Brighten Up

No doubt about it—neutral palettes are beautiful in a room. But let’s say you’re yearning for just a bit of sunny yellow, robin’s egg blue or even tomato red? You can satisfy your color craving by revamping any of the following with a few strokes of a brush:

• Stair risers or treads. Paint stair risers (the vertical surface of each step) or the stair treads a solid color. Or try painting a faux carpet runner (look online for step-by-step tutorials).
• The back of a bookcase or a cabinet. Rather than painting an accent wall, paint the back of a bookcase or cabinet for a pop of color to wake up your room and turn it into a focal point.
• A ceiling. There’s no rule that says you have to paint a ceiling white. Step out of your comfort zone and seize the opportunity to make your room a little more exciting. (Just keep in mind that darker colors will make the ceiling feel lower.)
• A chair or two. Give salvaged chairs new life by painting them in vivid colors, then mix them up with more subdued hues.
• An interior door. As it does the ceiling, painting an interior door adds a touch of the unexpected. Vivid colors make an impact, especially if the door has interesting molding.