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As the days get longer and peeks of green begin to appear outside our front doors, there’s no time like the present to introduce fresh hues into your home. We talked with Kate O’Hara, CEO and creative director at Martha O’Hara Interiors, to get her top tips and tricks for bringing color into your space.


Artful Living | Kate O’Hara on How to Bring More Color Into Your Life

Photography provided by Martha O’Hara Interiors

Make choices based on the room.

“Any room with a good source of natural light is a candidate for color,” says O’Hara. Less formal spaces such as kitchens, entries, studies and sunrooms present an opportunity to incorporate bright hues. Bedrooms are also an excellent spot to play with tones. For primary suites in particular, the O’Hara team gravitates toward muted pastels and spa-inspired palettes to create a calming environment for a good night’s rest. In functional spaces like mudrooms, pantries, laundry rooms and powder rooms, a little chroma can go a long way and offer a lot of visual interest. “A good rule of thumb is to use the most pigment in the rooms you visit the least,” she suggests. “That way you can avoid color fatigue if you’re worried about losing interest over time.”


Artful Living | Kate O’Hara on How to Bring More Color Into Your Life

Identify your palette plan.

Almost any hue can work in a home, so long as you’ve identified a cohesive palette and a plan. Many of the firm’s clients gravitate toward a specific color in a range of tones and saturation. Others prefer a specific tone or saturation level in a range of colors. “Less is often more when it comes to color,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to take risks, but do keep the overall composition of the room in mind.”


Artful Living | Kate O’Hara on How to Bring More Color Into Your Life

Consider paint.

When your lifestyle encourages you to keep your upholstery dark, your walls and cabinets may be an opportunity for color. “Some of our clients are nervous about color in their fabrics because of kids or pets,” O’Hara says. “They are often a lot more receptive to bright paint, and we love that!” Painting your utility spaces — whether it’s a colorful kitchen, bathroom, mudroom or laundry room — can enhance the mundane moments in life.


Artful Living | Kate O’Hara on How to Bring More Color Into Your Life

Add colorful rugs.

For a bottom-up approach, rugs are the place to add color and pattern in almost any room. “Your floors are your foundation, and your rugs define the space,” says O’Hara. “When you want to make a statement, setting your furniture atop a dynamic area rug will always do the trick.”


Artful Living | Kate O’Hara on How to Bring More Color Into Your Life

Brighten up your furniture.

“I’m a fan of incorporating color into furniture, but you have to be smart about it,” says O’Hara. Clients are encouraged to choose one or two pieces to serve as the focal point and let the other furnishings support those statement items. “This is why it’s so important to design a room as a cohesive unit rather than one piece of furniture at a time,” explains O’Hara. “It’s easy to love something on its own, but a challenge to bring it all together. That’s what designers do best!”


Artful Living | Kate O’Hara on How to Bring More Color Into Your Life

Use muted colors as neutrals.

After a decade of seeing cool tones and grayscale neutrals dominate palette preferences, the team at Martha O’Hara Interiors is seeing a rise in warmer shades this year, particularly pink, green and clay hues. “We’re noticing a shift away from classic neutrals as people grow comfortable with color,” notes O’Hara. “A neutral doesn’t have to be white, beige or gray!” For instance, a client may request a neutral blue powder room or neutral pink bedroom.

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