How to Brighten up a Dull Color Palette

Have you ever been making a quilt, and while you're loving the fabrics you've chosen, the overall palette is looking a little dull? 

 

This happened to me while I was making this London Skyline quilt. I started with all of the fabrics below, except that bright aqua solid that's right in the middle, that I added later. As I was collaging the other fabrics, I felt the palette was looking dull, but I didn't want to just throw a bright fabric in there out of left field. 

 

I liked the mint-y palette, so I chose a fabric that is very close to the others on the color wheel, but it was a bit brighter, more vibrant. This instantly brightened up the entire palette while not standing out too much or looking abrupt. 

 

For me, that aqua solid makes such a big difference! The quilt would have been fine without it, but it adds that dash of freshness that I felt the palette was lacking. 

 

 

Now, throwing in a super bright fabric isn't always the answer. It worked well here since the fabrics I was originally using were relatively clear and saturated. If you are working with a very dull palette with "muddy" tones (think Civil War prints), throwing in a bright aqua or hot pink might look quite abrupt. 

 

For example, here is a palette I'd like to brighten up.

 

 

Oops! The fabrics I added below, to me, look awkwardly bright next to the muted fabrics on the left. 

 

 

 

 

 

For more on this topic, check out my article on color Saturation.