Kelly Thompson has worked as a photographer, commercial illustrator and multidisciplinary designer. Her joy for design and creative community is apparent to all who know her, as is her love for vintage and collecting.

Since opening Makers' Mrkt, Kelly's time is now spent sourcing new designers, nurturing relationships, shooting imagery and directing Makers' Mrkt.

Kelly is an expert on colour and gave us her tips on how to bring colour into your home–

Kelly Thompson is an expert on all things colour and design

Makers' Mrkt offers a unique collection of ceramics, art and homewares made by established and emerging makers from around the world.

Kelly Thompson's tips on bringing colour into your home:

The white-on-white monochrome home aesthetic became viral over the last few years, fuelled by social media, Marie Kondo influenced minimalism and the quest for that simple low-fuss aesthetic.

White-on-white is practical and easy to recreate from a reference image, (thanks to numerous homeware big-box brands jumping on the bandwagon), but what happens when it leaves you feeling empty inside and looking the same as everyone else?

If you're sick of living in a bland home purely for future sell-ability (but not for current living enjoyment), here are a few ways to inject colour and your personality into your space.

Ignore All Trends

Stop caring about trends; they are a non-sustainable way to approach a space. The next trend always replaces the current, so the quicker you ignore them, the better. Instead, ask yourself, "what do I like?", not "what does everyone else like?".

Pay attention to what you're naturally attracted to, what you can't help but keep looking at, and what makes you feel something. Never ask, "Is this cool?" who cares! Your home should be so many other things before "cool" and should be a reflection of you, not everybody else.

Start Small

People ask how to add colour to their spaces, and my first suggestion is not to think about it too much and, secondly, to start small. Add a coloured object, a vase, a cushion, a hand towel, flowers or something that can be moved if needed. When choosing a colour, always begin with the one your eye is drawn to. If you're feeling nervous, start with a soft tone or something earthy, so it's not too jarring. Once you have that item, live with it, look at it in your space, and move it around if needed until it feels like it has its place for you. I'd recommend avoiding fast homewares or mass-produced items, they're always a quick thrill that never satisfies for long. Instead, choose something you value, handmade or one-off or made by a local maker, an object that feels good to own.

Once one colourful item feels ok, repeat! Start collecting items on travels or whenever you see something that attracts you. Don't rush it, a home should be a collection of stories and memories, let it take time.

I often suggest adding other items in similar colours or tones so the colour bounces around the room and they connect, then I'll add another complementary colour or texture and then repeat, so the space becomes more layered... don't worry about that until you feel warmed up, it will come!

Tip: Nervous? Check the exchange policy at stores so you can always swap if required. 

Paint! 

I hear a white space is a calming space, but have you ever been in a soft powdery sage green room or warming earth-toned interior? Live in a house to live in it, don't be afraid to paint; if you hate it, it's not permanent, and paint is the quickest, most affordable way to change the feeling of your space entirely!

Brands such as Tint and Dulux now offer sample stickers, so it's easy to test a colour before committing and you can move the sticker to see how it looks on different walls under different lighting. Start with one room and look at your test colours over a few days or weeks before deciding, I always like to make sure I'm not going through a colour fad.

Be Bold

You've got an entirely white room and want to make an impact with little effort? Go bold with one of your large furniture items in a block colour. Try an emerald green textural couch, a thick rug in invigorating mustard, or maybe an armchair in a deep blue. A single large piece in a confident colour or colourful artwork in a room that's all white will add instant energy.

Many of my customers who are nervous about colour are not opposed to it, just unsure of where to start. Don't overthink it, colour should be enjoyed, so play with it and see what feels good to you, it can all be undone, resold or exchanged, what have you got to lose? Remember, when and if you decide to sell your home in the future, then you can repaint your walls white if necessary; it's not a big deal, so in the meantime, make the most of the home you live in now!

If you're looking to bring some colour into your home this spring, we're giving one lucky person a chance to win a Makers' Mrkt prize pack (valued at up to $1,000)*. Visit our Instagram to enter.