Color Blocking Calms Down

Pastels and softer patterns give new reasons to crush on this two-toned take on furniture, walls and accessories.

By: Lori Johnston
Related To:
Color Blue Chairs Furniture Pink Sofas

Photo By: Sarah Dorio

Photo By: Emily Followill

Photo By: Sara Brown

Photo By: Werner Straube

Photo By: Kelly Jackson

Photo By: Donghia

Photo By: Lauren Rubinstein

Photo By: Sara Brown

Photo By: David Christensen

Photo By: Laura Metzler

Eye Candy

Cream boucle and pink moleskin fabric swirl together for this color-blocked sofa next to tiny bronze cocktail tables. "The sofa is a sculpture piece that allows people to basically create their own custom fabric, depending on the colors they use for color blocking," says Natasha Baradaran, the sofa designer. "It’s a graphic piece that feels understated and bold at the same time," she adds.

Ottoman Adoration

Round color-blocked blush ottomans offer chic extra seating in a window-filled breakfast room designed by Sara Brown for the Cashiers Designer Showhouse in North Carolina.

Frosted Finish

Update the typical glass container with a color-blocked version. A gold frost Mason jar made from recycled glass is grouped with rosemary in a pink pot and a green oval bakeware in a corner of a showhouse kitchen that Brown designed. "By pairing single contrasting blocks of color, you can easily create a striking, visual effect in any space," she says.

Sophisticated and Subtle

A sophisticated and feminine Chicago condo bedroom features an accent wall made up of Schumacher marbled wallpaper and color-blocked curtains. "The design of this drapery was to provide soft texture and allow the beautiful view of the Chicago skyline to shine through," says Joann Kandrac with Kandrac & Kole. "The contrast at the top of the panel was to bring a gentle touch of the blush color to pull in the other accessories. I think color blocking is a great solution to adding contrasting color to a window treatment panel in a subtle way."

Cuddly and Calm

Light pink color-blocked walls swaddle a nursery in a Victorian home renovated by Kelly and Drew Jackson in a historic Atlanta neighborhood.

Pattern Play

Color-blocking covers furniture in a variety of ways. On a wing chair by Donghia, a series of thick and thin stripes (the fabric's pattern is called Secrets) create two-toned gray geometric motifs.

Light Touch

Color blocking can complement the inspiration for a room, which was the floral art by Erin Gregory in this family room designed by Kandrac & Kole. The draperies at the arched window are color blocked in blue and white, which connects to the artwork and the custom painted chairs.

Board Basics

For a monochromatic color block effect, Brown used modern cutting boards to accessorize a range area with a stone backsplash.

New Angles

A grid pattern gives dimension to color-blocked navy and white artwork in a lounge designed by Jimmy Stanton for a Home for the Holidays Designer Showhouse in Atlanta. Although the art has a modern abstract style, Stanton says the space remains calm and peaceful.

Rounded Edges

Pink and orange are vibrant hues in a bedroom designed by Shannon Claire Interiors, and the puzzle-like artwork creates a softness between the bold blocks of color.

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