With people constantly moving in and out, apartment walls are typically painted neutral colors. Without having the ability to break out the paint and make the space your own, it can be difficult to find creative ways to add a pop of color to your apartment.
If you're looking for a little guidance on the best ways to add a pop of color to your apartment, give the nine expert tips below a read and finally make your apartment your own.
When it comes to interiors, color is so much more than what your walls look like, explains Margaret van Puffelen of Colors of Design Group. “The use of color shapes our understanding of the environment we evolve. This is because it adds definition and distinction to all things. By using different hues, you can truly promote various feelings and emotions. When it comes to interior design color psychology, this can make or break a space."
She emphasized the idea that “The psychological effects of color may surprise you. The use of these colors can create a mood of relaxation, luxury and fun. At the same time, tones such as red, orange and maroon will make people feel passionate or energized."
“Using deep reds in the kitchen, for example, inspires a rich sense of abundance. Tones like green, blue and purple, on the other hand, are cool and can be used in hot climates."
“In the end, if you have a particular style, you can play around with colors to enhance your environment and bring fun and tranquility to your lifestyle."
“Choose an accent color you can highlight via accessories," suggests Ash Read, Founder of Living Cozy.
“When you want to introduce a pop of color to your space without making any permanent changes or big purchases like a new sofa, the best thing you can do is choose an accent color you love and try to bring in a few accessories in that color to your space."
Ash went on to provide an example: “If you love the coastal aesthetic, a few light blue or sage green pillows could give your room a coastal feel. This allows you to add some color without costing a fortune."
“You can also look to add accents through blankets and throws, vases and decorative bowls and lamps."
“Use colorful throw pillows and blankets around the house," says Ria of The Mood Palette. “Adding some colorful throw pillows to your couch and bundling up a couple of throw blankets in a basket or on the corner of the couch can add a pop of color to your apartment."
“The best part about this is that you can switch up the covers and throws to a different color if you're bored of it and change the look of your space whenever you want easily."
Adding a pop of color to your apartment doesn't have to be done at eye level, explains Topfloor by Esti founder, Esti Barnes. “Rugs are great items to add color to a room. Although they are used mostly as backdrops in interiors, in my view they should also be used to bring joy to it."
“Imagine an all-white room and a bright-colored rug in the center as its focal point. Generally, big pieces of furniture and curtains in formal rooms are made with natural or neutral color fabrics. Rugs can be the items that have highlights of colors or splashes of bright tones in them to break the monotony of a large neutrally-colored room."
Esti attempts to reshape the way most people look at rugs by saying, “Rugs are like canvases. They don't have to be all in one color. We make rugs smaller and/or larger with shapes in them; depending on how bold or how quiet the interiors are required to be by the clients."
“They can be used just like pieces of art but on the floor. People should not be scared of color under their feet as they enhance their rooms."
According to the Blythe Interiors team, pops of color should come from items that reflect personality. They came up with five unique ways to make a room pop without making any permanent changes.
Remember, you're not just adding a pop of color here and there. You are laying down the foundation for your apartment's story. You have to answer the question of what you're trying to say with the colors you use and the space you create.
“Be playful with your soft furnishings," suggests Crescencia Nga Che, the face and voice behind the beauty and lifestyle blog, By Crescence.
“Cushions, sofa throws, blankets and curtains are clever ways to infuse a pop of color into your rented apartment."
Crescencia goes on to say, “They are easy to blend within an existing decor scheme and are relatively easy to swap and upgrade throughout the year as seasons change."
“Pick items that complement the existing color palette of your space and your key furniture pieces such as your sofa, accent chairs or bed frame. Be creative and let your personality shine through."
Pops of color can come from anywhere in your apartment, explains Lyndsey Dianne, founder of Dianne Decor.
Lyndsey's all-encompassing approach to adding a pop of color to your apartment gives you the freedom to play around with your space and see what works best for you.
“Most of our clients say their biggest design phobia, greater than the fear of blowing their budget or fear of furniture showrooms, is of color,” explains Betsy Helmuth of Affordable Interior Design by Uploft.
She notes that “When designing on a budget, you can NOT use only neutrals! Add pops of color in specific shades—think lemon yellow, ruby red, navy—around an inspiration piece you love. Be it a rug, quilt, or a family heirloom. Then, add small decor pieces, like a throw, vase, pillow or candles, in that precise color. Voila, you're out of the neutral zone.”
“For a big burst of color," says Emily Tieman the creator of the Emily Retro blog, “you can use a colorful patterned bed sheet, like flower power or checkerboard, to create an accent wall or a photo backdrop. I also suggest using some baker's twine and clothespins to hang colorful polaroids, postcards, flower seed packets, magazine clippings or yarn pom-poms."
Regardless of whether you choose to implement any of the advice above or not, it is totally possible to add significant pops of color to your apartment without making permanent changes or losing the security deposit.
A native of the northern suburbs of Chicago, Carson made his way to the South to attend Wofford College where he received his BA in English. After working as a copywriter for a couple of boutique marketing agencies in South Carolina, he made the move to Atlanta and quickly joined the Rent.com team as a content marketing coordinator. When he's off the clock, you can find Carson reading in a park, hunting down a great cup of coffee or hanging out with his dogs.