Colour queen, Kara Whitten, opens up about her crafting journey and the importance of stepping outside of your comfort zone

Some people inherit brown eyes or curly hair from their relatives. Texas native Kara Whitten’s family passed down a different kind of trait: a penchant for colour.

“My most vivid childhood memory is of the home I grew up in, specifically my mum’s DIY splatter-painted concrete floor,” Kara shares. “She coated the whole thing in black then splattered it with all the shades of paint she could find. She wasn’t afraid to take risks in her décor and that really inspired me.”

It wasn’t long before the colour enthusiast was following in her mother’s footsteps, creating a kaleidoscopic world of her own. “As a kid, I would make sure to get clothes in every hue of the rainbow, and when I got my first apartment, I reupholstered my hand-me-down sofa in bright red fabric!”

Though Kara has long since found the crafty gold at the end of that rainbow – her hugely popular blog A Kailo Chic Life – the journey was far from easy. “In 2005, I graduated from The University of Texas with a degree in Chemical Engineering and was ready to start working. After my first week at my new job, I freaked out and quit. Not the smartest thing to do, but I was scared and couldn’t imagine myself working in a lab for the next 40 years.

“So, there I was, fresh out of university, without a job, and without money. As luck would have it, I was also planning my wedding. I say ‘luck’ because the day I went to the fabric store to find the pattern for my wedding dress – my grandmother was making my dress for me! – I ended up finding a cool handbag pattern,” Kara reveals. “So, with the few dollars I had left, I purchased the pattern along with a little bit of fabric and went home to sew some new bags. With those bags, I started what would eventually become Kailo Chic. Then, in 2015, I began my blog A Kailo Chic Life, the lifestyle component to Kailo Chic, about all things DIY, parties, home décor and how to add vibrancy to your life.” And the rest is brightly-coloured history.

With over seven million monthly views on her Pinterest page alone, it’s clear that the maximalist maven inspires many. But what captures her imagination?

“I love the Memphis design aesthetic with its geometric patterns, bold hues and colour-blocking. I’m also super obsessed with 80s pop music; it just gets me into the design mindset. One movie that I’ve found that really brings my love of 80s design to life is the remake of Valley Girl. It’s so perfect!”

While there is certainly no shortage of inspiration for the hue-curious among us, actually taking the polychrome plunge can be a daunting task. Fortunately, Kara assures us it’s not nearly as difficult as it might seem.

“I recommend starting with home accessories. Buy a bold throw pillow or two. Try out a striking vase, a decorative bowl or an art piece. Once you’ve done that, take it a step further with a vibrant accent wall. Paint can do wonders for livening up your home! These things don’t cost a lot and can help you dip your toes into the world of colour without the commitment.”

IKEA, here we come!

Browse Kara’s projects at akailochiclife.com, and shop her range of homewares at kailochic.com