A color palette is one of the most important decisions when decorating your home. It can affect how a room looks and feels, and it can also reflect your personality.
When choosing a color scheme, look for inspiration in nature. Natural colors—from green stems to azure skies—create a cohesive look in a space.
Think About Your Style
One of the first things you must consider when choosing a color palette is how you want your space to feel. This will help you narrow your choices and keep your final decision on the right track; you may also ask for guidance from a design firm like Designer Premier.
Whether browsing Pinterest or looking through magazines, try to find photos that reflect your style and the general atmosphere you hope to create. Then, look at the colors in those pictures. This is a great place to start and can be very inspiring!
After you’ve found the main color that inspires you, use a color wheel to figure out what other colors might complement it. Typically, you’ll want to stick with 3 to 5 colors to avoid feeling too matchy-matchy. It’s also helpful to have a few neutrals in your palette. These can be used to highlight the other colors and add texture.
Consider the Lighting
When selecting a color palette, it’s important to consider the lighting in your space. How a color presents itself under natural light may be very different than in artificial light, drastically affecting its overall effect and how it looks against your furniture or other design features in your room.
It’s also crucial to remember that undertones are sometimes difficult to see in a paint can and that they will become more pronounced once the paint is applied to your walls. This is why it’s so important always to apply a large swatch of paint, walk around your room, and look down the hallway to ensure you like the colors in both light and dark.
If you need help finding a color scheme, try searching for inspiration online or browsing Pinterest to help you figure out what hues you gravitate towards the most. Keeping track of these colors, even in a note app on your phone or journal, can help you create a palette that speaks to your style and suits the function and mood of your space.
Think About the Function of the Space
Certain colors create specific moods and desired atmospheres, greatly benefiting particular rooms. For example, reds and oranges can create a cozy and energetic ambiance, perfect for living areas, while blues and greens promote relaxation and serenity, making them great bedroom options.
When choosing a color palette, starting with the largest room in your home, such as a living or kitchen, is best. This will help to anchor the other rooms and make it easier to coordinate them with the chosen color scheme.
Once you’ve picked your dominant color, it’s time to add the secondary and accent colors. These are used sparingly in smaller pieces of furniture, home textiles, and decorative accessories to create a pop of color. When picking these, try to stick with a similar range of colors so that everything is cohesive and flows together. You can use a color wheel to find complementary, split complementary, or analogous colors that work well together.
Think About Your Personality
The color palette that you choose will say a lot about you as a person. It can reflect your mood, your aspirations, and your unique style.
A good way to begin the process is to look for inspiration around you. This might be in your clothes, a piece of art, or the flowers you pick up at the farmers market. It’s also a great idea to visit a paint store and sort through the different colors to see what catches your eye.
It’s important to remember that your taste will change over time, and that’s okay! A thoughtfully chosen color palette is one of the best ways to transform your home and elevate it into a harmonious and captivating space.
Once you have a list of colors that speak to you, it’s time to create a color scheme for your space. Using the basic principles of color theory, creating a balanced color scheme that complements your furniture and accessories is easy.
