Everything You Need to Know About Saturated Colors, the New Year’s Trend

Get ready to see saturated colors popping up everywhere. Image: Kati Curtis Design

If you’ve been following our reporting on 2018 interior design trends, you know that stark, minimalist spaces are a thing of the past. We’ve been seeing more and more saturated colors recently — and, boy, do they look good!

One thing’s for sure, though — when you’re dealing with bold hues, you need a deft hand. So, if you’re thinking of jumping on the bandwagon, let us guide the way. Below is a list of some of the most common applications for how to use saturated colors in your interiors and tips on how to pull them off like a pro. Trust us, you won’t want to miss out on this one.

Consider an accent wall. Image: Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.

Tackling the walls

When thinking about adding color to a room, the obvious choice for many is to look to the walls. In the scheme of things, color is cheap. You can buy paint for pennies on the dollar compared to most design elements, and it will have a huge impact on the overall look of the room.

However, before covering all four walls in the bold hue of your choice, consider the following: Is the room the right size to stand up to such a strong color? Since saturated colors are so bold, they need a room that’s large enough that added color won’t make it feel closed in, but small enough that the visual impact won’t be too overwhelming. Usually dining rooms, office spaces, and formal living areas fit the bill nicely.

If you’re worried painting all four walls may not be the best idea, consider adding an accent wall. To do this, you’ll just want to put your pop of color on one wall — ideally, the one that catches your eye when you enter the room — and then paint your other walls a lighter, more neutral shade.

Think about using a statement piece of furniture. Image: Marion Alberge Décoration

Incorporating furniture

For those who want to think beyond the walls, adding a piece of color-forward, statement furniture is always a solid choice. Remember, if you choose to go this route, you’ll want this piece of furniture to be the first thing that catches viewer’s eyes, so it should stand out. It’s also crucial to make sure that your design elements stand out in a good way.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Placement: Statement furniture works best in a grouping, and should visually play off of contrasting pieces. For this reason, composed seating areas often work best, but a statement dresser in a bedroom or dining table would also suffice.
• Color: Whichever saturated color you choose, you should still make sure that it mixes well with the other colors in the room. Neutrals or opposite colors on the color wheel often match best.
• Size: A statement piece of furniture needs to be sizable enough that it can carry a room and command attention. Make sure that it is in scale with, or larger than, the rest of the pieces in the room.

Add pops of color with accessories. Image: Tara Seawright Interior Design

All about the accessories

Let’s face it: Furniture can get expensive and paint, though affordable, does take some effort to redo if you’re unhappy with the results. What if you want to take a subtle, noncommittal approach to the saturated color trend? Then it’s all about the accessories.

As always, accessories are the small details that really drive the room’s aesthetic. They are throw pillows, area rugs, blankets, bedding, décor pieces and plants that round out your space and make it look intentionally designed, rather than purely functional. Plus, these items have a relatively low price point, so they can often be switched out much more easily than other design elements.

Our advice is not to limit yourself too much by only searching for solid color accessories in the hue of your choice. Mixing and matching patterns is often one of the best ways to make accessories pop and, even if your chosen hue is only one of the colors in a particular pattern, it can still make a strong impact.

Make the most of your wall art. Image: Kimberly Demmy Design

Don’t forget wall art

Great wall art is a must-have element for many, and thanks to the freedom of expression that this medium allows, it becomes a natural choice for those looking to sneak a bold pop of color into their home. However, if you find yourself struggling to commit to a piece of art that’s fairly loud, don’t worry. Here’s how to do it the right way.

If possible, make sure to purchase the wall art first. Since art is such a subjective thing, there are no firm rules on what to buy, but we do know that it will be much easier to match the rest of the room to the color palette provided by the art than the other way around. Ideally, like the furniture, it will be large enough to be a focal point for the room and your hue will be prominently featured.

After choosing your piece, mirror the shades found in the artwork throughout the room. In this case, the saturated shade will become your accent color. Use it in bold pops throughout your accessories, like the ones listed earlier.

Consider this your how-to on using saturated colors. Image: J NORD WOLFE General Contracting Inc.

If you’ve been following any of our trend reporting for the new year, you know that interior design is about to take a turn for the ostentatious. Chief among the changes that we’re seeing is a propensity toward saturated colors. If you’re ready to get in on the trend, this guide contains everything you need to know about going bold the right way. Keep it close at hand for your next project.

What do you think of the saturated color trend? Will you be jumping on the bandwagon? Tell us in the comments below.

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