You’ve seen it before – maybe in magazines or when trolling furniture stores – and you’ve loved it! I’m talking about a room decorated with pops of color. But you always hesitate before buying that red couch (or blue, or purple, or anything other than an earth tone), because you’re not sure you'll be able to live with it.

Here are a few inexpensive tips for trying on color in your home before committing to it when you buy furniture:

1. Start with Accents and Accessories: Getting new accents and accessories is significantly less expensive than buying a new furniture set, so experiment there first. How do you feel about a red throw on your sofa or an orange accent lamp on your end table? If you can’t live with those smaller pops of color, you won’t be able to live with larger furniture pieces in that color either. Choose another color or maybe different tones of the colors you used, and try again.

2. Cover Up: With slipcovers, that is. Even if you do not love the look of slipcovered furniture, you can try a slipcover in a bright color on your sofa or a chair just for a few weeks. If you realize you really do like the color, then you know it’s worth investing in that new vibrant furniture.

3. Layer on the Paint: Paint is fairly cheap and can be redone without too much trouble, if necessary. And remember, paint isn’t only for walls. You can paint a piece of furniture just as easily – this way, you can try out the color before investing in new furniture.

Adding new colors to your home can help you create just the atmosphere you want. Try these tips, and don’t let the novelty of it all scare you away.

Browse sofas and living room furniture at Furniture.com.

Categories: Living Room Furniture, Accent Furniture, Design Tips