Home Design Bloggers Reveal Their Color Inspiration

"All throughout high school, I worked at a flower shop — the best perk of the job was getting to bring home discarded flowers everyday. Ever since, I've been really into arranging mismatched displays," says Shayna Kulik, the art director, trend forecaster and founder of the blog Pattern Pulp. "While these are just tulips, I'm crazy about their color — it looks like watercolor or stained glass."

"One of my favorite colorful things at home is a new commissioned painting by artist Tyson Anthony Roberts," says blogger Jaime Derringer, of Design Milk. Based on a photograph of a special place in California, the painting includes two red lines to represent Derringer and her husband looking out onto the sea. "Now that we moved across the country, this painting serves as a fond memory of our time there," she says. "I love how it ties in nicely with our pair of red chairs, too!"

Color fanatic Jeanine Hays, who produces the blog and product line, AphroChic says an African-style caftan that she purchased years ago in Washington, DC inspires her. "I love the mix of colors in it — red, blue, yellow, and green. They're reminiscent of an African batik fabric," says Hays of the piece. "It's currently found a home in my office, covering my desk chair, and brightening my workspace."

Graphic artist and letterpress printer, Alyson Brown confesses that most of her home is decorated with neutral tones, but her son Wolf's bedroom is an exception. "I felt as though a kid's room should truly be bright and inviting," says the new mom, who blogs at Unruly Things. "Wolf's little crib blanket does just that — it brightens up the room! I smile each time I come in here, and I think he does, too."

"It's not a collectible or a designer piece (it even has a large chip out of it), but to me it is priceless," says Ez Pudewa, founder and editor of the design blog Creature Comforts, of this pretty turquoise-hued vase that she found for less than a dollar at a thrift store years ago. "In every move that I've made over the last eight years, this vase has found a cozy corner to cheer up with its brightness. It's one of the best things a handful of change has ever gotten me!"

"I found this wonderful needlepoint/fiber art at a thrift store," says Los Angeles-based graphic designer Dabito, who authors blog Old Brand New. "I love the colors and the abstract shapes because they remind me of driving through the desert."

"I have — slowly — been acquiring Chinese pottery to fill this narrow counter space in my kitchen," says Patricia Shackelford, the voice of the blog Mrs. Blandings. "One of the pleasant surprises is how happily red and green coexist. It's encouraged me to add dashes of red to my green dining room."

"I recently went on my honeymoon and I wore this blue bag for most of my trip through France, Italy, and Switzerland," says Rebecca Orlov, a communications director and loving.living.small blogger. "Rather than store it away, I keep it out on display for a bold pop of color and for the amazing memories."

For blogger Nole Garey, color inspiration comes from the artwork she and her husband have hanging in the dining room of their house in Washington, D.C. "I love the way the colors of each piece pop against the warm tones of the brick," says Garey, who is the editor and publisher of the blog Oh So Beautiful Paper. One of her favorite pieces is this painting of a Chinese market. "My great-grandmother made it when she lived there in the early 1900s," she explains.

"I'm currently loving mint green, royal blue, and aqua together, and these vintage vases — which were my grandmother's — beautifully combine all three," says Julie Richard, blogger and principal of Shelter Interior Design. "They've got great depth and are one of a kind."