How to decorate with rich colors – 9 ways to add character with an intriguing scheme

Rich colors can transform your spaces, they turn a room from cool and cold to warm and cozy in no time. They can be dramatic yes, but as with most colors, there are shades that are good to start with if you're stepping into decorating with rich colors for the first time.

From earthy plaster pink to plum and forest green, there's a wide choice that will add depth to any room and work with any style. Below we look at ways you can decorate with rich warm room color schemes to create spaces that are full of depth and interest, without totally overwhelming the space.

1. Incorporate a rich green with a mural

'To achieve a luxurious, rich green look, consider using a mural-style wallpaper with deep emerald or forest green tones as a statement feature,' reccomends Jamie Watkins, co-founder of Divine Savages.

It's certainly a great option, the variety of green shades within the opulent design together with the green velvet drapes and antique mahogany furniture really create a space that's decadent and rich.

So how do you make a look like this work? 'Balance is key,' says Jamie. 'If the wallpaper is bold and detailed, keep surrounding walls neutral or, for a color-drenched effect. Opting for a rich green as an accent, you can layer in the color through furnishings and accessories. Brass or antique gold accents can further elevate the opulence.'

2. Opt for an earthy brown

Decorating with brown is a huge color trend right now, and it needn't always be a dark and dramatic choice. Opt for a pale yet rich take on the shade, with lots of pink pigment to dial down the drama but keep all that warmth.

'Rich, earthy browns are so cozy and, as colors that are abundant in nature, will never go out of fashion. They are easy to incorporate into any scheme, and brown is a great option for color drenching,' says Francesca Wezel, founder of Francesca's Paints. 'It makes a space feel warm, comforting, and restful – it is definitely one of my favorite colors.'

It also pairs well with other shades depending on the look you want to create. Pair with black for a more modern look or layer with other neutrals if you are after something softer and more rustic.

3. Color drench with claret

Deep reds are an ideal candidate for color drenching in a rich shade.

Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene explains why they're a good choice for a dramatic look, 'Dark reds such as ‘Bronze Red’ exude warmth and a sense of luxury, making a room feel cozy and inviting. Perfect for spaces where you want to create a sense of comfort, such as living rooms, dining rooms, or bedrooms.'

And if you want to follow the color drenching trend that shows no signs of abating you can use one or more reds that have the same tone. 'Combine reds in a ‘Double Drenching’ scheme with other colors which include red oxide, this could include other red hues such as deep plums, burgundy hues or muted reds,' suggests Ruth.

To add a little lightness choose a neutral for your woodwork instead of a crisp white that may feel a little too bright.

4. Add sunshine with turmeric

Decorating with yellow is a great choice for a rich color scheme, but you need to pick the right shade. A deeper shade with a hint of red or orange will give it some depth so it's more of a turmeric color than say sunshine yellow.

A pale yellow won't work, it needs to have a strength to it. It's a great color to add to a space that's north facing that feels a little chilly during the day. Farrow & Ball's Dutch Orange No.W76 shown here is the perfect example of a rich yellow-tone, a clean bright almost-orange that will lift dark corners and bring warmth at the same time.

5. Use plum as an accent

If you want to dabble a little with rich colors before fully embracing it then consider using it as an accent color instead.

Here, a lovely warm plum shade has been used on the window and frame. Hollie Velten-Lattrell, founder and principal of SPACES by Hollie Velten explains her thought process behind this powder room design, 'We wanted to ground the bright stained glass and lyrical Morris wallpaper with a deep plum, choosing Brinjal by Farrow and Ball. Deep accents work best for us as anchoring accents, defining and grounding a more cacophonous surround in trim like windows and baseboards.'

When you do have a lovely detail area like a deep window sill it pays to make a feature of it. Hollie adds, 'Another way to connect these dense colors is to layer in heavy natural materials like marble and darker wood tones, which can provide another weightier component.'

6. Cocoon with emerald green

Cool down a bedroom that gets alot of sun with an emerald green that's rich, but has a blue tone.

It will feel cozy yet sophisticated, team it with an inky blue headboard and crisp white bedding. Add warmth with rich wood accessories – pale blond is too pale, look for acacia wood, mahogany, or walnut.

It can be hard to know what colors go best with dark green, but we love blush pink, nav,y and white.

7. Team dark orange with chocolate

We love this combo, it's like a beautiful bitter chocolate with a deep rich orange, enriching and warming at the same time.

Bold powder rooms are a great space to experiment with as they take up less wallpaper and paint, so you can really go wild with your choices! We asked Tim Walters, managing director at George Spencer Designs for his thoughts on this stunning space, he explained, 'Bold patterns and rich colors can transform a room into a stylish space full of personality. A way of making a bold wallpaper feel less overwhelming is by breaking it up with a neutral color like cream or white. This white marble basin is a perfect example of this, and the result is fantastic – it looks so sumptuous and elegant.'

8. Bring in rich tones with materials

We've mentioned paint and wallpaper, but there are other ways you can add richness to your scheme.

'To create an interior that feels rich, stylish, and most importantly comfortable, it’s important when using deep-toned colors to consider materiality. A deep paint color can look quite flat, whereas a richly toned curtain fabric or sofa will instantly feel more luxurious simply because of its textural depth,' says James Gomez, co-founder of Yarn Collective.

'When using deeper hues, I personally prefer to create a palette that is varied in tone with some deep and light neutrals mixed in to ground the space. Incorporating wood, through wall paneling and furniture, will further enhance any deep tone and create a space that is both rich and warm.'

9. Pair jewel-like teal with purple

If you'd like to pair two key rich colors together you need to have a little plan about which you want where so you can ensure they look right within the space and don't compete.

Pereen d'Avoine, founder of Russian For Fish explains, 'Decorating with rich colors requires thoughtful balance to avoid overwhelming the space. Here, deep teal walls create a dramatic backdrop, with soft furnishings and accessories in complementary tones – such as magenta and cream add vibrancy.'

Adding a decorative element to a scheme can help more than one rich color work within a space. Preen adds, 'It might feel overwhelming to add pattern as well as bold color, but opting for accessories which tie together the colors chosen in larger furniture items and on walls can create harmony overall.'

Although slightly daunting, decorating with rich colors will enhance your space, you don't need to deep dive into dark shades immediately, you can dip your toe in first with lighter rich shades instead or start with just adding accents. The result will be a cozy and cocooning space that's both timeless and trendy.