Tell me if you’ve ever had this conversation with yourself:
Self: “I don’t know what color to paint my walls.”
“I’ll go with a neutral white or beige to play it safe,” you decide.
Self: “And the area rug?”
“Hmm, I don’t want it to be too limiting, maybe a beige and gray blend,” you answer.
And this is why so many rooms are as colorless as a bowl of oatmeal.
Enter Rachel Mae Smith, color consultant and author of The Crafted Life blog and “Colorful Living: Simple Ways to Brighten Your World Through Design, Décor, Fashion and More,” a new book coming out Sept. 24 from Ten Speed Press.
Smith’s love affair with color started because she was the person described above, stuck in a safety palette of cream, beige and brown.
“Ten years ago, I was going through a rough transition after a failed relationship,” she told me when I got her on the phone recently to talk about her new book. “I didn’t have much money and thought if I furnished my apartment in neutrals, I wouldn’t be wasting money on something frivolous that I secretly loved, like a hot-pink velvet sofa.”
As a result, she said, “I didn’t like how my own home made me feel and I certainly didn’t get anything out of being in it.”
That was then. Today her Chelsea, Mich., home, which she shares with her husband and 1-year-old daughter, is full of color, and, thus, joy.
“When you pick colors for reasons other than happiness, it can have the counter effect,” she said. “If you love a certain color, lean into it.” “Colorful Living” illustrates how buying furniture in colors you love, whether you favor pastels, woodland shades or jewel tones, not only results in a psychological boost, but also ultimately saves money.
Author Rachel Mae Smith, pictured here with an original oil painting she bought in Rome on her honeymoon for 11 euros, knew this art would always work in her home because it has colors she loves. (Courtesy of Rachel Mae Smith)
After taking readers through a painless review of color theory, Smith’s book shares tips on finding your favorite color, which perhaps you’ve suppressed. (Hello, Yellow!) It then walks you through choosing a palette for your home and incorporating colors you love. Here are some excerpts from our conversation:
Marni: What do you wish more people knew about color?
Rachel Mae: Choosing color doesn’t have to be that serious. More people should choose joyful over safe. When you mindfully choose items based on colors that make you happy, vs. those that social media says you should buy, you’re more likely to love what you have longer. While choosing a hot-pink sofa or a funky patterned chair is certainly not for everyone, in the grand scheme of life, it’s a low-risk endeavor. Research shows we are more likely to hold on to bold designs longer because we crave visual stimulation. So, while a bright piece of furniture may seem shocking, it might remain in your home for longer than you think.
Marni: Where should those nervous about adding color start?
Rachel Mae: Begin by adding color to your life with small items you use often. If all you do is decide to drink your morning coffee from a mug that’s your favorite color, that’s a start. Then try getting a lime-green soap dispenser or an indigo doormat and see how dashes of color in high-traffic items add joy. To introduce color to a bland room, start with a rug in colors you love. Even if the room has neutral walls and furniture. Then bring color from the rug upward into the room with art, throw pillows and accent pieces, such as vases, sculptures and planters. Outdoor furniture is another place to push yourself with color. Try brightly colored outdoor rugs, pillows, tables, chairs and umbrellas.
Marni: In your book, you talk about the economics of color. Most people think that investing in neutrals is smart and choosing color is expensive, but you flip that. Can you explain?
Rachel Mae: First, if you’re painting your walls neutral with resale in mind, you are painting your home for the next owner, not for you. You miss the point. Second, It’s not more expensive to have a colorful home. Everyone can afford color. Products are usually the same price regardless of their color. Third, putting the time into creating a cohesive color palette helps you reduce impulse buying and frivolous spending, because you shop more selectively.
Marni: While much of your book is about granting permission to break the rules, you also mention a few color rules we should follow. What are they?
Rachel Mae: Acknowledge what in your space you cannot change, such as the floor, cabinets and trim, and incorporate those colors into your palette from the start. Don’t ignore existing colors because you don’t like them. In fact, once you include these unfavorite colors in your palette, you can choose favorite colors that complement them and make the space feel more in sync. If your kitchen has gray linoleum floors, find colors you love that complement them.
Marni: Is there a place for neutrals?
Rachel Mae: Neutrals are colors that don’t show up on a color wheel, like beige, gray, taupe, black, white, cream and brown, and they have an important place in design. In fact, they can set off featured colors. In my entryway, for example, I painted the ceiling (Sherwin Williams) Loveable Pink, the color of bubblegum, but the walls are white, and the floors are a mid-tone brown wood.
Marni Jameson is the author of seven books, including “Rightsize Today to Create Your Best Life Tomorrow.” You may reach her at [email protected].
Smith’s new book, out Sept. 24 from Ten Speed Press, offers a bold shot of color courage for those who tend to play it too safe. (Courtesy of Rachel Mae Smith)
