Change Your Room's Color Without Paint

Some say the easiest way to redecorate is with paint, but picking the perfect color, moving furniture, priming and painting all take considerable time and effort. If you want to change the look of a room but aren’t ready to break out the paint cans and roller brushes, know that you can alter a room by incorporating splashes of color in different ways. These ideas can also work
great for people who rent or otherwise aren’t allowed to paint the walls.

Pillows:
If you have a dark room, and you want to lighten it up for spring, add a few bright-colored throw pillows to accent your furniture.

Window Treatments:
Many window treatments are available only in basic and uninspiring color treatments. Spice things up by changing out your current window treatments with a handmade, colorful version. Cut out geometric shapes from foam paper you can get at a craft store and string them together with fishing line. Hang strings from a decorative rod to finish off the look. If you can’t sew, buy a decorative curtain rod, and simply drape a bold-colored piece of fabric over it. You may be surprised at just how stunning this simple approach can look. Sew dollies onto curtains to add a decorative touch.

Tip: To maximize on color and design opportunities, use dollies in a variety of sizes, designs, styles and colors.

Flowers:
Group your favorite spring flowers, or scatter single stems, in bud vases around the room to infuse a little freshness and a dash of color into your space. Just remember to dispose of them when the color fades.

Artwork:
Whether you buy it from a local gallery or it’s a collage of your children’s drawings, artwork adds something special to your space. Pick a piece that showcases intense colors but also works well with the existing pieces in your room.

Bookshelves:
Bookshelves aren’t just for books. Incorporate some freestanding bookshelves, and use them to display a colorful collection of pottery, figurines or glassware.

Rugs:
If you’ve always had the same area rugs, now is the time to switch it up a bit. Replace those worn rugs with newer ones in vivid patterns. Or try affixing a colorful rug on your wall to serve as a stunning tapestry.

Slipcovers:
Buy a couch slipcover for every season, and change it out as desired. Try light, airy colors such as light blue, yellow, white, or green for the spring and summer months and deep, rich colors such as purple, gold, red or navy for autumn and winter. You can also try the same with duvet covers for your bedroom.

Headboard:
With endless color, texture and design options, fabric is the perfect way to lend new color and personality to your space. Without a stitch of thread, you can shed new light on your bedroom by fashioning a gorgeous tufted headboard. Simply cut out a wooden template for your headboard, then wrap the piece in foam, batting and finally your chosen fabric, fastening the materials taut to the headboard with a heavy-duty staple gun. For an elegant finish, gather fabric and hammer down upholstery nails to create a simple diamond pattern throughout the headboard. Once complete, attach the new piece to your existing headboard, or mount it directly to the wall behind your bed.

Tip: A headboard can be more than just a decorative focal point. Try using it as a bulletin board with a twist—use stylish pins to post photographs, letters, inspirational quotes and postcards for a truly unique furniture piece. It’s the perfect look for a frequently used guestroom or child’s bedroom.

Lighting:
Add color with lighting? Sure! A simple solution would be to add colored bulbs to some of your light fixtures. Incandescent lighting can add more warmth, and accent lighting can highlight an area of the room adding some additional cheer.

Can’t you just see the possibilities? You can infuse a lot of color into any room without once having to pry open a paint can. Have fun!