When thinking about decorating with color, look no further than your garden. Floral hues -- such as pinks, yellows, and violets -- can be pale to saturated and make any space feel more cheerful.

Too often a guest room devolves into a bland, one-size-fits-all space that really pleases no one. Why not make it an enclave where you and your family will feel like honored guests, too? Vivid-pink walls and an upholstered daybed transform the room into a retreat where everyone feels they belong. As a comforting counterbalance to the saturated color, the furniture and fabrics are cream and pale gray.

A colorful Dutch woolen blanket hangs above a bed that was specially designed for this master bedroom. Family photos are displayed in plastic holders attached to the wall with map tacks, making it easy to change and update the array. The yellow color warms up a mostly-white loft space.

A 1930s Chinese Chippendale-style fish tank showcases a red mini-orchid. Even the covers of the books on the shelves -- a collection of Loeb classics, a series of works in Latin translated into English -- take their cue from the delicate flower.

These soft, violet walls are instantly soothing. To add a modern touch, try strips of playful dots made from painted upholstery tacks on pantry shelves and Jackson Pollock-esque curtains.

In this room, gray wainscoting and bare floors soften the vivid color of the walls, which are adorned with an asymmetrical array of small paintings, sea fans, and a framed collection of starfish. The Gustavian settee is upholstered in linen, the stool is from the mid-nineteenth century, and the side chair is baroque.

A buttercup-yellow bed skirt works best when warmed by an orange-yellow curtain stripe, and chilled, a bit, by breathy aqua walls.

This bed frame is encased in thick bump padding, then in fine-linen slipcovers that are stitched together into a simple dressmaker shape that gracefully envelops the frame of the bed. Pink linens accentuate the pink in the wall color.

This bedroom is soothing and relaxed, thanks to the hydrangea blue on the walls and in the nighstand vase.

Bold red -- inspired by the carnation centerpiece -- pops against white table linens, chairs, and plates. A beautiful sheet of wrapping paper is showcased at the center.

Sometimes simple accessories in a matching color are all it takes to enliven a room, especially when it's a cheery shade such as sunflower yellow.

Asian style meets woodland chic. A palette of lilac purple, brown, and chartreuse looks sumptuous when darker colors reign and lighter ones are accents. Linens in varying shades of purple and wooden elements -- from chairs to chargers -- help set the tone.

This soft and striking living room is anchored in neutral tan shades, but the peach lampshade, yellow accents, and blue end table add modern pop to the space.

Lavender brushed on the bases of tabletop domes adds dimension to the earthy gray-green palette of this dining room.

Utilizing a lone color scheme can be tricky; to avoid overpowering a room, seek out a color that is lively but not too bold, like this rich marigold.

The dove gray of a bookcase tames the vibrant orange shelves and interior; the armchair's dusty-orange velvet upholstery is toned down by a cream-and-pale-green side table.