How to be brave with the color and design of your home | Ingenuity and delight

Color and pattern add a lot of life and personality to a home. But for many of us it’s hard to know where to start. We are afraid of making mistakes or that our homes will seem too busy or cluttered. It wasn’t until I moved into a home where color and pattern were accepted that I felt called to use their full potential. I realized that I liked being surrounded by colors and patterns more than I thought.

Five years into living in our eclectic and colorful home, I’ve learned that the benefits of embracing color and pattern aren’t as simple as wearing my favorite colors, although that helps. Color and pattern are tools we can use beyond aesthetic qualities to evoke emotions, signal mood and vibe, and create a dynamic visual flow to make our home even more functional and enjoyable to live in.

I stopped thinking of color and pattern as something you “like” or “don’t like” and instead embraced them as design tools to fully express ideas. This means that even if you don’t like big, bold colors and patterns, you can still benefit from the basic principles of using them deliberately.

In this post, we’ll start by exploring the emotional reasons why it’s hard to be bold with color and pattern, and then I’ll offer some tips on how to get started and improve.

Why is it so difficult to be brave with color and print?

There are a few reasons why stepping out of our comfort zone and using colors and patterns in our homes can be challenging.

• Fear of making mistakes. We are afraid that we will choose the wrong colors or patterns and that our houses will end up looking ugly.
• Fear of being judged. We worry what other people will think of our homes if they are too colorful or patterned. We all have that friend whose well-intentioned comment about something that is very “us” and not “them” came off more sarcastic than loving. And sometimes we are the ones who completely misunderstand it! It’s time to let all that go. Doing our thing means people will comment. And that’s fine. Leave them. Being ourselves inspires others to be braver in their expression, which ultimately benefits us all. Be the one who starts that trend.
• Lack of confidence. We don’t trust our own taste, so we are afraid to make bold decisions. Let’s face it: most of us are not color experts! With the large number of colors to choose from, it’s easy to lose your mind.

How to get started with color and pattern

If you’re ready to start incorporating more colors and patterns into your home, here are some tips:

• Start small. Don’t try to do too many things at once. Start with some small changes, like adding a colorful cushion to your couch or hanging a patterned curtain in your bedroom.
• Choose colors and patterns you like. Don’t worry about what’s trendy or what other people like. Choose colors and patterns that make you happy and reflect your personality.
• Experiment. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different colors and patterns. Try different combinations and see which one you like best.
• Trust your instinct. The first thing that attracts you is usually the right path to follow. Trust it.
  If you are unsure about something, follow your instinct. You will make the right decision.

Some ways to improve the use of color and pattern

The more you work with color and pattern, the better you will get. Below are some ways to improve your skills:

• Look for inspiration. Look for inspiration in magazines, books, and online. Pay attention to how different colors and patterns are used in different spaces.
• Take a class. If you really want to learn how to use colors and patterns, consider taking a class. This can be a great way to get expert advice and learn from others.
• Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice using colors and patterns, the better you will get at it. So don’t be afraid to experiment and have fun!

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Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. He is currently learning to play tennis and is always testing the limits of his creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.