7 Low-Commitment Ways to Add a Pop of Color to Your Home

People who rent their homes often find themselves in an all-white or beige box that’s been painted to appeal to the broadest possible market. While this can be boring for those who crave a little pattern and color, the upside is that a neutral base gives you the ability to go wild with affordable and interchangeable home decor accessories.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to injecting color into a boring rental. Adding a pop of color to your apartment or home is limited only by your imagination (and the pretty important condition of preserving the unit). But not to worry — our top 7 tips for decorating with color will show you how it’s done.

1. Line the insides of book shelves.

Use colored contact of wallpaper to create interest on the inside of bookshelves and cabinets. This is particularly handy decorating idea if you’re renting, or if you just really like neutral walls. It adds instant impact with very little fuss, and looks amazing teamed with accessories in minimalist tones.

2. Treat yourself to a bunch of flowers.

You can change them as often as the inclination strikes, and they come with numerous mood-boosting benefits. Choose seasonal varieties to get more bang for your buck and use greenery from the garden to bulk out your flower arrangements.

3. Get a bright floor rug.

Keep your furniture pieces neutral so they’re not competing for attention (also a good move if you decide to replace your rug down the track), and pull out one or two colors in the rug for your decorative accents — think a bright light fixture, a matching throw, or colorful frames.

4. Buy throw cushions.

Seriously, this is one of the cheapest and simplest ways to brighten up a room, and they’re comfortable too. Plus, if you happen to spill coffee on one or just see one that you like better, it’s easy enough to buy new covers to slip over the existing inserts.

5. Hang colorful curtains.

These style staples can really elevate a room, so long as they’re not clashing or competing with other items. In the bathroom, a vibrant shower curtain will pop against an otherwise stark landscape. A gorgeous shower curtain will cover a multitude of sins, even the most boring or dated rental unit.

6. Put up eye-catching art work.

Whether you like multi-colored abstracts or something in more muted tones, art adds another layer of dimension and texture to a room, while providing an insight into your personality and style.