Homeowners often give special thought to the color of exterior doors, but interior doors can also deliver a punch of color to a hallway or neutral room. Woodwork around windows and along floorboards can be painted to match the door or be kept white, allowing the door itself to command full attention.
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When searching for an ideal spot to coat with color, the answer may lie beneath your feet. Painted floors are a fun and energetic decorating idea, whether you opt for a solid color or a lively pattern—like this kid's room with its alternating blue-hued stripes.
Related: Stenciled Floors—The Best of Today's Designs
Let's face it—ceilings are often overlooked in the grand scheme of a home's decor. Few of us realize the hidden potential they hold in adding an extra dash of color to a room. In this pared-down kitchen, a purple ceiling brings a touch of whimsy to a crisp space.
Related: How To: Paint a Ceiling
A coat of paint can transform any wooden furnishing into an accent piece, whether it’s a dresser, side table, bed frame or arm chair, just to name a few. Be creative—rather than painting the piece in a solid hue, try your hand at creating stripe or chevron patterns, or a combination of both.
Related: Paint Makeovers—An Expert Tells All
Painting a window seat alcove in a favorite color can enhance your mood when relaxing in the space. The colors you choose might reflect the view outside, like a grass green or sky blue, or simply be a cheerful hue you love, like this bedroom's warm tangerine, that offsets a more neutral palette.
Related: 5 Smart Ways to Fill Your House with Your Favorite Color
Stair risers are the perfect spots for a touch of color. The shade you choose can coordinate with hues found elsewhere in the house, or it can stand alone. In this eye-catching example, homeowners created a painted runner with striped borders to give this stairway a lift.
Related: Trending Now—Painted Stairs
Many homeowners prefer to paint the walls in a dining area an inviting hue, like tomato red or apple green. Equally stunning, however, is a neutral space in which an everyday table is surrounded by brightly colored chairs. As an added benefit, mismatched pieces can be unified with the same color.
Related: For Every Hue, a Mood—Use Color to Make the Most of Every Room
Painting the inside of a bookcase serves two decorating purposes: It adds color to a room in an unexpected way and also makes an attractive backdrop for whatever you put on the shelves. To increase visual interest, group books and accessories by color or by theme, like the nautical one here.
Related: Before and After—Painting Built-in Shelves
Practical storage cabinets don’t need to blend into the background. Here, a hallway's wall unit was painted a sunny yellow. A high-gloss finish underscores the homeowner's bold design statement.
Related: What's Your Color I.Q.? Take Our Color Quiz
Collections can add color to a neutral-colored room. Your possessions might display a subtle hue, like the collection of jade pottery seen here, or they might paint a bold brushstroke of color in an otherwise subdued space. Choosing a work of art that incorporates the same color as your collection can be a pleasing addition to the arrangement.
Related: 5 Smart Ways to Fill the House with Your Favorite Color
If you are interested in more about painting, consider:
Fresh Coat: 10 All-Natural House Paints
Going Bold—10 Kitchens That Pop With Color
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