When you open your home to playful design, a spark of inspiration can quickly turn into a beautiful blaze of color that transforms your space into an uplifting and joyful escape. We met with Jessica Blue an interior designer and eclectic collector with a love of color and retro themes to learn about her approach to playful design. Her vibrant Chicago home is saturated with color, offbeat patterns, a collection of layered art books and one-of-a-kind paintings.

“Life is so serious and structured sometimes that I often seek to escape at home,” said Jessica. “And what better way than to come home to fun, patterned geometric pillows scattered across the bed, or even a simple piece of art that draws your eye and provides a bit of inspiration at the end of a stressful day.” Adding a bright, bold color can also naturally transform the energy of your space and infuse your home with positivity.

“Color is your friend. Do not be afraid to play with color!” said Jessica. “It is represented in every aspect of our lives — embrace it and run with it. If painting walls is too big a step, start with one patterned pillow and build a color story with the remaining accessories by pulling in similar shades and tones found in that pillow.” Color isn’t the only thing that can help you add some whimsy to your home.

Unique pieces of furniture or even a detailed backsplash can add some playful personality to your space. You can also infuse joy throughout your home by decorating your walls with a curated collection of art and adding dimension to your tabletops with vases, candlesticks and small sculptures. Finding a faucet with unique character, like the Weymouth spring kitchen faucet, is another easy way to update the aesthetic of your home. And with a finish like matte black, you can add visual contrast with a soft powder neutral that’s perfect in almost any environment.