment way to include bold colors in a small space.
There are many ways to include color in your NYC home without overwhelming the senses, from bright throw blankets and cushions for a neutral couch to a cheerful rug.
Create a focal point with a colorful coffee table or a statement chair.
Jazz up a corner with a playful vase.
Turn heads with vivid artwork.
Anything’s possible when you have a big vision for your space.
2. Experiment with colorful accents
Another great way to play with colors in a small space is to experiment with accents. And for that, we recommend using one or two contrasting colors consistently.
With a neutral color as a base, colorful accents on window sills, shelves, photo frames, lampshades, or stems can make a small room feel alive and vibrant.
The key to experimenting with colorful accents is simple: ensure there’s lots of negative space between the accent pieces.
3. Add bold stripes
Painting stripes is a simple way to add a pop of color to small spaces, especially in your living room and bedroom. Pick out a color that contrasts (but doesn’t clash) with your current color scheme and paint vertical or horizontal lines on a nearly-bare wall. Stripes create an illusion of expansion by prompting your eyes to travel upwards or sideways. This means you can safely include bold colors in a small space without closing it off.
4. Decorate with houseplants
House plants are a great way to add color to a small space without making it feel overcrowded. You can either create a dedicated nook for your plants or place them strategically around the room(s) - think colorful succulents on shelves and window sills or smaller plants in colorful hanging pots or macrame hangers.
We love Arrowhead plants, Boston Fern, Burro’s Tail, and Chenille plants with the fuzzy red blooms for those hanging planters!
Medium-sized, low-maintenance plants like Snake plants and ZZ plants are also great for busy NYC homeowners.
Which brings us to this question: should you include flowering plants in your home? And the answer is: it depends.
Flowering plants need a lot of care, so if you’re new to plant parenting or usually super busy, we recommend circling back to this idea later.
And finally, you can also place a terrarium on your coffee table, desk, or nightstand for a lush, fresh look.
5. Consider contrasting colors for woodwork
Choosing contrasting colors for wall moldings, paneling, joinery, skirting boards, etc., is a great way to include color in your space without making it look smaller.
If you’re feeling playful and bold, choose jewel tones like teal, classic blue, amethyst, emerald, etc. But if you’re skeptical about how that may turn out, go for pastel shades instead.
This will help you accentuate your NYC home’s finest architectural features and balance out the neutral shades in the space.
Bonus: How to use Pantone’s Very Peri in your home
The great thing about Very Peri is that it’s both bold and breezy - which means it will add a pop of color to your space without shrinking it visually. If you’re committed to it, it’s a nice shade to use for an accent wall.
We also love the idea of flowy Very Peri drapes along with blush or white paintwork. Other than that, you can use varying shades of Very Peri as bed linens, artwork, for upcycled furniture, etc. - the possibilities are endless.
Is your renovation on hold because you thought you could only do up your NYC home with neutrals? We’d love to hear about how you are incorporating bold colors and your fearless personality in your home - reply to this email with a screenshot, and we may feature you on our Instagram stories!