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Welcome back to Part 2 of our colorful descent into madness—or as Pinterest politely calls it, Primary Play. In Pops of Color Part 1, we dipped our toes into the trend by giving your home a bold, unapologetic facelift via exterior color, painted doors, stairways, surprise color inside and furniture that no longer whispers but sings in full-on Crayola chorus.
To summarize Pinterest Trends – Primary Play, it’s driven by Gen Z (no surprise) and Gen X (hello, midlife crisis, but make it cute), this trend is all about joyful color, funky patterns, and permission to break the “grown-up” design rules. Whether you’re Gen Z, Gen X, or just someone who needs a little more joy in their house, this trend gives you permission to make your home look less like a catalog and more like you
But let’s say you’re not quite ready to commit to painting the pantry cobalt blue. No judgment. Primary Play isn’t a design dictatorship—it’s a vibe.Its also not just about the primary colors. Let the secondary colors like green, purple and orange have some fun too. It’s about letting go of “grown-up” beige and sprinkling your space with a little joy, color, and dare I say… personality. Shocking, I know.
Now let’s move beyond architectural features and get into the juicy part: decor, accessories, and outdoor spaces—aka the easiest way to dip your brush into the Primary Play trend without turning your whole house into a rainbow.
Decor
Your decor can either scream color or whisper it. It can be either in a large area rug or a colorful table lamp. It’s a little more of a commitment than small accessories but not as much as furniture and upholstery.
Pillows and Rugs
If you’re afraid of commitment but still want to flirt with the trend, pillows are your safe space. Throw a few red, yellow, and blue pillows into the mix (bonus points for mixed textures and shapes). Want to be really fancy? Colorblock them. That’s how you do “effortlessly cool.”
Don’t overlook the floor—it’s basically your fifth wall. A bold rug in a geometric primary pattern can ground a neutral room and make everything else look like it’s trying too hard. Stripes, checkerboards, or Mondrian vibes are totally on-brand. Just steer clear of anything that looks like a daycare nap mat.
This collection of pillows from Jonathan Adler, who I call the King of Color, is all you need to amp up your color component.
A bright green shag rug from Morocco is taken to another level with the white square inserts.
Why not use this beautiful pink bolster to add a pop of color to your bed or couch.
A combination of colorful rugs and pillows like these will give you plenty of options to flex your color muscles.
When I first saw this rug, I thought it was a painting. That’s how gorgeous it is.
Velvet pillows with contrasting piping? It’s a no brainer.
Lighting
Your lighting does not have to be basic. A bright red pendant over the kitchen island? Hello, drama. A cobalt blue table lamp? Yes, queen. Primary-colored fixtures instantly make your lighting look custom, designer, and wildly intentional. No boring boob lights allowed.
This is called the loopy lamp and it’s just enough pop to set off the rest of your decor.
This purple pendant is EVERYTHING! It’s vintage and I believe that’s the best way to find one of a kind pieces.
When you put anything inside resin, it makes it special like this blue table lamp with thistles inside.
A modern green sconce would pop anywhere.
Now this is what I’m talking about! Oversized striped floor lamps are so, so good and would certainly make a statement.
Even little touches like these wall outlets can be elevated with color.
Kitchen
Okay, listen. You don’t need to gut your kitchen to be on trend. Pop a cherry red stand mixer on the counter. Swap out the island stools for blue or yellow. Add a lemon-yellow dish rack. These small moves pack a punch and scream “Yes, I do make coffee in a space this cute.”
These organically shaped pitchers would make even pouring water look sophisticated.
If you cut your vegetables on this cutting board, you are officially cool.
Even your utensils can get in on this color trend like the green set below.
I can’t EVEN with this pink espresso maker.
Drink your coffee or tea out of this cool orange mug.
This would be the ultimate color flex in your kitchen, but it would be hard to pick a color, right?
Art
Primary Play was basically made for your gallery wall. Think abstract shapes, playful brush strokes, geometric shapes and punchy palettes. Even wall sculpture can bring some color in. You can hang a few DIY canvases or shop small from artists who aren’t afraid of color. Bonus: it makes your white walls look intentional, not just unfinished.
This piece is doing double duty with the art and the frame.
Now this is what I call an art installation. Everything else in the house could be white and it wouldn’t matter.
One of my favorite sayings is “Not my circus, not my monkeys” so this piece of art hits home for me.
Resin Mid-Century art is good against white walls but would be excellent against wood walls too.
Neon is also a good way to bring in color and it certainly makes an impact.
Try a colorful collage with all kinds of different textures. That’s what makes this piece so special.
Accessories
Now let’s talk about the finishing touches. These are the underrated MVPs of your decor game. Add playful accessories like candlesticks, vases, or even magazine racks in these juicy hues. Even something as small as a red ceramic catchall on your entryway table makes the whole setup look curated—not chaotic. But keep the base palette neutral so your color choices pop instead of punch you in the face.
Say goodbye to plain cream tapers. Bright pillar candles in red, blue, or yellow add a pop of color without taking up much space. Pro tip: cluster a few for maximum visual drama. Candleholders in contrasting colors? Chef’s kiss.
Here’s that magazine rack I was talking about. Bright cobalt acrylic packs a punch.
Hand towels in bold hues are an easy yes. Whether it’s the guest bathroom or the kitchen, a pop of color in linen form is always a good idea. You’re literally drying your hands in style. It’s the little things.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall—why are you so boring? Not anymore. Look for mirrors with painted frames in your color of choice
Wallpaper in a bright color with movement and even texture would be giving instant “main character” energy.
Who knew towel holders could be so cute?
Outside
Your outdoor space deserves to be fun too. Think brightly painted Adirondack chairs, a lemon-yellow planter lineup, or an outdoor rug with abstract shapes in playful primaries. It says, “Yes, I care about design… but I also know how to have a good time.” Don’t worry—Mother Nature can handle it.
Furniture
Replace your neutral patio chairs with something that actually has a personality like these pink chairs.
I just love how these red woven chairs look against all of the greenery. Perfection.
It’s sunshine in a bench isn’t it?
This aqua lounger would make me feel like I was in a Mad Men episode.
Cute little orange stools that could be moved around anywhere. So versatile.
Okay, does this green coffee table pop or does it pop? I would put my cocktail down on this table any day of the week.
How about a whole dining set in bright colors? Looks so good.
Accessories
Planters, pillows, outdoor rugs—this is where you can go all in. Colorful plant pots in varying shapes and sizes instantly make a patio look designer. Add in a few colorful lanterns or drinkware and suddenly it’s giving “summer rooftop party in Brooklyn”.
Woven trays come in handy when you’re serving drinks and adding in a little color makes anything you serve look better.
I didn’t even know colorful string lights existed, but what better to make it festive on your patio or balcony at night.
This planter in hot pink is sexy. Enough said.
Yellow outdoor pillows instantly make it Summertime.
These resin serving sets are so beautiful with their marble texture.
Hardscape
Let’s get bold. Picture this: a red-painted pergola, cobalt tile around your pool, or even a yellow stripe detail on your outdoor kitchen backsplash. If you’re doing updates anyway, this is the time to throw beige out and let your hardscapes shine with playful flair. You can even sneak in color through fencing—why not?
I have never seen art painted on a pool floor, but I’m here for it.
An orange partition lets you use color without it being overwhelming. It’s just enough.
Why not paint the back of your house in a different color? It’s like a mullet house, right? You can even just paint part of the wall like this yellow backdrop.
Go all out like this outdoor kitchen. It’s your party and you can use color if you want to.
I had to include this outdoor orange spiral staircase because you can get such good inspiration from it.
Primary Play isn’t just a trend—it’s a colorful middle finger to boring design. Design doesn’t always have to be beige and serious. And neither do you. Whether you’re painting your spiral staircase cherry red or just swapping in a blue pillow and calling it a day, this is your permission slip to have fun again.
Let me know in the comments if you liked Parts 1 and 2 and if you use a lot of color in your home.
See ya next time.
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