Add a Splash of Color to Your Northern Virginia Home!

Decorating your Northern Virginia home doesn’t have to be a hassle. It’s probably the most fun part of buying a new home! So many people are afraid to add bold colors because they’re afraid that their home will look tacky. What you need to realize is that there is a way to tastefully integrate color into your decorating scheme.

As the premier real estate experts in Northern Virginia, we have an eye for what makes a home stand out to visitors and potential buyers alike. Here are a few quick tips for decorating your home in the most dynamic, colorful way possible:

Stick to the 60-30-10 Rule. This rule refers to how domineering certain colors should be in a room. The room should consist of 60% of a dominating color, typically a neutral, 30% of a secondary color, typically something brighter, and 10% of an accent color. If you stick to this scheme, you can get away with adding pops of bright color to your room and livening up your space.

Choose a color scheme. In order for your home to look cohesive and classic, you need to choose a color scheme. You can go with an analogous scheme, which refers to colors that are next to each other on a typical color wheel. When you go with this kind of color scheme, your tones should be more muted and it should be used in a more casual, restful space. A complementary color scheme refers to colors opposite from each other on the color wheel. Since these are often more visually challenging and contrasting, they’re often used on more formal areas of the property.

Add a little black. Having elements like a black lampshade or table enhances all of the other colors in the room and clarifies their tone. Don’t believe us? Give it a try.

Always pull from the pattern. Take the most prominent pattern in the room, whether it is an upholstery or curtain, and pull the rest of the room’s decorating scheme from it. You don’t want to have colors that clash or overpower. Factor in the pattern for your 60-30-10 rule.

These are just a few of the many ways that you can up the ante in terms of your home’s color. While sticking to black, white and grey might be within your comfort zone, adding color will brighten up your space and make your home a happier, healthier place to live.

Questions about buying or selling a Northern Virginia home? Feel free to contact us at any time. We’d be happy to help you in any way that we can. We hope to hear from you soon!


Earle Whitmore
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
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