Use Bright Colors in a World of “Neutrals”

Use Bright Colors in a World of “Neutrals”

by | Apr 8, 2025 | articles, barbara jacobs, blog, bright colors, color, color choices, color consulting, color design, commercial color, Commercial color design, Condo associations, decor, designer color palettes, exterior, Exterior color, exterior colors, fashion statement, historic color design, Interior color, Interior color, interior colors, interiors, neutral colors, paint color selecting, pick a color, professional, psychology of color, Residential color design, Selecting design materials, Selecting paint colors, Testing paint colors, Uncategorized, visualization

Getting it Right with Beautiful Brights
“Neutral” style color palettes are beautiful. No doubt about it. Soothing, practical, safe…”buyers love it,” and of course easy to furnish around. But here’s a thought: think of it as “food.” To be clear, I am not advocating a chaos of wildly colorful environments that you can’t live in or with. In fact, bright colors definitely have a place in sophisticated interiors.

Now that we have that bit out of the way, I wanted to share my more detailed thoughts about feeling confident and free in experimenting in finding the very best colors that you Will love to live In–and With.

The extensive collections I’ve created to show on Samplize.com include a variety of selected hues from all color families. Current collections you can get samples for right now include various Historic palettes in light, medium, and dark colors (use them for any house period), bedroom, and more. The featured colors are all from either Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, or Farrow & Ball. You might find, at a glance, that some colors seem similar. But, when you see the actual samples on various areas of the walls and ceilings, in different lighting times of day and evening, natural or artificial light sources, you will notice the differences.

logo for Samplize with a link to web site.


Flavor and Nuance
As with cuisine, nuance of seasoning is important to the best results. Sometimes we need a spot of bright energy in our world. At the risk of sounding trite, we could even call it a bit of “happiness.”
Take this idea into our interiors and even exteriors. While the important “soft and neutral” colors can create beautiful environments, there’s also a place for using some stronger—even darker—color. Whether our color decisions come from habitual personal preference or a stylistic trend, considering stronger colors can also be a happy surprise. You can see many beautiful examples of some strong, deeper hues, included in the other collections.

But for this specific group, think of the colors of foods, for example…winter squashes and pumpkins, tomatoes, eggplants, and of course all the greens. Then look at the brighter colors in nature—flowers, water, and more. Incorporating some of these colors, even in smaller amounts, can create more flavor and nuance in an already beautiful, harmonious neutral style menu of color.

For example, have you ever considered a pink – and – red living room? It may not be your “cup of tea” but I love this example from Farrow & Ball! 

Exterior settings can also enjoy…something a bit different.

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6 families were involved in confirming the above color scheme. They asked for something Bold, and Different.
(photo by Barbara Jacobs)

A more conservative exterior for this Victorian era home, that still enjoys a bit of Punch…
(photo by Barbara Jacobs)
The client reports this…

I lived with a drab house for close to 15 years. When it came time to paint my modest three-story Victorian I wanted something that popped. I called Barbara on the advice of a friend and immediately realized that she could see beyond color chips.

She considered the shape of the house, the number of windows, the colors and condition of the existing foundation and roof. She even considered the neighbor’s house. Things that weren’t on my radar. Barbara offered a color scheme I could dial up or down for drama or detail and when we were in the midst of painting and I had a quick question, she responded immediately.
Read more…6th row down the page, right side!

You might enjoy being completely enveloped in the energy of stronger, brighter colors; or you might enjoy them more when you include them as accents, trim, or special elements.

An example of unusual color in a bedroom…also consider elements like bookshelves, lighting fixtures, and artwork! Check out this color combination on a color wheel.
(photo and square artwork by Barbara Jacobs / oil painting diptych by William Saltzman)

A strong Yellow-Green is not a typical color, but this is a beautiful example. Also from Farrow & Ball.

Getting comfortable with ‘discomfort’
Personally, I love combining colors that are a bit “out of my comfort zone,” for the sake of a color adventure–trying new ideas for inspiration. In any case, I encourage you to consider some of these that cross multiple spectral hues. Because the painted sample cards from my collections on Samplize are repositionable, you can easily stick them up on any wall position along with your other selections.

The extensive collections I’ve created to show on Samplize include a variety of selected hues from all color families. Current collections you can get samples for right now include various Historic palettes in light, medium, and dark colors (use them for any house period), bedroom, and more. The featured colors are all from either Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, or Farrow & Ball. You might find, at a glance, that some colors seem similar. But, when you see the actual samples on various areas of the walls and ceilings, in different lighting times of day and evening, natural or artificial light sources, you will notice the differences.

That’s just one of the functional beauties of using actual painted color samples! These collections are just the beginning…many more color style collections are in the works! Be sure to check back on my typically monthly newsletter for notifications.

Three final tips for now
1.  Please to Not expect one paint company to accurately “match” a color from another paint company. It’s more reliable to just use the product that makes the paint color you want.
2.  Always view the colors on the surfaces you want to paint them! We often look at paint colors on a table, for example…but the right direction to view is what makes all the difference! If we’re not painting the floor, don’t view colors in that direction.
3. Enjoy the adventure!

As a professional affiliate, I do receive a small commission—at no chage to you—when you purchase from Samplize.

If Your Walls Could Talk, it’s a Powerful Message

If Your Walls Could Talk, it’s a Powerful Message

by | Jul 18, 2024 | art, design,photography,people, articles, bright colors, color choices, color consulting, color design, Commercial color design, consulting, decor, digital imaging, new designs, questions, Selecting design materials, Selecting paint colors, Uncategorized, visualization

Ideas about color abound, and new ones come up all the time. If your walls could talk, they would tell an interesting and maybe even surprising story! But who are you? The powerful message includes minimalist, brave, shy, bold, extravagant, frugal, cautious, athletic, social…? The list can go on and you can add your own ideas in the comments!

What is “Applied Color Psychology?”
For now, I’ll offer a few ideas according to theories of “applied color psychology.” I’ll even offer a little “quiz” right here, for you to have fun with. When you think about your answers and how you match up the color blocks with the various descriptions, remember it’s not for selecting a house color or a room color. That’s a more detailed set of questions and personal considerations. And, it’s a topic for another time!

If this quiz image inspires you to share it–and I hope it does–please remember and respect that, as with all copyrighted materials, this requires permission to reproduce or share directly. Just share the post instead!

I look forward to hearing about your ‘answers’ and your ideas, in the comments to this post.

Where do our personal preferences come from?
It’s a complex and multi-leveled process…So from the bottom up, please consider these levels of influence:

    • Biology-Physiology: the lightwaves that make up all colors do have an effect on us, we’re just not usually aware of it.
    • Colors in Nature and materials: From plants and rocks, water, animals and more, we are surrounded by colors of nature
    • Colors as archetypes: Consider how a bee, if black-and-yellow, carries it’s own warning signs. We use these colors intentionally i our world also.
    • Social and cultural constructs: Different cultures assign a variety of important characteristics to various colors. Red, and white, being two of them. Opposite in one culture from another!
    • Fashion, politics, trends: I call it “planned preferences” when color trends take center stage. It’s about marketing and sales. But on the bigger and more fundamental level, these ‘color trends’ have a deeper beginning.
    • Personal life experiences: Do you have a color you Love or Hate, that was present in your youth or in a relationship or other experience? That carries onward as we get older.

    Adapting to client requests…Collaboration is the Key!

    I am often asked by clients to state my favorite color. My answer is typically something a question, like…For what purposes? or In what situation? or even more often, just stating that I don’t really have one single favorite color. Take yellow, for example…a color that is often difficult to use for interiors because it can easily become dominant–not connecting–and loud, too bright, and creating discomfort. (Clue to the above ‘quiz.’)

    Personally, “yellow” is not a color that I’d use in clothing for myself.
    Why? It doesn’t do anything positive for my appearance (!) BUT, I can use a chartreuse, a very strong green-yellow, in some cases. Then also, however, in a home there could be many wonderful places where a strong yellow color could be beautiful. Accessories, for example, are a great way to include a more “extreme” color to great advantage, depending on what else is in the room. Of course, a warm, pale type of yellow is often a beautiful color to be surrounded with.

    A client “case study” story…for an example
    For Exterior color for a Victorian style home in the Boston area, the client very strongly stated they wanted PINK. Ok it’s an unusual request. In that case, as with in other similar situations where a client felt attached to a particular color, I always try to be collaborative. I believe it’s important to always consider client wishes. I can be definite in my recommendations and am always happy to state the reasons for my choices that I consider to be in the best interest of the client’s stated needs. But I have no interest in being a designer-dictator, making it only my own way.

    What happened in “The Case of the Pink House” was that I created a few different color schemes with “pink” as the focus. While it would not have been my own, personal first choice, the goal was to find the Right “pink” that would satisfy the client while being in alignment with my professional concerns. So, in collaboration with this enthusiastic and happy client, the outcome was what you see in image #13 here, in the slideshow gallery, about The Pink House.

    Glorious Gray…Better Think Before Painting!

    Glorious Gray…Better Think Before Painting!

    by | Sep 20, 2023 | art, design,photography,people, artwork, barbara jacobs, blog, color, color choices, color consulting, color design, consultation, consulting, decor, designs, IntegralColorViews, Interior color, interiors, pick a color, trends

    A good friend was asking me about using gray for interiors, and it gave me a great reason to do a blog post about it!

    According to a Zillow survey: “…dark gray may attract more prospective buyers — and higher offers — when you’re getting ready to sell.”

    True, there seems to be a big flutter about the color called “Gray” for interiors. But actually, as with many “trendy sound/news bytes” about color, it’s not as simplistic as it’s made to be. It’s more than one color, that’s for sure. And, what if you’re not selling? Creating and updating your nest at home will be the focus and goal.

    But questions arise to me. Like: Whats the appeal, beyond “Trends?” Where does that interest come from: social, emotional, and/or other things in the marketplace? What are benefits of using those colors in living spaces? In work spaces? What are negatives? This post will address those issues, for interiors. Exterior colors post will be forthcoming.

    Example of a gray wall color supporting artwork.
    Example of a gray wall color supporting artwork. Artwork can be enhanced by using a deep color behind it.
    Shown on fireplace: China Camp Shapes, Archival print of original photograph by Barbara Jacobs

    So, more questions arise, like: Where to apply it? What paint finishes are best for maximum quality effects? And from a deeper, more specific design perspective…what actual color gray are you going to use, to create your new environment.

    That’s where creative color — and what I like to call “color discernment” — comes in!

    Is “gray” considered “Cheerful?”
    Not usually, and in fact that is not a word I would ever associate with a gray-toned color. However, here’s another way to look at it. It’s about the language of describing color and the psychology and emotions that come with various colors. For example, a more high-vibration color like “yellow,” for example, is typically considered Happy or Cheerful. That’s understandable, when you look at where we usually see that kind of color…flowers, nature, sunlight associations, greeting cards, etc. Then on the other hand, do you want a really bright yellow color in your surroundings? Depending on the actual color formulation, and lighting in the space, the color can be desirable or could also be uncomfortable, making one agitated. That’s just quick example of the kind of things we need to consider in selecting colors.

    Deep gray wall color

    See the difference. Two version of the same room, as examples of using variants of deeper gray. The top image is more blue and the Lower image is towards more purple.

    Deep gray, warm tint towards purple.

    Many colors can be up-beat and still comfortable and homey. That will be a great topic for a future post. In interiors, the more low-keyed versions of these colors are the way to go for this kind of result. So, it could be a blue, a red, a green, a purple…even an orange or a yellow!

    But in the realm of Gray, I like to consider various tones in that field, so a gray can be warm, cool, light and soft, dark and deep…you get the picture.
    Following are a few examples of colors I’d not call Gray, per se (as in black + white = gray), but toned-down colors that are beautiful, comfortable, and great options when you look for something in the wide world of beautiful grays for walls, ceilings and even cabinets–which can offer a beautiful color field as important as walls or entire rooms.

    Traditional Style Living Room.
    Two forms of warm gray are a good complement to the style and furnishings of this historic home.

    Artwork below by Barbara Jacobs

    Warm, earthy gray creates a cozy nest.
    Warm, earthy gray type color in a bedroom can help create a cozy nest
    Warm deep gray on window casings.Interior.
    2 photos of the same room shows a warm gray on the wood trim in this Arts and Crafts home. The combination of colors is a good fit for this space in particular and the house in general.
    Warm gray trim with gold tone walls: Arts and Crafts home.

    Deep, more blue-based gray
    More green-based gray
    Various tones of gray.
    Very light, soft gray takes the “edge” off white

    Above: 3 examples of the same room shown with various color options.

    Finally, one important thing to consider is to not be swept away by the latest trends, especially if you have more long-range plans. But one way to use this kind of social and product-influenced color is that even typically smaller areas like trim can offer distinguished and sophisticated options.

    Below: 4 views of the same room, same color except…what is different?

    One room with a warm blue…
    Different views of the same room – note back wall color…
    Interior space with warm blues.
    Overview of the same room
    four images same room
    This back wall color behind dining table is similar, but deeper than the rest of the room

    I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments,
    and to see your own pictures of how you have used Grays, in any form.
    In fact, I welcome your suggestions for future posts on topics of interest to you.