Easy Ways to Add Color to Your Home

So you\'ve followed all the tips and put together a nice, professional-looking home. But it doesn\'t quite feel complete, as if there\'s no character or visual punch to make it stand out. Chances are you need to add some color to your décor. No matter how closely you follow the book, you can\'t get very far in home décor without a few splashes of color. Here are some simple ways you can use color while staying with your design theme.

Use a complementary shade. Complementary colors are those that clash purposely with your existing ones, in a way that brings out the beauty of both colors. Usually, they\'ll be on opposite sides of the color wheel, such as blue and orange, yellow and purple. This contrast makes a stronger, more striking visual effect. Just make sure there\'s no more than three colors in the room, and that one of them is the dominant shade.

Invest in good accessories. Home accessories are a great way to add color to your home décor. After all, it\'s these little add-ons that really make the space your own. Because they\'re not permanent, you can be as bold as you like with your color choices-if one thing doesn\'t work out, all you have to do is put it down. Wall art, floor accents, and decorative shelves are all safe yet effective ways to add color to your home.

Get a good area rug. More and more designers are using area rugs to introduce color into home décor. Not only do they protect your floors, they also make excellent finishing touches to your theme. Braided area rugs, for example, are known for their creative use of color and unique weave that makes them stand out in any environment. Choose a braided rug that fits with your color scheme and put it in a place where it\'s easily noticed.

Don\'t overdo it. It\'s easy to go overboard when working with color, but try to keep it in check. Use color only where appropriate. For example, a plain wall could use a brightly colored piece of wall art, but the same item might look out of place in a room that\'s already fully painted. Keep a balance between light and dark, plain and colored, so that you can appreciate your color choices better.

Sometimes, just a small splash of color can go a long way in livening up your home d