by Marlin Bressi

Created on: November 11, 2009   Last Updated: November 15, 2011

When shopping for interior paint, do you shy away from bright and bold colors? If you find yourself gravitating towards such exciting shades like tan, taupe, or beige, then you just might have a fear of color. Fear not, my friend, I'm here to help you overcome your fears. After all, life is too short to be lived surrounded by neutral colors.

First, you must ask yourself why you have this fear of color. Perhaps you're still shell-shocked from the fine you received from your homeowners association after you, in a fit of rebellious rage, decided to paint the shutters on your townhouse a lovely shade of chartreuse. Maybe you're just afraid of making a statement. Or perhaps you just don't know which colors work best in a given room.

Regardless of the underlying cause of your fear of color, you can take comfort in one fact: color can always be changed. The beautiful thing about decorating with color is that there is no commitment. If you don't like it, you can change it. Of course, some things are easier to change than others. For example, paint is quite simple to change. Carpeting or wallpapering, on the other hand, usually can't be changed on a whim.

The best way to start decorating with color is to make small changes first. Pick a bold color and use it to accent a room. If you choose red, for example, start out by buying red lamps, area rugs, throw pillows, or curtains. Live with the color for a while and see how it makes you feel. If you find that you are comfortable being surrounded by a certain color, expand to a larger area or item of furniture. You may decide to use a bold color on just one wall, while leaving the surrounding walls a neutral shade or a shade of white. There is no rule that says you have to paint every wall the same color, or that every color in a given room must match.

When experimenting with color, it is best to avoid contrasting colors. Yellow walls, for instance, will look dreadful with a violet sofa. Red pillows will look awful on a green bedspread. Choose colors that complement each other, rather than colors that conflict with each other. Also remember that light colors have a way of opening up spaces, making them appear larger, while darker colors have the opposite effect.

The best piece of advice I can give is to familiarize yourself with the laws of color. There are numerous books devoted to the subject of color theory. Once you are familiar with a few basic rules, the only limit is your own imagination.

Learn more about this author, Marlin Bressi.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.