One artist’s faux pas is another person’s masterpiece.
Adding bold color to a home seems like a mistake to some. But to others, it is a creative challenge. Lots of people love to build up their home décor with vibrant blocks of color.
If you enjoy bright rich turquoise, feel happy in the presence of mustard yellow, and want the freedom to change your design in a flash, you may want to make your house a home with color blocking.
A Brief History of Color Blocking
The art of color blocking began when Piet Mondrain, a Dutch painter, started to create wall work in the 1920s. His trademark painting was made of oil on canvas and included geometric squares and rectangles. Some of the shapes were filled with colors (usually red, blue and yellow), while others were left blank.
After introducing this technique to French and American markets, color blocking, the art of putting contrasting colors together in patchwork, fashion, and interior design, became a hot trend.
Barbara Schirmeister is a modern day color expert who consults for companies like Hunter Douglas, a company that specializes in window treatments. She raves about color blocking, saying it “…adds movement, drama and the opportunity to surround yourself with more of the colors you enjoy. It lets you give a room not just personality, but your personality. It is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself in your home.”
Tips for Color Blocking Your Home
In a recent Marin News article, Schirmeister explains how to successfully incorporate color blocking into your home.
Choose a color theme – Before purchasing furniture, paint, and throw pillows, create a list of your favorite colors. Try not to consider what the shades will look like in your home. Simply identify which hues compliment your tastes and lifestyle. From there, choose three hues that go well together, even if they don’t flatter each other. As Schirmeister likes to say, “The colors have to get along ‘and be happy together.’”
Keep walls neutral – It is trendy to have accent walls inside your home. These walls have been painted vibrant colors that stand out from the other walls, which are kept neutral. Accent walls are perfectly acceptable and encouraged in color blocking schemes. But be sure to selectively choose which walls to paint. In rooms where you plan to use large colorful furniture, like a pink couch, it is wise to keep wall color neutral.
Stop while you’re ahead – Less is more when it comes to color blocking. To ensure you achieve the right balance, step back and take a good look at your masterpiece once and a while. Can you picture it featured in an edition of Real Simple magazine? Or does it seem a bit busy? One benefit of color blocking is that it is easy to move the colorful articles around so you can recreate your space in a flash.
Are you looking to liven up your home with a splash of color? Have you been thinking about what you can do to redecorate? Color blocking is good for projects of all sizes. Read the entire interview with Barbara Schirmeister to discover if this art trend is right for you.
Read more Segmation blog posts about designing a colorful home.
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Outside The Lines 
Excellent information. We are getting ready to move into a new home. This info will be helpful for our decorating process. Thank you!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
Gorgeous! Demonstrates a lot of confidence, too!
I am putting down grass-green carpet (it is called “Botanical” and includes yellow highlights); what should I do with the walls?