A colorful new book helps when you’re stuck in idle mode

Have you had this conversation with yourself?

“I don’t know what color I should paint my walls.” “To be on the safe side, I’ll go for a neutral white or beige,” you decide.

The sofa? “It’s better to play it safe and get a white sofa,” you argue.

The carpet? “Hmm, I don’t want it to be too restrictive, maybe a mix of beige and grey,” you reply.

And that’s why so many rooms are as colorless as a bowl of porridge.

Enter Rachel Mae Smith, color consultant, blogger at The Crafted Life and author of the forthcoming book Colorful Living: Simple Ways to Brighten Your World Through Design, Décor, Fashion and More (Ten Speed ​​​​Press, $26).

Smith’s love affair with color began 10 years ago when she suddenly found herself surrounded by a palette of oatmeal shades.

“I was going through a difficult transition after a failed relationship,” she said over the phone. “I didn’t have much money and thought that if I decorated my apartment in neutral colors, I wouldn’t waste money on something frivolous that I secretly loved, like a hot pink velvet sofa.”

The result, she said, was that “I didn’t like the feeling I had in my own home.”

That was then. Today, her home in Chelsea, Michigan, which she shares with her husband and one-year-old daughter, is full of color and joy.

“Choosing colors for reasons other than joy can have the opposite effect,” she said. “If you love a particular color, embrace it.”

Colorful Living shows how buying furniture in the colors you love—be it pastels, forest tones, or jewel tones—not only gives you a psychological boost, but ultimately saves you money.

After walking readers through a painless introduction to color theory, Smith’s book offers tips on how to find your favorite color that you may have been pushing away. (Hello, yellow!) It then walks you through choosing a palette for your home and incorporating colors you love into your home and wardrobe. Here are some excerpts from our conversation:

Q What do you think people should know more about colors?

A. Color choice doesn’t have to be taken so seriously. More people should choose happy things over safe things. If you consciously choose items in colors that make you happy, you’re likely to love what you have for longer. A bright pink sofa or chair with a funky pattern is certainly not for everyone, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s a low-risk venture. Research shows that we’re more likely to stick with eye-catching designs for longer because we crave visual stimulation.

Q Where should the color-afraid decorator start?

A. Start with small items that you use frequently—a mug in your favorite color is a start. Then try a lime green soap dispenser or an indigo blue doormat and see how pops of color on frequently used items spread joy. To add color to a boring room, start with a rug in the colors you love. Then bring color from the rug up into the room with artwork, pillows, and accent pieces like vases, sculptures, and planters. Outdoor furniture is also a place to experiment with color. Try colorful garden rugs, pillows, tables, chairs, and umbrellas.

Q Most people think that investing in neutral colors is smart and choosing colors is expensive. But you turn the tables. Can you explain?

A. First, if you paint your walls neutral colors with resale in mind, you’re painting your house for the next owner, not for yourself. You’re missing the point. Second, products are usually priced the same regardless of color. Third, the time you invest in creating a cohesive color palette will help you reduce impulse purchases and frivolous spending because you’ll be more selective in your shopping.

Q Your book is a lot about giving permission to break rules, but you also mention a few color rules we should follow. What are they?