The color overkill – When using color you can create harmony or chaos. You can set a calming mood or put your senses on high alert. There is a reason that fire engines are mostly painted red. Most people appreciate color in their lives but done know how to use it successfully. When designing a space think about the impact a color has. Whatever the color is on your small sample swatch, it will be ten times stronger when it is applied to a whole wall. Look at your kids crayon box. The colors you see there are pure colors, mostly bright and… well, very colorful. They have an extreme impact on your space if you have those colors at any large space. Designers take often more subdued colors that are lightened up by whites or muted by a bit of black tint in them. The pigment will be less prevalent and allow other things in the room to shine. The wall color should be the undertone, the complimentary chorus to your design features in the room. Occasionally you can use a strong wall color to make a statement, but that device is to be used with caution and great care. It may be left best to the professionals. For staged homes we always use wall colors in range of neutrals. Neutral tones are the ones that will compliment many colors and not take center stage in the visual field. We have many colors than can read as neutrals between of different shades of whites, beige and greys. Light blues and greens with a portion of black tint can be great choices for neutrals. They are all soft toned with a hint of color. We want to leave the option to place different items in the room and not to dictate too much of what the new owner will need to do or force him to repaint the house right away. Matter of fact, the color of the wall can be easily a deal killer. Ask any Realtor about their experience. They all can tell stories of buyers who rejected an otherwise perfect home because they did not like the color of one wall. It can be distracting to many homebuyers so color choice is key. At the same time a design wants to stay out of the boring beige realm and have a visual interest. An easy way to achieve that is by using accent colors. We use accent walls in some rooms. That means we can paint one wall in a room in a different color to add visual interest and create more drama. You have to consider the use of the room and the corresponding items in your design. A very easy way to add color is with your window treatments which can add texture and color. Your other fabrics can do the same thing. If you have hard floor surfaces like wood or tile floors the addition of area rugs give you great opportunity for color and contrast. Throw pillows are a save way to add a pop of color without overwhelming the room. Consider one or two accent colors for a room and see if you can repeat them with a bit of consistency. You can use color in your sofa cushions, your decorative items like glass objects, dinnerware, and for example a lamp shade. There are plenty of opportunities to introduce color but you want to use care and restraint for a great look. When you use it strategically you can create great visual interest while keeping your design streamlined. It will help to create a coherent look and allow you to pull together an eclectic design. With the right color choices your design will shine in style. And you visitors may not even need to use protective eyewear.