The Eight Levels of Color Commitment: A Pink Case Study
Last week I showed you some of my favorite rooms that incorporate the color orange, and it got me thinking. How do you know if you can live with a certain color if you've never tried it before? There are levels of commitment. Here we'll do a case study with pink.
Ah, pink. It's controversial. I think you either love it or hate it. Personally, I love it, but an entire pink wall is quite a commitment, and a pink rug is a big investment. If you feel unsure, it's safer to add a little pop of it here and there before jumping into an all-out pink room.
You can bring a color into a room in a lot of ways. Here are some levels of commitment, from a tiny flirtation to a full on marriage:
1) Floral Arrangements: In terms of commitment, flowers require only about a week's worth.
2) Small Accessories: A tray or a pillow can be rotated out if you tire of the color.
3) Paint: You could choose to paint a piece of furniture (this is inexpensive; if you get bored with it, paint it another color later).
4) Upholstery: Slipcovers can be temporary, a full on re-upholstery job can be costly, but worth it if you're sure.
5) Bigger Fabric Pieces: A little more commitment is required for a duvet cover or curtains, though you can find bargains if you look hard enough, and if you are a sewer, you can do this inexpensively.
6) Artwork: As you get more serious, perhaps a work of art (or that ubiquitous "Like Forever" poster) will work. If you have the urge, create your own wall art.
7) Rugs: While wall-to-wall is a huge commitment, throw rugs aren't such a big deal.
8)Walls: Paint can be changed, but wallpaper is a real pain to switch out. I suggest trying to score a yard of any paper you like, tacking it to the wall, and living with it for awhile. At the end of this ideabook, we'll dive into a full-on pink explosion - we'll work our way up to that one.
Ah, pink. It's controversial. I think you either love it or hate it. Personally, I love it, but an entire pink wall is quite a commitment, and a pink rug is a big investment. If you feel unsure, it's safer to add a little pop of it here and there before jumping into an all-out pink room.
You can bring a color into a room in a lot of ways. Here are some levels of commitment, from a tiny flirtation to a full on marriage:
1) Floral Arrangements: In terms of commitment, flowers require only about a week's worth.
2) Small Accessories: A tray or a pillow can be rotated out if you tire of the color.
3) Paint: You could choose to paint a piece of furniture (this is inexpensive; if you get bored with it, paint it another color later).
4) Upholstery: Slipcovers can be temporary, a full on re-upholstery job can be costly, but worth it if you're sure.
5) Bigger Fabric Pieces: A little more commitment is required for a duvet cover or curtains, though you can find bargains if you look hard enough, and if you are a sewer, you can do this inexpensively.
6) Artwork: As you get more serious, perhaps a work of art (or that ubiquitous "Like Forever" poster) will work. If you have the urge, create your own wall art.
7) Rugs: While wall-to-wall is a huge commitment, throw rugs aren't such a big deal.
8)Walls: Paint can be changed, but wallpaper is a real pain to switch out. I suggest trying to score a yard of any paper you like, tacking it to the wall, and living with it for awhile. At the end of this ideabook, we'll dive into a full-on pink explosion - we'll work our way up to that one.
Step One: Try it out with flowers.
Two lush pink pillows work well with these strong jewel tones.
I've seen Victoria'spink pillow move all around her different apartment arrangements; here, along with the flowers, it gives just the right dose.
Here we're looking at a larger piece of furniture. This raspberry loveseat is just plain yummy.
These soft curtains exaggerate the height of the room and keep the windows light.
Here some polka dots dance into the whimsical room.
The modern lamp is an investment, while the dot rugs cost about $7 at IKEA.
This room is all about the fuschia. Notice that all of the other furniture and most of the bedding are crisp white.
Alright, once you have tested the waters and you really love a color, go all out!