Articles

The champion of HGTV’s first Design Star reality series in 2006 and former Disney illustrator got his own show, Color Splash, and a line of eco-friendly paints that debuted in April.

“I can’t even tell you how much my life has changed all in the most wonderful, incredible, fantastic ways,” he says. “I loved my life before. I’m an artist. I paint. But I’ve really loved what’s happened, too. I get to work with such wonderful people. It’s so fabulous. I still pinch myself.”

Now, he’s got some tips for how to make over any room cheap. Think color as in Bromstad’s favorite, acid yellow.

Not only does color lift a room, but it can lift spirits, even in small-dose accents.

Bromstad, 35, has partnered with Mythic Paint to carry his new signature hues such as Wasabi (one hot green).

“I’m adding a little spice to the brand,” says Bromstad, who commutes from Miami to San Francisco for his show. “I’ve always dreamed of naming my own paint colors. Now, I get to do it.”

As for color trends, yellow is very hot.

“Most people don’t look good in yellow, but it’s wonderful on walls,” Bromstad says. “Yellow is the color of the year. It’s very bright, energizing. In the times we’re in now, people need to be uplifted.” Bromstad particularly likes bold, bright “school bus yellow.” “It’s almost a mustard: cheery, exciting, a lot of energy,” he says.

Other colors on the decorating horizon are a spectrum of purple “all shades, from mauve to magenta to deep purple. We’ll see more muted shades of purple in the fall and soft iris blue with a touch of purple. It’s gorgeous.”

As for neutrals, “gray is the new brown; it’s everywhere. Whites will never go out of style.”

Bromstad recently moved into a loft in Bal Harbour, Fla., created by combining two apartments.

“It’s … probably my biggest design challenge yet because of the configuration and because it’s my space,” he says. “I’m really pushing myself to make it unique and make an impression on the world. I’m getting there slowly.

He has picked white and gray with lime green accents and a splash of acid yellow as his color scheme. “Color is the root of great design.”

New paint makes a huge difference in any room, fast and relatively cheap.

“That’s the smartest way to design, especially in this economy,” Bromstad says. “Paint is the most inexpensive and easiest way to transform a space immediately. For under $100, you can make a major impact.”

Bromstad encourages people to experiment with combinations.

“I could see doing a black wall or deep dark charcoal with Wasabi and yellow (trim) and maybe some pink and turquoise accents. A magenta wall would be just stunning.

“Choose a color that makes you feel good. The main thing is to have fun.”