How to Authentically Add Color in Home Decor

I’m a neutral girl at heart. Give me some good white and black paint and I’m all set. However, every now and then I like a bit of color. (Just a teeny, tiny bit).  I know pure neutral styling is hard for some folks but color feels overwhelming too. I see homes where color feels forced, like it’s oh my gosh, I need everything blue. Or it’s a mix which could be fun but can also be chaotic. We’re looking for a nice, easy, color here and I’ve got some ideas for you! Here, I’m sharing my favorite ways to authentically add color in home decor. 

Starting with a Neutral Home

Ok, so let’s start off with a few things here. First, having a neutral paint palette is a great way to start. There are lots of benefits to neutral home decor like not having to mess around with existing colors and undertones. In my homes, I like to start by adding a neutral, white paint throughout. Then I carefully choose some strategic, dark accent walls.

By starting with a neutral palette, it helps to layer in color casually. It doesn’t have to happen at once, you can slowly move towards a more clean slate, room by room as you go. Or, if you love brightly colored walls – use the tips down below so that the colors aren’t fighting with each other.

How to Add Color to Home Decor

But, if one is so inclined, there are lots of easy ways to bring in color. From rugs to pillows and artwork, these are simple pieces with low commitment (hmm, sounds like a relationship from my 20’s). The idea here is how to bring in color so it feels intentional not like we just went overboard on a trip to Home Goods. Intentional can mean buying things slowly, carefully – thinking more about what the space needs then going from there. Here are 4 of my favorite tips to achieve this:

Look to Outdoor Colors

When you’re looking to bring color to your home decor, look to the outdoors first. Not just the vague concept of nature, but what is actually outside your window! If you’re a lucky soul living in the southwest, you’ll find lots of terra cotta, sage, and pale blues. 

A gal like me up in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve got hunter green for miles. Those years I spent in the Bay Area? It was all breezy blues and olive greens. 

You get the idea. Pulling in colors from where you actually live will make it feel more authentic and intentional. Curious about how this affects undertones? Check out my guide with 5 Ways to Check for Warm or Cool Paint Colors.

Color that Feels Like a Neutral 

As you look for ways to add color to a room, look for colors that act as a neutral. What does this mean? Well, many colors can certainly play the role of a neutral in that their not fighting with themself. For example, we all know a gray that sometimes likes to be purple. Or a cream that is most definitely a yellow. 

There are some lovely colors without strong undertones in one direction that feel really stable. I fell in love with Hale Navy because it’s absolutely blue but not in a sweet sugary way, but more of a strong, true, navy.  In general, I love Benjamin Moore colors (check out my comparison with Sherwin Williams).

Bring in All the Plants

Yes, plants are absolutely a color. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I often joke that my favorite colors are white, black, wood, and plants. 

Think beyond the basics though! There are so many plant varieties and depth of greenery that plants absolutely add a sense of color in home decor. Where to start? Check out my favorite 9 Easy Houseplants to Buy on Amazon.

Try One Color, Different Shades

My last way of adding color to a room is to choose a single color and then layer it in different shades. For many years, folks were committed to one color, like “sage green,” and then every.single.thing had to be that exact shade of sage green. Then, well, the room started to feel like a Ramada Inn. See why it’s time to ditch matchy matchy with this and other outdated decor trends.

Instead, find a color you love and then choose varying shades of that color. For example, you might choose a dark sage wall, pillows with just a hint of lighter, soft green, and a beige rug with touches of sage throughout.

Final Thoughts on Adding Color

I hope this gives you some inspiration on how to intentionally add color in home decor to keep your space feeling authentic and comfortable. Color doesn’t have to be loud or dramatic to make an impact. Instead look for making it feel connected. I’m all about spaces that feel cohesive and lived-in, not curated within an inch of their life.

So whether you’re easing into color with a few new pillows or committing to a bold navy wall (hello, Hale Navy), just remember – there are no hard rules. If you’d like to explore more, check out my post on Color Trends of 2025 and my Favorite Neutral Paint Colors.