With summer just around the corner, you might feel compelled to refresh the look of your home. The good news: you don’t need to repaint, replace furniture, or call a contractor. A few well-chosen accessories can completely change the mood of a room. This guide walks through how to use rugs, pillows, wall art, and tabletop décor to add color, whether you’re drawn to cool tones, warm tones, or something more neutral.
How do you add color to a room without painting?
Accessories are the fastest, most flexible way to bring color into a space. Area rugs anchor a room with the largest splash of color. Throw pillows, place mats, candleholders, and wall art layer in supporting tones. Because none of these pieces are permanent, you can switch them out seasonally or whenever your taste evolves.
If you’re not sure where to start, work from the floor up. The rug sets the palette, and everything else follows.
Key takeaway: Color refreshes don’t have to mean major commitments. Area rugs and accessories give you the flexibility to experiment without painting a single wall.
What are the best cool colors to add to a room?
Cool tones like blue, green, teal, and soft purple can make a room feel calmer, fresher, and more balanced. They work especially well in bedrooms, living rooms, dining areas, home offices, and outdoor-inspired spaces.
For a blue accent that feels modern and easy to style, the Bella Blue 5′ x 8′ Area Rug brings in blocks of blue and ivory with a painterly look, making it a strong choice for a living room or home office.
If you want to add cool color in smaller doses, try the Estuco Blue Accent Pillow, Joey II Blue Accent Pillow, or Blue Drops Accent Pillow on a sofa, accent chair, or bed. These pieces bring in blue through pattern and texture, so the room feels refreshed without needing a major change.
Green accents can create a more natural, relaxed look. The Palm Leaves Gray Accent Pillow adds a tropical-inspired pattern, while the Basie Green Accent Pillow brings in a soft velvet-like texture and calming green tone. For a tabletop accent, the Beach Ray Glass Vase can add color to a console, dining table, or office shelf.
For a brighter cool-tone statement, the Punta Teal Tray adds a leaf-inspired shape and vivid teal color to a coffee table, dresser, or office surface. If you want a larger accent piece, the Cormic Swivel Accent Chair introduces color through furniture while still feeling soft enough for a living room, bedroom corner, or reading area.
Pro tip: Start with the rug. It’s the largest soft surface in most rooms, so it sets the tone before any other accessory has a chance to.
How can wall art and décor refresh a transitional-style home?
Wall art is one of the most underused tools for adding color. The Golden Whirlwind Acrylic Wall Art layers in subtle tones that work in a dining room, foyer, or hallway without overwhelming the existing palette.
For tabletop décor, the Apple Pear Décor pieces are versatile enough to anchor a dining table centerpiece, a kitchen counter, or a console table in your entryway. The apples and pears are richly colored and pair well with rustic or transitional styles.
These two pieces are especially effective when used together.
What colors work best for a subdued or neutral look?
If bright tones aren’t your thing, neutral palettes can still feel rich and current. The Fido 5′ x 7′ Area Rug is easy to match, easy to maintain, and on-trend with today’s popular designs. The Horizons 8′ x 10′ Area Rug combines an abstract pattern with gray and white tones, proving that neutral doesn’t have to mean flat.
Key takeaway: Neutral isn’t the absence of color. Texture, pattern, and tone-on-tone variation give a gray or beige palette real depth.
How do warm colors change the feel of a room?
Warm tones (reds, oranges, golds) bring energy and personality. They work especially well in dining rooms, kids’ rooms, and outdoor entertaining spaces.
The Safia Indoor/Outdoor Area Rug pairs a neutral base with a fun red pattern, which makes it a great match for clean contemporary or modern dining tables and hardwood floors. The Nubew Outdoor Pillow brings a nautical feel with blue and white patterns, perfect for a white outdoor sofa or for layering on a bed to create a coastal vibe.
For kids’ rooms, the Safi Bubble 5′ x 8′ Area Rug uses a multicolor bubble pattern that makes a space feel bigger and brighter. And for something truly unique, the Picasso Area Rug delivers an abstract design with so many colors that it functions as a piece of artwork in its own right.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the easiest way to add color to a room?
Start with an area rug. It covers the most visual surface area and instantly anchors the rest of the room’s palette. From there, layer in throw pillows, wall art, and tabletop décor in coordinating tones.
Can I add color to a room if I’m renting and can’t paint?
Yes. Rugs, pillows, candleholders, place mats, and wall art are all renter-friendly options that add color without touching the walls.
How many colors should I use in one room?
A common approach is to pick one main color and one or two accent colors. Too many competing tones can feel cluttered, but tone-on-tone variation (different shades of the same color family) is almost always safe.
Can outdoor rugs be used indoors?
Yes. Indoor/outdoor rugs like the Hols and Safia are designed to handle moisture and traffic, but they work just as well in a living room, kitchen, or sunroom.
How do I add color to a kid’s room?
Multicolor patterns brighten a small space without requiring a full redesign. Pair it with a few colorful pillows and wall art that your child helps pick out.
Should I use warm colors or cool colors?
It depends on the mood you want. Cool colors (blues, greens, purples) feel calming and tend to suit bedrooms and living rooms. Warm colors (reds, oranges, golds) feel energetic and work well in dining rooms and entertaining spaces. There’s no rule against mixing them, especially if a neutral rug or wall acts as the bridge.
Ready to refresh your space?
Now that you’ve seen how to add color to a room, you can use these area rug and accessory ideas to get inspired. Browse our online store from the convenience of your computer or smartphone, or visit an El Dorado Furniture showroom near you. We have locations in Palm Beach, Pinellas, Broward, Miami-Dade, Lee, and Collier counties.