How to Fall in Love With Color, From a Designer Who Did

As Caroline Kopp, the founder of Caroline Kopp Interior Design, embarked on her career as an interior designer, she entered a world in which neutral hues were often seen as superior to their colorful counterparts.

"In school, I loved wild colors but had some negative, even mocking feedback at times," Kopp shares.

While working in design offices after her graduation, she was often surrounded by experts who generally drew upon neutrals or very pale, watery tones.

"Navy blue was one of the only saturated colors these designers would use," Kopp explains. "So starting out, I tended to use these neutral colors, too."

Learn how Kopp changed from all neutrals to embracing color.

Falling in Love With Color, One Project at a Time

Neutrals are often seen as a no-fail design choice and have been popular for years.

"They do make for a very calm and soothing atmosphere and in New York, at least, are thought of as being more sophisticated and tasteful," she says. "That is one of the reasons why everyone feels safer with neutrals—because they aren't ever tacky."

Over time, Kopp began to crave the presence of color in her projects, feeling like using washed out tones was becoming boring.

"I like stimulation, sometimes, and color is more effective for that than white or beige," Kopp explains.

Once Kopp began using more color, she found that she could successfully integrate it into her designs. In any project, there are different approaches to using color and it all depends on the client's comfort level.

"Don’t feel like having color requires you to have brights all across—that isn’t the case," Kopp comments.

For example, why not select a rug with a pop of chartreuse and pair it with upholstery that is pale icy lime green? Kopp says this fusion of hues can be extremely satisfying.

Color in Design Today

The designer has found her clients being more receptive to exploring colorful options for their homes after they see the past spaces she has showcased in her portfolio, especially when they find the colors soothing and not too surprising.

Kopp believes that as a whole, people's attitudes toward color are changing and people are quickly realizing that an abundance of neutrals can often appear a bit lifeless and bland within a room.

"With Instagram, people have seen a lot of bold colors and maybe feel less afraid of making a mistake," she shares.

In Connecticut, where Kopp's firm is based, she fields many client requests for the color blue in particular. Kopp attributes her clients' love of blue to both the preppy interior style that reigns supreme where she lives, as well as her region's proximity to the water. When Kopp isn't working with blues, she enjoys incorporating greens into her projects, too. Recently, she completed a home bar in a high gloss green.

Generally, Kopp steers away from louder colors such as red and orange, but she enjoys incorporating lavenders and pinks into her spaces when possible.

Of course, working with color doesn't mean forgoing touches of white altogether.

"White or cream with a strong color is a very crisp look, and the white mitigates the color—it tones it down a bit and allows some more light in," Kopp explains.

She advises interspersing white rooms or hallways between brighter spaces to achieve balance in a home.

How to Add More Color to Your Home

Kopp offers a few tips for people struggling to determine which colors appeal to them the most.

"Looking at artworks that you love and thinking through the color composition is an easy way to generate a palette," she says.

It's also important to experience different color schemes in person—whether at a friend's house, restaurant, or somewhere else—and pay attention to what stands out, she adds. Gain inspiration from your surroundings and see what colors make you feel good.

Those who are more comfortable with color and crave some unexpected pops of it in the home will want to make a note of Kopp's suggestions for off-the-beaten-path approaches.

"I love some color on the ceiling, that is fun and unexpected," she says. "Colored cabinetry is definitely a commitment, but if the color is right, it's just a whole vibe."

Kopp urges those who may be a bit fearful about designing a color-filled home to start small by first incorporating brighter-hued decorative items such as accessories, art, and pillows. This concept of starting small with color can apply to room size, too.

"Trying a bold color in a smaller space can be a nice way to dip your toes in the colorful waters," the designer notes. "In a powder room, laundry room, or a kid's room, feel a bit more freedom to go crazy with paint like a painted trim or colorful cabinetry."