Trend Spotting: Gallerie

One of the hallmarks of Gallerie style is using home design as a personal expression, a way to assert a sense of fun with little regard for the realities of resale value.

Defying the rules about small spaces and sedate color, decorator Nick Olsen painted his 525-square-foot studio in New York City a vibrant shade of green in an oil-based metal enamel, to resemble lacquer."Although the apartment is small," says Olsen, "it's actually rather grand with 12-foot ceilings, huge windows and a high-relief fireplace. So I felt it would be a shame to tone it down with a pale color or white." For even more impact, he painted the doors glossy black and the trim white, and added a deep teal velvet sofa.

For this sophisticated beach house, a blue-and-white palette complements its oceanfront setting, while contemporary details like the armchair's print and sculptural end tables have a decidedly modern feel.

An accent wall with pineapple wallpaper is this chic bedroom's style jumping-off point, inspiring the art, lime green armchair and sassy striped headboard.

The Gallerie trend lends itself to fun, witty details like this bright blue feathered pendant light. The design is finished off with a blue rug, a pair of yellow armchairs, a built-in tufted bench and a wall of built-in bookshelves that organizes books by color.

In the bathroom, neon stripes invigorate the simple fixtures and pared-down accessories. Small bathrooms are great places to indulge your personal style.

Color blocking is a huge trend in Gallerie, which takes much of its inspiration from modern art from Matisse to Rothko. In the master bedroom, color-blocked drapes have a strong personality that's softened by playful art. The color combination carries over from the window treatment to the walls, lending incredible structure and visual interest to the design.

A cheerful yellow sofa pairs with a painted green coffee table in this modern lounge area. Bright red artwork and pops of red in the throw pillows add another fun punch of color to the space.

A graphic area rug adds visual depth to the sitting room floor while magnifying the sectional's blue hue.

A pair of bright blue modern armchairs add a nice punch of color to this stark white living room. Black and white accessories bring beautiful contrast to the mod space. With just a few colorful pieces of furniture or accessories an ordinary space can be quickly transformed into a Gallerie lair.

Bold floral armchairs create a comfy conversation area in this family room. A bright orange end table breaks up the mostly blue and white color palette for an added punch of color.

No color quite articulates the Gallerie ethos like this bright yellow, a shade that adds an instant sense of play into a space.

This bright white modern kitchen receives bold pops of color with red dining chairs, a cheerful yellow island and colorful wall art. A pair of steel dome pendant lights illuminate the mod white dining table, and as you enter the living area, a black egg chair keeps with the modern design.

More color, primary brights, sleek midcentury lines all add up to the wit and energy that defines the Gallerie trend.

Gallerie doesn't have to be expensive. A few well-chosen and well-placed bright and whimsical accessories create instant pop in this light-filled corner of a modern living room. Color is a mood-lifter and easily blends with plain white contemporary spaces.

A bold blue is a great way to add immediate Gallerie energy to a room.

A bold, vivid shade of royal blue surrounds the fireplace in this striking living room. The blue surround provides a lovely contrast — in both color and style — to the traditional white mantel.

This softer side of purple might be an easier bright to integrate into a room for those looking to ease into the Gallerie trend.

Bright colors, patterns and funky artwork turn this boy's bedroom into a fun space.

To make this art framed against a colorful wall, rustic logs were cut to size, sanded, then painted with circles featuring different shades of blue as well as pink, yellow, coral and purple. While the rustic texture of the bark is masculine, the poppy pinks and corals add feminine flair.

Change out that old-fashioned red dining room or office for the surprise of an intense fuchsia wall color.

Setting brights against a neutral gray background creates immediate impact.

Space-saving wall racks house the homeowners' bikes in this dynamic master bedroom, creating functional, unconventional wall decor. Beside the bikes, a brilliant red bookcase provides a built-in splash of color.

This contemporary bedroom features a fun hanging rattan chair with a colorful throw. A glossy red and white dresser is positioned next to the chair, while a pair of glass front French doors allow natural light to illuminate the space.

A bright blue sofa is the centerpiece of this eclectic living room. It is adorned with round white throw pillows. A white round coffee table is topped with fresh flowers. One impactful piece of furniture can make all the difference in bringing a Gallerie look to a room.

To bring warmth to the foyer, designers combined vintage pieces of furniture with modern art in a nice fusion of tradition with Gallerie whimsy.

Cool rather than warm color defines Gallerie and is on clear display in this teen's bedroom. The white side table and flokati rug balance out the bold colors used in this sophisticated room designed for a teen. A wingback chair with curvy lines and subtle houndstooth upholstery is a traditional counterpoint to the modern accents and paisley wallpaper.

The wallpaper in this bathroom is a bold splash of color and pattern and an alternative to always using paint or furniture to bring Gallerie style into a room.

This peppy shade of blue recalls the canvases of Mondrian, Matisse, Yves Klein and other modern masters. Modern art is a big influence on the Gallerie trend.

Hot pink and coral set the colorful scene in this cheery bedroom.

This vibrant shade of orange would add punch to any room.