Creating an interesting effect, while keeping things in balance, is simple to do through the proper use of color in the right proportion. Adding color helps create interest, adds warmth, and when used intermittently, keeps the eye moving about the room. So, how can you create the proper blend of color without overdoing it?
The first step is to use colors that provide contrast or that work to coordinate other elements in the space. For example, if you want more contrast, use fabrics or furnishings that are distinctive from the wall and floor color. If you want to pull everything together, or creating a soothing effect, use similar shades or those that draw out colors found in other elements.
If you have beige walls and off white furniture then fabric treatments and artwork in those same tones are going to blend in. For a subtle effect, use deeper shades of your dominant color, and for good contrast go for strong, decidedly different colors that stand out against your neutral backdrop.
The furniture itself can become the contrasting element. Dark wood against soft colored fabrics and walls will make a statement. A colorful area rug will break up the sea of beige on the floor.
To pull in colors from other items in the space or from an adjoining room, add elements that draw on these colors. If your living room is beige and your dining room is sage green, bringing some green into the living area will tie the rooms together and help the eye travel easily through one space and into the next, creating a more streamlined effect.
Color can be subtle or dramatic, but whichever your preference, the use of color can make a space or an entire home more inviting. If you are nervous about adding color, start small and continue adding colorful elements over time until you achieve the desired effect.