Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Inspiration

21OAK may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Liven up your apartment with these bright wall colors

Leah Groth
By

When it comes to choosing interior paint colors for your apartment, neutral shades like blues, whites, grays and beiges are a guaranteed way to play it safe. However, some wall painting trends include bold and bright colors that will seriously liven up your living space and make a dramatic interior-design statement.

But before you go out and purchase a few cans of a bright hue, consider these expert tips.

Pink chair against a pink wall
Willian Justen de Vasconcellos/Unsplash

Pay attention to color palette

Whether you are planning on painting one or all of your walls, keeping up with a color scheme is crucial, points out Michelle Harrison-McAllister, founder of boutique design firm Michelle Harrison Design. “Here is an easy formula when you want to paint one or all of your walls a bright color,” she explains. “Start by determining what the primary color palette of the room is.” For example, if you have tan and blue as a color scheme, then choosing a complementary color like orange is great color to add a boost to your room. If you have mainly all neutrals, then going with green/blue tones will bring a different vibe to your whole room. Try: Behr Orange Burst

Recommended Videos

Or, mix your palette

You can also mix styles and play with contrasting color palettes in a space — “always a great way to create a dynamic look,” Arianna Cesa, color marketing specialist for Benjamin Moore, explains. “There are no hard and fast rules; it really comes down to personal preference and the look you are trying to achieve.” For example, complementary colors schemes use colors that sit opposite of each other on the color wheel (think blue and orange) and can create a vibrant, energetic feeling. “They work great to draw attention to a particular design element in the room,” Cesa adds.

Add a ray of sunshine

For those who live in a colder climate and want a pop of color, Harrison-McAllister suggests bringing the warmth indoors by using a warm sunny mustard yellow tone, that “will inspire you to visualize the sun rays, keeping the tone light and cheery,” she says. Try: Behr Rise and Shine

Bring the outdoors in

Just because you aren’t surrounded by trees doesn’t mean you shouldn’t reap the benefits of greenery. “When living in a big-city high-rise building, bringing in green accent paint tones bring the outdoors in to provide a restful and peaceful space,” Harrison-McAllister explains. Try: Clare Current Mood

Don’t forget to look up

Once you find the perfect bold color for your walls, don’t forget about the ceiling, points out Cesa. “In a small room or a room with a lower ceiling, paint the ceiling with a lighter shade or a slight variation of the wall color to create depth and dimension, and to draw the eye upward,” she suggests. If you are tackling the paint project on your own, she suggests Benjamin Moore’s ben® paint, “a great choice for tackling DIY paint projects in small spaces, offering beautiful results and easy application. It’s a great product for first-time homeowners and DIYers,” she says. You can lighten up any paint color! Just ask your mixer.

Accentuate an alcove

If you have an alcove in your space, an easy way to make it stand out is via a coat of bright paint, suggests Cesa. Her color pick? Try: Benjamin Moore Covington Blue HC-138

Opt for an accent wall

Sometimes, less is more. Keep in mind that you don’t have to paint all four walls the same color. In fact, sometimes you can make a bigger statement by adding a single bold accent wall to your space. Try: Benjamin Moore Head Over Heels AF-250

Bright hues in the hallway

Hallway walls are one of the most overlooked in your home — and a great place to add a bold color statement, notes Cesa. Try: Benjamin Moore Smoke 2122-40

Bold in the bathroom

A tiny powder room has so much potential to make a huge design impact. An easy way to make your bathroom pop is by taking advantage of a gorgeous gold color. Try: Benjamin Moore Peach Parfait 2175-70

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Leah Groth
Leah Groth
Former Digital Trends Contributor
A polka dot plant adds color and life to your home – here’s how to care for it
Your lovely polka dot plant can thrive indoors with these plant care and maintenance tips
Top view of a polka dot plant

Houseplants have a lot of benefits, like elevating your mood and purifying the air. Arguably their best benefit, though, is that they liven up a room with style and color. That's why the polka dot plant is so popular. It has bright, colorful foliage that comes in a variety of shades, like pink, white, green, and red. That's how this lovely plant adds a splash of color to match any decor.

While they certainly brighten up the room, polka dot plants can be finicky, and they do have a strict care routine. We'll discuss what you need to do to help your polka dot plant thrive indoors.

Read more
4 outstanding paint colors for your small laundry room upgrade
Don't settle with a dark and dreary laundry room. Try these paint colors to brighten and refresh the small space
Laundry room with shelving and cubbies

When styling a small laundry room, you've likely struggled to find a paint color that brightens the space. Even when opting for neutral tones, you find yourself entering a space that is cramped or dreary. The challenge with small laundry rooms is that they often appear dark, bleak, or dingy, making your already small area appear more cramped than it actually is. To prevent this from happening in your home, it's best to choose laundry room colors that help illuminate and expand the room's look.

While light neutrals and bright whites may seem like the obvious choice, we're here to prove that there are several fun color alternatives that will improve your space. Below, we've chosen four amazing paint colors perfect for opening up and brightening a small laundry room.

Read more
25 stellar staircase ideas to freshen up the look of your home
Not ready for an entire remodel? Update your staircase with one of these ideas
Young woman on stairs in a loft caring for potted plants.

If you want to change the interior of your house, you can change out throw pillows and invest in new furniture, but your stairs are a set thing, right? Not quite. You may not be able to move stairs or rip them out entirely, but you can get creative about your stair design.

Changing up your staircase can be one way to upgrade the look of your home and it isn't as difficult as you may think. If you aren’t sure how to accomplish this, we’ve got 25 ideas ranging from subtle to dramatic to help you figure it out. Keep reading for inspiration on how to update your staircase.

Read more