The other day I was in a bookstore, browsing through pages of several art, design, and decor magazines. Yes, printed magazines, I like them. I know how much work goes into coming up with ideas for the next edition’s articles, the amount of research required, the balancing of graphics and typography. Magazines give me a sense of wonder. Anyways, I was flipping the pages of a few magazines, and I felt uplifted. I had walked in with a lot on my mind, and just looking at some of the pictures in these publications had made me, well, happier.
So, I stopped and tried to determine what about the experience was having such a positive effect. I picked up another magazine, and started to go through it carefully, from the first page to maybe about twenty pages in. I noticed, whenever there was a picture that had big displays of colourful elements I stopped and lingered longer.
I closed the magazine, and looked around. The bookshop is a tiny space, each wall is stacked with nicely organized volumes, some showing the spine, others with the cover facing outwards. Despite the limited real estate, the store has visual breaks with displays of random, colourful items. My favorites include a ceramic cat in bright yellow with pink ears, and sparkling blue eyes, and a purple, medium-sized neon light in kind of 60s retro font that says, ‘Where’s Mrs. Wilson?’.
I’ve actually seen a few young readers ask the shop owner – a sweet lady by the name of Ava – (the dash was warranted here)
– “who’s Mrs. Wilson?”
– “You’ll have to read the book and find out.”
– “What book?”
At which point Ava smiles and walks away leaving the kids a bit perplexed and definitely curious.
Across from the bookstore there is a large women’s clothing shop, a known chain that in my opinion is only popular due to the scarcity of more appealing options. Their storefront has floor to ceiling display glass behind which I could see three, yes, I kid you not, only three in that vast space, headless mannequins.
Each stood on a white cube. Over almost the entire height of the first mannequin hung a shapeless coat in a nondescript shade somewhere between camel beige and elephant grey. The second one was possibly the most stylish of the three – I’m being generous, in case you hadn’t noticed. This one had a long, black skirt paired with a tight white shirt. It had no extra stitching, no tailoring, nothing. And, I don’t even want to describe the third, but here it goes, this last of the mannequins showcased the store’s best sweat ensemble complete with a charcoal hoodie, and extra baggy pants.
Now, let’s not get into the absolute lack of style here, some people like to be comfortable, no matter how it looks. But, it was the absence of vivid colours that made the entire display plain and boring. I turned back and took in the tiny space of the bookshop. It was delightful, it was inviting, cozy, and welcoming. And most of it was simply because of a tasteful use of colours.
I realized that as a society, over the past decade or so, we have collectively moved away from bold, bright colours. Some of it was perhaps due to the rise of minimalism, where interior design became subdued. People who wanted to sell their homes started painting their walls in different shades of grey. Richly hued furniture gave way to a spectrum of white. Even beddings and cushions went cream-coloured. Going achromatic became synonymous with chic, and it became a trend. A dull one.
These days it’s hard to find any splash of colour anywhere. Just look around. But, our eyes are built to see a range of beautiful hues, so why deprive ourselves?
There are plenty of ways to add a touch of punchy pigments to your life, here are a few easy ideas.
1. Spruce Up the Walls
One of the least expensive, and easiest ways to bring colour back into our lives is to paint an accent wall in a deep hue. But, painting is a little messy, and it takes time, and for some of us requires adjusting the furniture to avoid any jarring visuals. So, the next best thing is to put up large, colourful posters, prints, or paintings. The style you decide to go with depends on your own personal taste, but abstracts with bold brushstrokes can make any room look sophisticated, and fun.
2. Go Floral
Flowers have such a wide spectrum of colours, making them amazing candidates for a quick pop that lifts any room. You can buy a small bouquet from a grocery store near you, and put it in a simple jar. You could also try your hand at creating exotic arrangements with artifical ones. These days dollar stores have a great selection of beautiful artificial flowers that look almost like the real thing. Regardless of the background colours, adding a few sets of flowers around the room will add a certain degree of happy to any space.
3. Jazz Up Your Table Settings
Nothing wakes up a dull dinner spread like cutlery in a cheerful shade or plates that look like they wandered out of an art studio. You don’t need to have guests over to set a heartwarming table, just go a little wild with funky patterns, mismatched pieces, and even neon napkins. For added fun choose a colour theme for each day of the week, and give them flamboyant names. Think Saffron Sunrise with reddish golden hues for Mondays, or Turquoise Carnival with bright blues and greens for Saturdays.
4. Accessorize
Have you ever walked in a room with random, a little out of place decorations? And yet, the objects work together to create a happy vibe, albeit eclectic! Colourful accessories have the power to transform a space from boring and impersonal into one that feels warm, cozy, and genuinely inviting. Vibrant cushions, textured throws, or even big, bold sculptures introduce layers of personality, and one of the main reasons they work so great is how they add big splashes of colour. In contrast, overly bland, minimalist, and colourless interiors can often feel sterile and emotionally flat.
Maybe the quiet joy I felt as I flipped through those magazines was a small reminder that life doesn’t have to be muted to look put together. Sometimes, all it takes is one bold shade, or one playful object to bring back a moment of visual joy.
The question is: do you feel like our surroundings have become less exciting, and duller in the past several years? A simple way to rectify that is to add some colour.