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20 Rainbow Design Ideas to Brighten Your Day

August 07, 2020

Whether you're featuring the actual arc of a rainbow or incorporating all the hues of our prism friend, rainbow design is playful, vibrant and of course, full of color.

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Photo: Cassidy Garcia. From: Jill Tennant and HGTV Handmade
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Crown Your Bed With Color

The rainbow headboard features earthy shades — burgundy, rust, mustard, moss, aquamarine and lilac — of the typically vivid hues to deliver depth and warmth to this petite bedroom. Tufted polka dot bedding adds fun tactile appeal, while an oversize fiddle leaf fig brings in life and greenery.

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Photo: Lauren Rubin Architecture. From: Lauren Rubin Architecture
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Floored by the Rainbow

No need to search the skies for this rainbow. Grounding this playful and functional bonus room, a geometric rug delivers the spectrum of color, from red to indigo. Distinct areas throughout the space — a homework station, a cozy window reading nook and a sofa hangout spot — allow kids to spread out or gather together.

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Photo: Regan Wood. From: Claire Paquin
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Start With the Basics

By opting for classic materials, such as white subway tile and a clean-lined vanity, it's easy to change up the look of this all-white bathroom. A whimsical rainbow shower curtain, along with the blue abstract artwork, adds the just-right splash of color. And when the rainbow trend moves on, it's as simple as hanging a new curtain to update the space.

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Photo: John Gruen. From: Jennifer Mehditash
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Leave the Rulebook Behind

Kids room are the most fun to decorate, since you get to step outside the rules a bit and play with shapes, color and design. This adorable space takes advantage of the sloped walls and clever nooks to build in a cozy bed and add plenty of architectural detailing. An unexpected twist on the traditional rainbow, antique thread spools are lined up in a shadow box.

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Photo: Tricia Messeroux. From: Cousins Undercover
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Taste the Rainbow

We're often told we should eat the rainbow (making sure we get all our fruits and veggies), but this kitchen takes the idea to a whole new level by using ALL the colors. Each cabinet door is painted a different hue to create a fantastically imaginative space that's sure to get creative juices flowing when cooking dinner or grabbing a snack.

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Photo: Bruce Damonte
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Add in One Colorful Element

No matter your style, we can find a way to incorporate the rainbow. This mid-century modern dining room relies on a minimal color palette so that form and profile really stand out. The glossy white table is shaped like a flower with cushy upholstered chairs that slide right into place, and a striped, chroma pendent illuminates the space.

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Photo: Jeff Mindell Photography
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Handcraft Your Design

Studio DIY blogger Kelly Mindell created this oversized rainbow latch hook to hang over her son's crib. Imaginative and playful, the nursery's foundation is bright white walls and furniture that is layered with brilliant pops of color all around.

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Photo: Stephanie Diani
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Make Your Home Your Own

Founder of Color Me Courtney, Courtney Quinn is a true lover of color, and when she renovated her apartment (a former refrigerator factory), she was able to implement a major rainbow plan. Her closet is color-coded with shoes, purses and clothes organized in vivid cabinets and shelves.

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Photo: John Woodcock Photography. From: J&J Design Group
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Infuse With Cheerful Pigments

Kids' spaces are the easiest place to add intensity of color, because they're so full of excitement and life. This playroom uses a rainbow of hues from the bottom to the top, starting with a graphic triangle rug and building up from the polka dot walls to the pom-pom-filled typography.

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Photo: Cassidy Garcia; Styling by H. Camille Smith. From: H. Camille Smith
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Dream Up a Colorful Tablescape

No white dishes needed here. Take your tabletop with typical to wow-worthy with a collection of vintage china (or simple colorful plates and cups). Use matching blooms in each shade to create a centerpiece that celebrates ROYGBIV.

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Photo: Nathan Schroder. From: Phara Queen
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Be Daring

A myriad of tones and finishes combines for this eclectically divine living room. From the chevron rug and green velvet sofa to the wallpapered cove ceiling, the space is alive with color. Bold finishes, such as mirrored, gold-leaf and contrasting black-and-white, are brought in to match the intensity of the saturated shades.

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Photo: Alise O'Brien Photography. From: Castle Design
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Made for Outdoor Living

Taking the rainbow a little southwest, this outdoor living space uses tints of coral, turquoise, navy and blush. Surrounding curtains not only provide privacy, but block out the harsh afternoon sun. A fire-and-ice firepit is encircled by comfy furniture, perfect for outdoor gatherings.

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Photo: Tomas Espinoza
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Enliven the Walls

For the love of color, this contemporary dining room fully embraces the rainbow. Painted dimensional rectangles use a myriad of pigments to take a plain wall to over-the-top and eye-catching, but in the best way possible. To create balance, the modern dining table and chairs, along with the striking chandelier, are kept solid and neutral.

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Photo: Emily Gilbert. From: Jess Cooney
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Stick to One Shade

Don't be afraid to go all in on one color (with a little help from ROYGBIV, of course). This delightfully sweet bedroom uses the range of pink, from blush to fuchsia, to create a monochromatic yet contrasting design. Not wanting to give all the credit to the bubblegum hue, the window shades pull in all the colors of the rainbow.

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Photo: Karen Kavett
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Try a DIY

Greet guests (and yourself) with a splash of color at your feet. Acrylic paint and a little creativity easily transform a plain doormat into your very own rainbow.

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Photo: Jacob Snavely. From: Chango and Co.
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Grab a Pillow

The easiest way to add a shot of rainbow to your decor: throw pillows. This combination of striped and splattered polka dots is a welcomed addition to the completely white bedding.

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Photo: Jeff Mindell Photography
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Look in the Kids' Section

If you want to add just a touch of the rainbow trend to your decor, take a look at wooden toys. The classic pieces may be fun for your kiddos, but they also make for beautiful accent pieces in your living space or bedroom.

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Photo: Ann Lowengart. From: Ann Lowengart
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Use What You Already Have

The rainbow bookshelf is still a fun trend and an easy way to join in the colorful style without having to spend a dime. Gather all your books together and organize by hue. In this ultra-mod dining room, the arrangement completely pops off the all-black shelving.

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Photo: Mark Roskams. From: Michele Bitter
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Go Ahead, Be Bold

Large-scale artwork brings the rainbow into this wholly neutral setting. Consider grabbing a blank canvas to create your own color spectrum for display. You don't have to be a pro to paint stripes, polka dots or paint splatters.

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Ready for a Hangout

If you're going to go all out on color, then go all out. Vibrant, low-to-the-ground seating establishes an utterly relaxed atmosphere, and elaborately detailed furnishings, from the coffee table and mirror to the bold light fixture, give the bonus room a global vibe.