Architect Tamira Sawatzky used Ikea components—one-inch Lagan butcher block countertops and inexpensive Ekby Lerberg brackets—when designing the bookshelves along the living room wall in the home/studio he designed for himself and his wife in Toronto.

If their everyday mantra sounds something like "reduce, reuse, recycle," these eco-conscious gifts won’t weigh on their conscience.

White paint with just a hint of gray dominates the farmhouse, reflecting Kolasiński’s love of bright spaces. The pine wooden floors were also enameled in a white oil imported from Denmark.

The bright orange frame of this glazed door adds a sense of modern exuberance to the deck off of Francesco Moncada and Mafalda Rangel’s bedroom. The sunny, open space reveals both a Loop chair by Willy Guhl and the tile rooftops of Syracuse, where the water is never far off.

When the sliding doors are left open, the rooms enter into a playful dialogue with each other, with the dark exterior walls framing the more colorful bedroom within.

An upstairs bedroom is at once bright and cozy.

The skylight in the kitchen keeps things quite bright.

Furniture with emphasized linear elements helps prevent the appearance of clutter in small spaces. It's particularly effective when highlighted in playful colors like the blue bench storage rack in this London guesthouse. Photo by Ben Anders.

Consider this lively bathroom that sits within a recently completed waterfront home in Bridgehampton, New York. Situated on two-and-a-half acres of land with 360-degree views of the nearby bay and ocean, it's covered with brightly colored floor-to-ceiling tiles that reflect the shades of the neighboring water. One step through the sliding glass doors and you’ll find yourself on an open terrace.

Available in a variety of eye-catching colors, this retro-modern and ergonomically friendly chair from Innit Designs is "in every way cool".

The owners, who are a couple with three children, requested a bright home with a gentle, pervasive light that is far from cold.

As per the owner's request, the second floor’s open landing receives ample sunlight. The space is used as a study and the home's two bedrooms are situated to the right, their doors just outside the frame.

It's a good idea to swap out your groovy 1960s refrigerator and choose something that is more energy-efficient. Try and look for appliances that have been EnergyStar-certified, or a product that has been reviewed by the U.S. Department of Energy. And if, after all that, you still want that retro vibe in your kitchen, look no further than Smeg!

The master bedroom features shorter planks of five-and-a-half-inch-wide white oak flooring. Their warmth is enhanced by the wall color, Benjamin Moore Abalone, the only departure from white anywhere in the house. The bed is from CB2, and side table is from Environment 337.

Bright orange and cobalt-blue surfaces dominate the minimalist kitchen.

Wallpaper doesn't have to be patterned: for his own Shelter Island home, designer Jonathan Adler lined the walls of the guest bedroom with grasscloth in Slate for a cozy, natural touch.

296

The cozy classroom and lounge typically hosts small sessions for 2-8 students. The painted chairs are custom. A cut-out wall is a storage place for books.

Kangan Arora designs boldly printed textiles in her North London studio.

Brightly colored womens' clothing.

Napkin rings (or bracelets) can add a pop of color.

Mixing neutrals with brights is fresh and modern.

The exterior of Neely and Kefalides’s house is punctuated with a bright red door.

The updated kitchen is outfitted with stainless steel appliances, including a Bosch range, a Fisher & Paykel refrigerator, and a Frigidaire range hood. The faucet is Hudson Reed.

As part of the state's Commissioner's Network, New Haven's Lincoln-Bassett School will undergo a major transformation this year to improve its academic, social, and health programs. The Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology teamed up with Svigals + Partners for this mural-painting project, aimed to bring more inspiration into the school environment.

At the characteristically bright Marimekko discussion area, conversations including a discussion on the future of coworking and another on micro-housing for developers will take place.

The innovative Wireless M Lamp was inspired by miners’ lamps of the 19th century. Designed by British designer David Irwin for Juniper, the M Lamp is a portable task lamp that is designed with portability in mind.

The rooms at the Pantone Hotel in Brussels feature white walls and linens accented with pops of classic Pantone colors in the form of blankets and artwork. Each of the hotel's seven floors are dedicated to a different color palette.

In addition to work and lounge areas, the spacious lobby includes a 24-hour canteen and bar. Photo by Adrian Gaut.

Lisa Roberts with an assemblage of contemporary products.

Painting the base coat bright orange.

Tenukore (2010) These bright textiles are a modern take on traditional Japanese "tenugui" handkerchiefs.

Masters of color, Ingvild and Sidsel Forr Hemma mix many of their own colors by hand. When they blend the tints into the liquid porcelain, they tend to take on softer, milkier tones.

Ultramarine pigmented, harvested in France.

A bright, modern living area opens onto the porch.

In the kitchen, Angle removed the cabinet doors and applied a coat of Poppy Red paint by Benjamin Moore, and put down a striped linoleum floor to brighten the space.