Ways to Add a Pop of Color for Under $100
Show your love for a favorite hue with these easy designer tricks and DIY projects.

From springy “greenery” to deep rich tones, using color allows you to express your mood and personality in your home. But think about going beyond the obvious ways to add color, such as repainting walls or buying a bright chair, and find creative ways to infuse a hue you adore into your interiors.

Mary Costa Photography
If you love jewel tones but held off as design trends geared toward whites and grays, now’s the time to embrace the moody colors again. Burgundies, browns and emeralds are coming back in a big way in 2017, even with textures such as velvet, says Jule Eller, director of trend and style at Lowe’s. She’s even seeing tropical prints incorporate darker, richer colors instead of the expected bold and bright hues.
Getting everyday objects, such as a tabletop fan, in richer hues is an unexpected way to add some color to a room. “You get even more value for your money because they’re pieces you’d be buying anyway but can now double as decor,” says Caitlin Murray of Black Lacquer Design.

Cody Guilfoyle
Dip-Dyed Color
Dip dye lightly colored drapes for a flash of ombre in your space. You can buy curtains at big box stores for less than $50 — designer Steve McKenzie got his at IKEA for $39. Just add dye for colorful new drapes that will bring a splash of brightness to any space.
Ombre Projects

Edward Andrews Homes
Spicy Seating
Oxblood is a bold shade for lipstick, but you can also use it to incorporate a few punches of color into key focal areas. This kitchen’s neutral palette makes the dark red leather barstools even more stunning. These barstools were designer purchases, but you can snag them for under $100 each through mass retailers, if you look for faux leather, painted wood, colored plastic or metal options. For a more rustic vibe and even cheaper options, try making your own stools out of tree trunks with the DIY Network guide.

Edward Andrews Homes
Fabric Feature Wall
Some designers affix fabric to walls for a wow effect, but this trick requires a smaller monetary and time commitment. Designers with Edward Andrews Homes simply hung up four gorgeous, navy patterned pieces of fabric for an instant and unexpected gallery wall.
“Instead of creating your stereotypical craft or scrapbooking room, we wanted to give the owner a more meaningful space to work in and run a business from,” says Megan Harris, a designer with Edward Andrews Homes. “This particular room was inspired by one of our own designers, who runs a successful online Etsy shop, selling pillows, clutches and other unique soft goods. This was her dream space.”
Eller suggests also creating a gallery wall by framing magazines with colorful covers or playbills from theatrical performances. You can change it out as other items speak to you, she says. Another affordable idea is to cover a piece of canvas with a colorful shower curtain.

Mary Costa Photography
Luminous Mini Libraries
Stacking books spine-out can add instant color to a space. Top a stack with florals and you’ve got a bright spot that’s hard to miss. Murray of Black Lacquer Design suggests checking under the paper covers of thrift store hardback books to find colorful bindings.

Mary Costa Photography
Plush Pigments
Mix up your throw pillows for a colorful pile. Use bright, punchy pillow covers in a coordinating palette, says Murray of Black Lacquer Design. By covering pillows or inserts you already have, you can create a spot of color without buying all new pillows and breaking the bank. You can use DIY tutorials, such as how to make your own pillows out of T-shirts and how to make matching his and her throw pillows.

Mary Costa Photography
Cabinet Flair
DIYing your cabinet paint may seem daunting and expensive, but Murray of Black Lacquer Design says that with the right paint and a little elbow grease, this project can brighten an entire room. She recommends sanding cabinets and painting with a semi-gloss enamel.
If you don’t want to make a major investment in a trendy hue, like green, consider placing a band of ceramic and mosaic tile underneath cabinets, Eller says. “You can even use that tile to resurface the top of a dresser or use them as placemats. Things like that can add color,” she says.
Color Trend Alert: Green!