Spectrum of Change(10)

Designer Jennifer Flanders with her daughters Emma, left, and Allie. Jennifer was not shy about dousing her apartment with strong and dramatic hues. She follows these guidelines when choosing colors for her design work.

Go Beyond Tried and True. Instead of having go-to colors, Jennifer prefers to tackle new color combinations for each project. "Not only does it keep the work interesting, but it allows me to give something unique to each client," she says. She does, however, use one trim color repeatedly-Benjamin Moore's white dove, which, she explains, is neither too bright nor too creamy, just the perfect white.

Introduce Color Surprises. Trying a new wall color is the easiest way to change the look of a room. But why stop there? Jennifer advises painting the moldings white and suggests painting the inside of bookshelves a contrasting color. That offers opportunities for more interest and drama.

Think Balance. Mix light with dark and large scale with small scale to create a room of ease and comfort. Bold colors and patterns should be evenly distributed throughout a space, not clumped together in one area.