You did it. You finally saved up, got the down payment, secured the loan, and joined the millions upon millions of American homeowners.
You step inside your new home and promptly realize that the current color scheme does not work for you. Whether it’s the standard industrial neutrals of a prefab or the result of some interesting ideas the prior owner had about decor, the colors don’t spark joy at all.
Color palettes can control the mood and feel of an entire house, so choosing a color palette that suits your personal style can make your place feel like home.
Not sure how to choose a color palette for your house? Our guide will help you sort things out.
1. Consider Your Favorite Colors
You bought the place. You moved into it. Why shouldn’t you deck it out in your favorite colors?
If you have colors that you adore or a favorite art piece or print that you want to accentuate, use those for inspiration. Don’t worry about trends; just think of the colors that spark joy in you! With that being said:
There’s Nothing Wrong With Trending
Sometimes, you need help or inspiration. Following home decor and color palette trends can help you out. The only thing you should keep in mind if you choose to follow trends is that not all trends turn into classics.
What’s hot and trending now might make your space feel dated in a few years. So, choose carefully.
2. Decide on Your Scheme
Once you have an idea for colors you might want to use, it’s time to consider your color scheme. There are 4 main color schemes that you can follow throughout your home. These include:
Complementary Colors
Complementary colors are two colors that occupy opposite wedges on the color wheel. They directly oppose one another and create energetic, dramatic looks that still work rather than clash.
Think of the classic holiday red and green, or yellow and purple, or blue and orange. These color schemes are complementary and can liven up any space you live in.
Analogous Colors
Analogous colors are adjacent to one another on the color wheel, which lets them blend together for a more soothing feel. Think of reds and oranges blending, or blues and purples. The shades of a sunset.
Those color schemes are analogous and can create a sense of flow from room to room while allowing each room to retain its own color identity.
Contrasting Colors
Contrasting colors are, by far, the most dramatic choice of the bunch. These color schemes tend towards triads of contrasting shades and values. These create exceptional energy for the space, but are the most likely colors to wind up clashing if not carefully chosen.
Monochromatic Colors
A monochrome color scheme is, by far, the safest option of the four. Monochromes pick one color and stick with it throughout the home, adjusting only the tone or value.
Imagine walls running from deep, dark burgundy to a pastel lilac in a child’s bedroom. Or, imagine varying shades of orange, from earthy to sunny, in a living room. Monochrome doesn’t mean boring, after all!
3. Feel the Vibe
If that sounds a little too New Age and ‘woo’ for your tastes, think again. Color psychology gets used by businesses, websites, artists, and interior designers alike to control people’s moods.
So, think about the kind of vibe you want your place to have. Do you want your home to feel soothing and calming, like a spa? Bold and dramatic? Lively and energetic? Rustic and down to earth?
Each of these aesthetics gives off certain energy and have different color schemes to invoke them.
4. Try Before You Buy
This tip and those that follow hold especially true for choosing a color palette for paint and carpet since those can be particularly difficult to replace. Before you commit to painting an entire room, or worse, your entire house, test out your swatches on a free wall.
You’ll be thankful you tested them in the long run. It’s better to find out if a color you thought you loved isn’t the right one for your space early on.
5. Don’t Forget Your Furnishings
Your furniture plays a role in your home’s palette and feel as well. Both the furnishing style and color can contribute to your look.
And believe us, you will notice if your furniture clashes with your ongoing color scheme. It’s no good finding bedding to fit your style if every shade you like clashes with the color of your walls.
6. Look at Your Lighting
Lighting is critical for any piece of art, and it’s just as critical for choosing a color palette in your home. A shade that looks one way in natural lighting might look entirely different in your high-lumen LEDs.
A beige in blue-toned light might look baby-puke green in warmer lighting. Doubtless, we all know a friend who got taken in by gorgeous paint chips in-store, only to find that the color didn’t look the same on their walls.
7. Get Professional Help for Choosing a Color Palette
If all of this seems overwhelming to you, there’s no shame in reaching out for professional help! Whether that’s speaking to people at your local home improvement store, contacting an interior designer, or using an online tool to generate a color palette for you, there are plenty of options at your disposal.
Pro Tips to Choose Your Palette
Now you have some fresh ideas on what to consider when choosing a color palette for your home. Look for colors you enjoy, pick your color scheme, test it out, and see what works best for you. Your imagination is the only limit to your home’s possibilities.
If you enjoyed this color theory heavy article and would like to read our other home improvement content, visit the rest of our blog for more inspiration and pro tips!
