Erin Napier's Design Tip Every Homeowner Should Know

Known for her creative and expressive design style, Erin Napier is always finding ways to incorporate more color into her clients' spaces. And while bringing brighter hues into your own home can feel intimidating at times — especially when it goes against the status quo — the HGTV star encourages homeowners to follow their hearts when it comes to interior design. Recently, she shared a piece of advice that put decorating with color in perspective, making the idea feel less scary and more meaningful. 

In an interview with Homes & Gardens, she compared experimenting with bold color palettes to choosing a baby's name. "When it comes to using bolder colors in a room, you just have to not care about other people's opinions," Napier explained, adding, "It's the same when you're trying to choose a baby's name before they're born, and you tell your mom, and she says, 'Oh really?' and that's never a good sign. Just don't tell her the baby's name, or in this case, just paint your room." Not only will decorating with bold color make you feel good because you're making design choices that express your personal style, but it's also known to have positive psychological effects. Bright reds, for example, are often associated with increased energy, while bright oranges and yellows are known for their mood-boosting qualities. If you've been considering adding more color to your home but aren't sure where to start, there are plenty of ways to ease into the look.

If you love the idea of adding some bolder hues to your home's color palette but aren't ready to commit to anything major, start small. Even Napier says, via a blog post on her Laurel Mercantile Co. website, she often prefers to keep walls neutral and then "introduce an unexpected bold color" through things like trim and furniture pieces. Incorporating colorful decor pieces — such as vases, candleholders, throw blankets, and other decorative items — is another low-risk way to experiment with color. 

"I mostly use neutral palettes of white and green and build on that with the furnishings," the "Home Town" star continued. White walls are on the way out, but if you're looking for the perfect neutral wall color that's easy to build on, Napier has a few favorites that she always turns to, including Benjamin Moore's Misty Air and Sherwin-Williams' Dover White. For something slightly moodier, however, she'll turn to Sherwin-Williams' Rock Bottom, which is "dramatic without being cold," she says.

Of course, if you're ready to incorporate bold color in a bigger way, painting the walls is the easiest way to make a statement. Painting a colorful accent wall or using the color-drenching painting trend can dramatically transform a space. Alternatively, you could add color with a bold, patterned wallpaper. Napier even has a line of peel-and-stick wallpaper that comes in a variety of playful patterns, including the Heirloom Floral Premium Peel + Stick Wallpaper Roll, which would look especially great as an accent wall in farmhouse or cottage-inspired homes.