A Colorful Pick-Me-Up

Sometimes, I'll look around a room in my home and think "OK, we need to spice things up around here." My walls are more or less the colors that I want them to be, the furniture is placed just so, and tablescapes are arranged to the best of my ability. (It's vignettes that I usually need help with.) But even when a room looks pretty good, sometimes it needs a little oomph. A kick in the pants. Something to make it seem alive and kicking.

For me, the remedy is adding a little pop of color somewhere. Usually that entails a vase of brightly colored flowers like those on my living room mantel, shown above. There is nothing easier than getting a bunch of bright pink or coral roses or blood red carnations and strategically placing them on tables, mantels, even bar carts. But flowers aren't the only weapon. A vivid throw pillow can pack a punch as can artwork, books, lamp shades, or rugs. It really doesn't matter what it is as long as it doesn't seem too forced- the kiss of death in decoration. Just think of these little splashes of color as a shot in the arm for your home.

Spice up your room through...


Throw Pillows-in the Bettencourt villa at Neuilly.



A Poliakoff painting-in Roger Vivier's sitting room.



A brightly colored canvas- by Rothko.



Stack of books- in the London home of Tamara Mellon as designed by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard.



Towels (yes, towels)- in the master bath of David Lackey.




Flowers-in a home decorated by J. Randall Powers.



Coral and a bowl of oranges-in the Dallas apartment of John Bobbitt



A firescreen- in the Milan apartment of Count and Countess Panza di Biumo



Plates and candles- in the Montparnasse apartment of design duo Ravage.



(Image at top, copyright Denis Reggie. Mellon photo from Rooms to Inspire in the City: Stylish Interiors for Urban Living by Annie Kelly, Tim Street-Porter photographer. Bettencourt photo from Architectural Digest International Interiors; Vivier, Rothko, and di Biumo photos from The Best in European Decoration. Powers, Lackey, and Bobbitt photos from Domestic Art: Curated Interiors. Ravage photo from Paris Interiors.)