How interior design color palettes can help define a space
Color choice is highly personal. Some people love bright and bold hues, while other people prefer more muted shades or neutrals. Most people instantly know what colors they like, but the more difficult part is putting together a complete and cohesive color scheme. Here are our tips for perfecting it.
Choose colors that make you happy
Most importantly, choose colors you love. Don’t worry too much about what is trendy. If you’ve never been a fan of purple, don’t choose lavender or grape just because they’re in vogue. You have to live in the space and you should love it, so the colors you choose should reflect your taste and style.
Try light, dark and bold
If you’re at a loss for where to start, pick one light color, one dark color, and one bold hue. That combination always works. Think red, dark gray and light gray or teal, brown and cream.
Think contrasting colors
Colors that are opposite – or nearly opposite – each other on the color wheel work well together. Think teal and tangerine or purple and yellow. If you’re going to go bright, keep it to just two or three shades. If you go beyond that, the room starts to look cartoonish.
Consider the size and shape of the space
Some colors and shades are more appropriate for certain rooms than others. You probably don’t want to paint the bedroom a bold red, as it does not promote a relaxing and soothing environment. Also, consider the size of your space. Dark colors are great for cozying up large spaces while light colors are great for making small spaces look larger and airy.
Start in the middle
First pick your color scheme for the largest and most centrally located room, and then work your way out. Often, this is the living room or kitchen. Once you’ve set the tone for the largest space to anchor the home, it’s easier to imagine what colors will work in the adjacent spaces.
Choose paint colors last
Resist the temptation to choose paint colors first and then find furniture and accessories to match. It is much easier to match your paint color to the fabrics in the home than vice versa. If you paint the walls first, you box yourself in to certain fabric colors, making the selection process more difficult.
Consider the whole home when choosing color
Never choose a color scheme with only one room in mind. Think about the flow of the home and how the colors will transition from one room to the next. You probably wouldn’t want paint a hallway olive green and the adjacent bedroom pale pink. Pay attention to which rooms are adjacent to one another.
Consider how natural light and Lighting within the room affects color
Lighting has a significant impact on how your color palette appears. If the room is low on natural light, avoid very dark colors. If the room is sunny and bright, you might want to avoid bold shades like yellow and orange or use them sparingly.
Consider your climate
Few people think about climate when they’re decorating, but it is an important consideration. If you live somewhere with a cloudy, cool or rainy climate, avoid using too many muted shades like gray. If you live somewhere warm, sunny and humid, keep the warmer hues to a minimum.
Always test the color palette first
Gather samples of fabrics and paints and examine them together to find out if your color scheme works. This is why designers create design boards. Even if you imagine that a color scheme will work, it’s possible to change your mind when you actually see the fabrics and colors together. Gathering samples helps you prevent expensive mistakes and avoid regrets.
