Sick of bland? How to invigorate your decor by using a mix of colors.

Looking for fun ways to design a space? Then why not consider lively color combinations?

Instead of focusing on one color, consider “mixing it up” by blending various colors.

One of the main obstacles for many homeowners is knowing how and where to properly use color. So often, rooms can feel boring and bland, until color enters the picture.

When looking for spaces of the home to incorporate interesting color combinations, first look for those rooms that can be energized and invigorated through the use of color. These especially include social areas such as family and living rooms. Dens can also be great choices as well, as these are often overtired, overworked spaces, when they could be energetic and warm.

There are some basic colors that are warm, bright and friendly that can bring life to nearly any space.

Yellow: Yellow can be used in darker spaces and can mimic sunshine to make a space feel lighter and brighter.

Orange: Orange is one of the happiest colors. It will seldom disappoint and can be used in various areas of the home including dens, living spaces and even dining rooms.

White: White is a color that many people ignore as a color. White is a tremendous clarification color that can be used to neutralize and blend with other colors.

When looking to create interesting color combinations, contrast is one of your best decorating tools. Mixing light and dark colors or warm colors with those that are cool are ideal ways to blend colors. Some suggested color combinations:

Charcoal gray and powder pink.

Hot pink and chocolate brown.

Lemon yellow and burnt orange.

Cool gray and indigo blue.

White and black.

Blue and red.

Turquoise and orange.

Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design home staging expert and short-term rental/vacation home designer with offices in New York City and The Hudson Valley. Contact her at info@cathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com.