How to Use Curtains to Add a Pop of Color to a Neutral Room

Adding a splash of color in a neutral room can instantly transform the look and the mood of the space. Using soft furnishings, accessories and window treatments like curtains, you can easily introduce accent colors to your overall scheme without overwhelming the existing decor. Whether you opt for bold patterned textiles, artistic tie dye curtains, rich drapes or refreshing sheer fabrics, curtains can add an energetic vibe, enhance the aesthetics and provide a striking focal point to a neutral color palette. Below is our guide on how to use curtains to add a pop of color to a neutral room, along with some creative Interior Designer tips you can try for your home.

Choosing Curtains Based On Your Home’s Theme

Harmonize the color of your curtains with your room decor. The most common way to add a pop of color using your curtains is to coordinate it with the rest of your room decor. Ensure that the color of your curtains complement your accessories, soft furnishings and other small details like artworks, rugs, furniture pieces ,decorative pillows, etc. This will create a cohesive overall look, while still allowing the curtains to be the highlight of the room.

Pick a complementary color for your curtain to add some contrast. Curtains are one of the simplest decors you can use if you want to introduce contrast and add visual interest to a space. To create a striking effect, choose curtains in a color that complements your wall color. If the room has a cool neutral undertone, opt for warm toned curtains like oranges, reds and yellows.

Go bold with patterns and prints. When choosing curtains, experiment with unique prints and patterns to add a lively and refreshing vibe to a neutral room. You can choose the pattern depending on the theme of your home.

Here are some examples for choosing the right curtain prints based on your home’s theme:

• organic florals – perfect for cottage and country style to bring in a touch of the outdoors
• botanical prints – best for tropical style interiors or resort themed homes
• classical motifs – often used in traditional and country inspired interiors because they are reminiscent of history and culture . Examples of these patterns are quatrefoils, brocades, paisleys, damasks, ikats, shiboris, etc.
• bold geometric patterns – stripes or a combination of shapes are perfect for edgy, modern spaces
• abstract designs – ideal for eclectic spaces because of their artistic flair

Add a unique touch with color block and gradient curtains. If you are not a fan of prints and patterns, you can go for a more subdued approach using gradient effect and color blocks. These two are your best bets if you want a splash of color without deviating much from a neutral color scheme.

Ombre and gradient effects can make even neutral colored curtains visually interesting because of the way the colors subtly transition from one shade to another. Color blocks, on the other hand,  help introduce multiple colors in a sophisticated way through the use of large solid blocks of color.

Designer Tip!  Vertical color block curtains can visually add height to a room, while horizontal color block curtains can make a room appear larger.

Mixing And Matching Materials

Incorporate curtains with unique textures and materials to give your neutral room more depth. Aside from color, curtains can also help bring in a variety of textures in a neutral room to make it more dynamic. Rich fabrics like plush velvets and luxurious silk are perfect materials for curtains if you want a touch of elegance and sophistication. Crisp linen and soft cotton curtains are ideal for casual and laid back spaces.

Designer Tip!  Varying colors and textures can be added in a neutral room by layering sheer and opaque fabrics.Pick curtains that are two shades darker than your wall then overlay it with white sheer curtains. For a more dramatic effect, layer two curtains that have contrasting shades like teal and terra cotta.

Do not be afraid to mix and match. If you want to make your curtains a striking focal point of your room, try combining different textures, prints and patterns. Just make sure that they share a common color palette to maintain visual harmony and a cohesive overall look.

Experiment with different materials to add some “wow” factor. Textiles and fabrics aren’t the only materials you can use for curtains. Other options like natural materials, beads  and metallic threads are some options which can bring in  an unexpected pop of color while also serving as a focal point in the space.

Natural materials like bamboo, woven fibers and macrame have distinctive appearances and textures that are ideal for relaxed or bohemian style rooms. You can also explore curtains with metallic threads and match them with metal accessories and decor for a modern glam interior.

Curtains Based On Your Personality

Let your room reflect your personality using DIY curtains. If you are crafty and artistic, DIY curtains can help add a splash of color to a neutral room while reflecting your own style and personality. DIY curtains are also good conversational and statement pieces. You can find thousands of inspirations online which you can try out from hand painting, dyeing and sewing.

Here are some of our suggestions for DIY curtains:

• Hand painting and Fabric Paints – Paint your own designs on plain curtains. Maximize your artistic freedom and experiment with fabric paint to create your own patterns, landscapes, floral prints and motifs.
• Stenciling – Stenciling is another method you can try out to create custom patterns in curtains. Stenciled curtains are suitable for casual and contemporary spaces.
• Dyeing or Tie Dye – Tie dye techniques can elevate the beauty of plain curtains with one-of-a-kind color combinations. These are perfect if you want a vibrant, artistic touch to a neutral room. You can mix any color you want, use any pattern or explore color effects like ombre and gradients.
• Sewing and Patchworks – Create a patchwork using fabric scraps in different colors and patterns for an eclectic look.

Choosing Based On Mood

The colors of curtains that you choose will significantly affect the mood and ambience of the room, so choose it wisely. One of the best advantages of having a neutral colored room is design flexibility. Paint colors like shades of beige, white and grays can practically match any color of accessories, furniture and decor, so you have more freedom in choosing your curtains. The decision will ultimately depend on the visual effect you want to achieve and the vibe you want in the space.

Here are some common curtain colors together with the effect on mood they can bring in a neutral room:

• Vibrant hues – Instantly brighten up a room by using curtains that have bright, bold colors like red, yellow and blue.
• Deep shades- Jewel tones like emerald green, ruby red, sapphire blue are the best curtain colors if you want to render a luxurious and elegant feel.
• Muted colors – Muted colors like sage, mauve, mustard and terra cotta are the most ideal curtain colors to use if you want to maximize the use of natural light in a space. These colors are known to create soothing and relaxing atmospheres.
• Pastels – Pastels and light colors help create a sense of openness and bring in a light, airy feel to a space. They make a room look more “friendly”, charming and calming. These colors are perfect to use for curtains in neutral colored bedrooms.
• Black – Black curtains paired with a neutral wall will always be a classic choice. The stark contrast between the two elements are guaranteed to bring in sophistication to any interior design style.