Accent Colour For The Win

In the home, one pop of colour can make all the difference.

The great thing about colour is that even a strategic splash of one introductory pigment via lamp or lounge chair can totally change the look and feel of a room. (And its level of fabulousness!)Opting for a blue lamp instead of the silver one at the store is easy, and one colourful item is all it takes to make a difference. Designers and homeowners alike have perfected the art of “the colour pop,” so we’ve collected a few of our favourites:This futuristic navy blue lamp from Livingspace draws the eye and adds contrast to a mostly white and bleached wood room. (See the full modern Mount Pleasant condo here.)We love how homeowner and Vancouver realtor Katie Burkard mixed orangey-red chairs with other styles in metal and acrylic.The tart peach pillow atop crisp white bedding is like the cherry on a sundae—and a combo that keeps this cozy loft bedroom feeling bright and fresh.A neutral background allows key piece to stand out, like the red accent pillow and inspirational art on the wall. See more of Nadia Nascimento’s Strathcona house here.The blue sofa and chaise help the yellow Arne Jacobsen Swan chairs pop in front of a trifecta of eerie photos by Anthony Goicolea. (More colour where that came from in this Adam Becker-designed Shaughnessy home of a celebrated Vancouver gallerist.)In this live-work condo at the Vancouver Hotel Georgia, a Zoë Pawlak painting inspires a palette of soothing lilacs and pinks (far right), and we love how designer Nyla Free picks this up in the soft purple throw and pillow detailing.Sometimes a simple vase of yellow ochre flowers are all you need (especially amongst charcoal, black and grey decor). Designer Ben Leavitt of Vancouver’s Fox Design Studio makes an impact with this accent colour in the living room flora and duelling armchairs. Find photos of the whole home here.Silver wallpaper on the front of the peninsula is bold, but the injection of orange in the kitchen tiles take this Paul Lavoie-designed space to the next level. Take a look at the rest of this orange-loving Calgary condo here.A buttercup yellow door is a surefire way to make an entrance. Isn’t this spunky Marianne Amodio home one you’re dying to enter? (No wonder she’s this year’s DOTY 2015 Arthur Erickson Memorial Award winner).This bright Bensen sectional adds punch to the wood and concrete without detracting from the outdoor views. More photos from architect D’Arcy Jones‘s minimalist Vernon here.While this room and the rest of the Ami McKay-designed home appear quite colourful, it’s the strategic use of a few colourful furnishings (like this chartreuse bean bag chair) that really liven up the neutral colour palette. More photos from the total home makeover here. As demonstrated in this Sophie Burke office, brightening a room is as easy as choosing a colourful chair.For more tips on using colour, check out ‘Baby Steps for Colour-Phobes’ with Calgary designer (and colourphile) David Crosson.