Move or Make Over: Treat your neutral home to a colour injection

"Hi Neville, I recently moved into a newly-built home with my husband and three young children. The colour scheme is neutral throughout with ample natural light and simple furnishings. While I loved the simplicity at first, I've started to become bored and am looking for ways to inject some colour into our home. Any advice?"

 Striking the balance between simplicity and colour injection can be difficult and a neutral palette can becoming boring over time. I think that this time of year in particular can bring out a creative flair in DIY enthusiasts but people often regret using extremely dramatic or chaotic colours when the winter months creep back in so the trick is to be cautious and minimal when it comes to the use of such shades.

That’s not to say you should shy away from using colour. Believe me, I’m all about introducing new and exciting shades but it needs to be done in moderation. Paint is the easiest way to totally transform the mood of your home and can really turn a neutral room into a completely individual and homely space. Accessories and soft furnishings will also play a role in introducing shapes and colour throughout your home.

You mention that there is plenty of light in your new home which means you can afford to play around with both bright and dark colours. Jewel tones such as deep rich violets, emerald greens, deep ruby reds, subtle pinks and royal blue are good choices and can easily update a neutral room in a stylish way. The best way of introducing shades like this is through accent or feature walls, soft furnishings and even art.

When it comes to choosing a base colour for your walls, I recommend you stick with neutral shades. You mentioned that you liked the simplicity of the neutral palette when you first moved in so I'd worry you could dislike the introduction of too many new shades over time. Soft Berry, Crimson Kiss and Prom Night are bold, beautiful shades that will liven up a plain room instantly and the best part is that they can be easily combined with existing neutral shades in your home. Try them on a feature wall, mantelpiece, chimney breast or even a door surround.