This time of year, when “Colorful Colorado” is at its most monochromatic (crisp, white snow and brown-sage foothills), we could all use some color infusion—a little paint therapy, if you will.

Which is why what I love most about this edition of 5280 Home is the bold use of color throughout all the houses we profile. There’s a kitchen remodel with liberal use of vibrant red (“Merry & Bright” ); a suburban home’s electric blue, graphic-print floral bedroom (“Pattern Play” ); and a Cherry Creek Georgian with a Kelly green breakfast nook, teal dining room, and purple throw-pillowed living room (“Living In Color” ). The designer for the latter, Andrea Schumacher, explains this “welcome color” design style best: “The more, the better. I look at the calmness and beauty of a neutral room—that Barbara Barry look—and I think, I love that, but I have a hard time doing it. Color is my happy place.”

5280 Home Winter 2014
More From The Issue

Speaking of happy places, this entire issue is full of wintery-chic ideas guaranteed to warm up even the chilliest corners of your house—just in time for the houseguests to descend. We found locally made felted-wool throw pillows (“Pillow Talk”), reindeer-inspired decorative antlers (“Welcome Winter”), vintage filament light bulb wall hangings (“On The Right Track”), and even cowboy-themed fine art (“Modern Cowboy“).

Here’s hoping this issue inspires you to take a chance on color and create your own cozy, happy places to wile away the winter.

—Inset photo courtesy of Worth Interiors

This article was originally published in 5280 Home Winter 2014.
Cheryl Meyers
Cheryl Meyers
Cheryl Meyers is a contributing writer to 5280 Home, which means she gets to spend her days writing about Colorado’s most beautiful indoor spaces.