10 Budget-Friendly Ways to Add Color to Neutral Rooms
This post is sponsored by Commercial Silk. All opinions are entirely my own.
Moving into our home, one of the most appealing things was the fresh white paint that adorned the entire house.
Glossy white paint.
This new space of ours was definitely light, bright, and airy.
However, before long we realized just how plain the rooms were. The bright white walls along with the off-white carpets and our neutral furniture made for some really boring spaces.
Scrolling through my Instagram feed, it was easy to see that neutral-colored rooms are definitely gorgeous and in style. Neutral colors make rooms feel larger, fresher, and more welcoming.
The neutral color scheme in our new home was a good start for us, but we needed to incorporate some color to add character and expression to our new home.
If you are finding yourself in the same position, check learn how to add color to neutral rooms on a budget.

Add Vibrant Throw Blankets
One of the easiest ways to add color to neutral rooms is by incorporating throw blankets. A cozy blanket tossed over a patterned chair or the arm of the couch adds color, comfort, texture, and style to your home.
Blankets can work in any room – but are especially perfect for adding color to living rooms or bedrooms. We tend to decorate our kids’ rooms in neutrals and then use pops of color here and there. Throw blankets are a really easy way to bring color into a room in a subtle, thrifty way.
Decorate with Expressive Throw Pillows
Throw pillows are another perfect way to add color and character to neutral spaces. For example, if you want to incorporate navy blue into your living room, you might not want blue walls, a blue couch, or a blue carpet. Yet, adding blue throw pillows is a subtle way to bring in a vibrant color.
For my living room and family room, I went digging in my collection of pillow covers to find something that would add some color and texture to our boring rooms. I love having pillow covers on hand. You aren’t stuck with a ton of pillows when you change your style or mind – and you can much more easily store covers than whole pillows.
You can also easily sew pillows and save money. Just grab a fabric you like and a pillow insert or stuffing, and get cracking at that sewing machine.
One of my favorite ways to save money on pillow-making is through buying throw pillows that are severely discounted- no matter the color or style! I’m talking crazy colors and patterns. Instead of buying a pillow insert or stuffing, I use the discounted throw pillow as the insert and just sew a pillow cover. You can get really great prices at Bed, Bath, and Beyond on these.
Another place to get a great price on pillows and pillow covers is Amazon. They have pillows similar to Pottery Barn and Pier 1, but at much better prices. I ordered the below bird pillow years ago, and it’s still so gorgeous.

Beautify with Plants and Greenery
Plants can instantly change the appearance of a room. Just by adding a little greenery, your neutral room becomes more lively and homey. Plants are definitely an easy way to add color – no painting or sewing necessary.
If you don’t have a green thumb, a high-quality artificial plant adds the same effect. We have a beautiful, artificial ficus tree (below) from Commercial Silk in our family room.
This ficus tree looks real but doesn’t come with the task of keeping a real plant alive. We incorporated it into our living room, and it’s the perfect pop of color against our red brick fireplace.

It’s nice knowing the leaves won’t brown, and it instantly made the room feel more welcoming and enlivened while adding some much needed color to our previously-boring space. It’s like a breath of fresh air!

Paint Old Furniture
If you have an old piece of furniture that has seen better days, why not give it a coat of fresh paint to add color into a neutral room. Whether it’s an old chair or an outdated dresser, there are lots of wonderful paints that can be used to give an old piece new life.
Chalk paint or milk paint are great options. Depending on the piece, you might even be able to get away with spray paint.
We recently redid an old dresser (we shortened it too), and it perfectly adds color to our way-too-neutral bedroom.

Add Patterned or Stenciled Walls
Accent walls are another thrifty way to add color to a neutral space, and there are so many options that you can choose from. You can do a patterned wall, such as stripes. Or, you can do a solid color wall (if you do this, definitely pick a color in the same tone as your main color). You can even do a stenciled wall – or put decals or wallpaper up.
We painted a gray and white striped accent wall in our nursery – which we loved! We painted a heart stenciled wall in our second nursery. We applied wall stickers on canvases in our toddler’s room. And, we have a stenciled wall coming soon to our mudroom.
Each of these things added just the perfect amount of color and flair to our neutral rooms. And, we didn’t have to change the glossy white in the rest of the room because the patterns and stencils complimented what was already there. Thus, we saved money on paint by just doing an accent wall.

Adorn with Wall Hangings and Pictures
Don’t underestimate the creativity and color that you can add to your home by decorating your wall space. A bright picture or an interesting gallery wall brings character and color to a room. Also, you can easily spray paint frames for a little more color too.
I also love to find a vibrant picture and use the colors in it as an inspiration piece to decorate the whole room.
My favorite spots to shop for budget-friendly pictures are Home Goods and Christmas Tree Shops. You can also find some great pieces at the craft stores, as they are carrying more and more home decor items.
Enrich with Fresh Slipcovers
If your couch or upholstered chairs are looking a little too neutral, and you want to add freshness or vibrancy, think about throwing a slipcover over them.
Slipcovers add color and aren’t as expensive as replacing couches or chairs and the comfort they provide. You can also easily wash them.
Slipcovers might be just the touch of color that your space needs.
Use Eye-Catching Duvets
Along the same lines as slipcovers, duvets provide a similar solution. They can easily cover an old bedspread to add color and freshness to a room.
Easily washable, you can switch out duvets based on the season or your mood – and they are much less expensive then buying new quilts or bedspreads.
Hang Vibrant Curtains
An easy way to add color to a room is through hanging vibrant curtains. There are so many options with curtains – from popular patterned designs like Moroccan and damask to simple stripes. Curtains are one of the best ways to infuse your neutral living room or bedroom with color.
If you have a neutral bathroom, add a vibrant shower curtain. We added a green plant shower curtain to our brown and tan bathroom, and instantly it softened the appearance of the room.
When thinking about how to add some vibrancy to your rooms, think about letting the sun sweep in with an eye-catching curtain.

Incorporate Accent Rugs
There’s no reason color has to stop when the wall ends. Add a little more style and flare with a smartly-colored accent rug.
Committing to a bright carpet can be daunting; however an accent rug is just the flare that a neutral room needs. They’re easy to add, move, or clean, and can go anywhere in your home – from the kitchen to the entryway to little reading nooks.
If your home is looking a little too neutral, delight your eyes with a gorgeous accent rug.

So, if you’re looking to add color to your spaces, these top ten tips are definitely ones to incorporate.
You’ll have your home looking much more expressive, homey, and vibrant without spending much. Even just a few of these home decor tips will work wonders.

I am trying to add some color to my great room. Our rooms are more beige than white. I am going with sea glass and pink but we will see. lol
That sounds pretty! ๐
One good thing about having a neutral room is it is so much easier to change a pillow cover than to repaint. Great tips.
Haha totally! Thanks for your compliments ๐
I have a rental home where painting the walls isn’t an option, so these are awesome tips!
So glad they helped ๐
These are all great ideas! The kids are finally gone, cross your fingers, and I have been considering making a few updates. There is a buffet I have been thinking about painting, for one. Happy Fiesta Friday!
Mollie
Sounds like a great idea – go for it:)
We rent so have to keep all the walls pretty neutral so these are fantastic ideas. I love that bird pillow! #MMBC
Lots of great tips – love bringing nature in with lots of houseplants and natural ornaments. Love that bird cushion too! #dreamteam
Thanks Ema! Yes houseplants and ornaments are wonderful ๐
These are all great ideas! Many of which I’ve incorporated in my own home.
I would imagine this would work well for people who are renting and are locked into a neutral color at their place. A great way to make it more personal even though they may not own it.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Karen! Yes, definitely could come in handy when renting ๐
Love it! Thanks so much for sharing! We recently painted our entire downstairs in a warm white. Our furniture is all neutral so we accented with some neutrals and also some colors inspired from the outdoors. Visiting you from the Raising Homakers LInkup. ๐
Sounds lovely! ๐
Great tips, thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party. Pinned.
Glad you enjoyed them, Teresa:)
Great ideas! I do like neutral, but I have to have color. Otherwise it’s too stale for my taste. Some people can pull it off beautifull, but I’m not one of them. ๐ thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Thanks Jann!
I really like the idea of accent walls, wevevdone this in my house when decorating . Big and bold. I need more art work on the walls really! A goal for the year I guess! โชThank you for linking up to the #familyfunlinkyโฌ
I am with you on the artwork! Iโm creating a few pieces now ๐ Iโll let you know how they turn out!
I love these suggestions. I’m very much into neutrals and these ideas for pops of color are perfect! I love the plants and the pillows especially. Lovely!
#embracingchangelinky
Thanks so much Jennifer!
Great ideas! Stenciling a wall is a great option, and I love to say, “pillows, pillows, pillows!” Visiting from The Creative Circle… thanks for sharing!
Yesss you can never have too many pillows!
So many great ideas, thanks, guys. I hope you will join us again next week at Celebrate Your Story.
Thanks Sandra! Will do:)
Great tips! I love adding bright accent rugs to spaces…and there are so many affordable options these days, too. Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!
Yessss so many great rugs out there!
Great tips and love those curtains #dreamteam
Thanks Noleen! Theyโre from Walmart:)
I enjoy switching decor often, so a neutral base is a must-do for me. Love pops of color using changeable pillow covers. And painting old furniture is always a fun project.
Yes pops of color are so fun! ๐
I’d love to add some more purple to our rooms as it is my favourite colour but there is no point getting pillows/cushions as the kids would play with them and ruin the effect! #dreamteam
Hahaha what is it with kids and pillows?! ๐
It is bit hard to color neutral rooms. Love the way the vibrant curtains are hanged.
Thanks Seerena!