by Tierney O'Hara

Created on: November 08, 2009   Last Updated: December 06, 2011

How to add color to your home decor

It's not always easy to feel confident about choosing colors for your home. There are so many colors to choose from it can be confusing and mind-numbing. Should you go with bright yellow or choose the lighter pastel yellow for your kitchen? Will navy blue be too dark for the powder room or will it give the room some flash and dash?

Perhaps you worry your wall paint is too bright or sofa fabric is too pastel. Will the cranberry color you chose for your dining-room walls clash with the muted tones of your carpeting or can you really use pink, red and purple together in one room? Often people worry about using too much color or the wrong color and being disappointed with the end result.

If you are feeling a bit insecure about decorating with color, don't worry, many people feel the same way. However it's not as hard as you think - you have clues in your closet and dresser that will help you find the right colors for decorating your home, and you will gain confidence in your choices and feel ready to buy new items when you see what colors will work for you. Once you see proof of what colors you love, you will not have to fear using color in your home.  Here are some ways to get over a fear of decorating with color:

1) Look into your closet and bureaus. What color dominates the clothing in your closet?  What colors do you see in your sweater drawer? If you see lots of red-toned items, that indicates that red shades are comfortable colors for you.

2) Take a look at your print, plaid, or mixed color clothing and accessories. Select your favorite color combinations from what you see and most likely you will notice that you have two or three colors that you choose for plaids or prints.

Color themes can be red white and blue; or maroon, cream and navy; or pink, ecru and aqua - variations of the same colors. If you find a color theme in your clothing, you know those colors and slightly different tints, hues and saturations of those colors will be pleasing to you when used in decorating your home.

3) Still worried about picking the wrong color?  Home magazines and online websites are wonderful resources for finding an "inspiration room." Inspiration rooms are decorated rooms that you just love looking at and would love to have in your own home. Spend time paging through magazines at the library or decorating websites until you find a room that makes you drool. What are the colors in this room? Chances are the colors used

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