The Bold and Beautiful: Vibrant Wall Colors

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WHEN CATHY BUNTUA, 26, bought a one-bedroom condo in Falls Church last spring, she loved its location and potential. But she was less than thrilled about its old-school kitchen cabinets.

"They were probably from 1970 and were a really ugly, deep dark brown," she says. "I knew I would have to change them somehow. But since I had just bought the condo, I didn't have enough money to invest in ripping them out and putting in new ones."

Cue the DIY paint makeover. But instead of choosing a soft white, as the designers on HGTV might have done, Buntua went for something bolder. "I wanted to do a fun color, so I chose pink, which is one of my favorites," she says.

Buntua knows she'll need to replace the cabinets if she later wants to sell or rent out her place. But for now, the bubble-gum hue is an unexpected way to show off her personality. And the rest of her home is no stranger to color either, from the Tiffany blue shade on her bedroom walls to the red couch in her living room.

"When people come in and look at my place, they say, 'This looks like you,' and that means a lot to me," Buntua says. "I hate walking into homes where everything is stiff like a hotel."

While neutrals remain a safe choice when it comes to paint, many homeowners these days are opting for more daring tints that remind them of a favorite vacation spot, piece of art or clothing.

"People have just become bored with the beige, beige, beige look that has been everywhere for so long," says Stephanie Hoppen, the London-based author of "Perfect Palettes" (Clarkson Potter, $35). "[They] seem to have decided that they are craving some excitement, some fun in their homes, and color can bring all of this."

Just like on the red carpet, jewel tones such as sapphire blue and emerald green are making a grand entrance. Pinks and purples have also been getting another glance, from darker, more opulent shades to lighter, softer hues.

"I'm thrilled that I'm seeing more awareness and appreciation of purple, which I've explored and used for years," says Bethesda-based designer Carol Freedman. "I think it's a great, great color; it's so soothing and stimulating at the same time."

And forget gray's dull, drab reputation. A light gray can function like a neutral but add more interest than just plain white. A metallic shade can add elegance and drama to a room — without making it look like a disco.

"Metallic paints don't have to be glossy and shiny," says well-known L.A.-based designer Kelly Wearstler, author of "Hue" (AMMO Books, $49.95).

Can't decide on just one shade for a room? The old fallback of the accent wall isn't your only option. "Sometimes the accent wall gets a little overdone," says Catherine Hailey, principal of Arlington-based Hailey Design. "Instead of painting one wall one different color, look around for a graphic you like and blow that up and create it out of two tones of color on the wall. The wall almost becomes its own piece of art; you've still created an accent wall, but it's not just a flat, one-color wall."

And you don't have to follow the old rule to avoid dark colors in small spaces.

"Sometimes in a powder room or somewhat confined space, it's nice to use a bolder color ... that can help define and give personality to a room," says Hailey.

When choosing colors, getting inspiration can be as simple as gazing out the window. "We did a project on the beach, and a lot of the colors — light golds, sands, taupes, warm grays — had a great dialogue with what was outside," Wearstler says.

Or open up your closet. "You really need to look at the kinds of things ... you naturally gravitate to," Hailey says. "If you happen to notice that you never have a piece of red clothing, you're probably going to feel a little agitated in a room that's all red."

A piece of artwork can also provide ideas. "I love using a homeowner's art as inspiration," Freedman says. "Artists are wizards with color, so you can't go wrong working from that."

A room's natural light, or lack of it, can have an impact on which colors will work best.

"I have seen more rooms ruined by the wrong shade of wall color than I have had hot breakfasts," Hoppen says. "What looks good in the pot and in a small sample often looks totally different on a large expanse of wall. Paint areas of the room from sample pots to see how light changes color. Natural light and electric light can make a huge difference."

But no matter what, a homeowner's color choices have to make him or her feel good.

"My kitchen is a Granny Smith apple green, and I love it because it warms the room up and makes it brighter," says Jill Janson, 37, a technical writer who lives in Herndon. "I enjoy being in it more. When you're getting your morning coffee, you want something that's going to wake you up!"

» On A Roll: Fun and Funky Wallpaper
» Brush With Confidence: Painting Your Home

Written by Express contributor Beth Luberecki
Photos by Lawrence Luk for Express