How to Choose the Right Color Palette for your Home

Whether you’re moving into a new space or your current layout needs a refresh, choosing the best color palette for your home is never easy. Your home’s interior says a lot about you, and colors play a huge part in that narrative. Not every interior style automatically matches a specific color scheme. Still, it can (and probably should) influence your choices on wall paint, furniture colors, and accent pieces, including artwork, vases, and other pops of color throughout your home.

We gathered some of the best advice from our expert design team to help you choose a color palette for your home. Keep reading to learn all there is to know about color scheme planning for your home.

different colors of paint in cans

 

Decide on a style

You may have already picked your perfect interior decor style, and that’s a great place to start. Some styles and color schemes go hand-in-hand, making it much easier to plan out and pick your interior paint colors. A natural design usually highlights neutral, warm tones like white, beige, and natural wood that make your space look crisp and clean but also relaxing. Other styles leave a bit more room for personal preference. Modern and eclectic styles can work with various color schemes; it’s up to you to make sure that the colors work together.

Open concept kitchen and dining room in a house

 

Start with your furniture

Interior wall paint is inexpensive, and colors are plentiful. If you already have large furniture centerpieces – like a sectional, coffee table, or rug – that you don’t plan on replacing, build your color palette around your furniture. It’s much easier to purchase matching accent pieces and pick a paint color that compliments your furniture than to paint first and match furniture later.

Color schemes in different rooms

 

Match to a pattern

Pull wall and furniture colors from a bold pattern in your space, like a rug or section of eclectic wallpaper. That pattern becomes the centerpiece, and the rest of your color scheme will compliment it perfectly.

Bela Designed bathroom with a navy blue color palette

 

Choose colors that suit your personal style

Your home is a reflection of you and your taste. If you’re still stuck asking yourself, “What color should I paint my room?” take a look at your closet and pick a color palette that compliments your vibe and consider color psychology. If you like upbeat, bright-colored styles with floral patterns, choose a bright color scheme with pops of vibrant color and patterns. If you wear a more sleek, all-black style, a monochrome color scheme that sticks to modern neutrals and black accents is probably the way to go. You choose your clothing because it’s what you look and feel best in; the same should go for your home!

emerald velvet pillows on a pink couch

 

Build off of one central room

If you’re remodeling your entire home, start with a central space and build off of it. Your living room is a great place to start. It’s a communal space that guests will probably see first, and you want your color scheme to run somewhat smoothly from there. Not sure where to start? Check out a portfolio of our work at Bela Development.

Scandinavian-inspired dining room

 

Stick to neutrals in hallways

Remodeling a home is no easy task, so keep it simple when designing your hallways. Choose a neutral wall color from your central room and use it on your hallway walls. You can add accents with picture frames, plants, or consoles.

 

Get creative with bedroom colors

You can take some creative liberties when designing your bedrooms. Unless you live in a studio, most of your guests won’t even see your bedroom, so you can change things up and personalize as much as you want. Interior decorators recommend relaxing, cool or warm colors in bedrooms to relax you in the evenings when you get into bed. Red or bright yellow walls might not be the best idea here, and you should instead stick to warm neutrals, cool blues, and greys, and less pattern to help ease you into a good night’s sleep.

Bedroom with cool, earth tones

 

Use swatches to create schemes

Swatches can help you visualize your color scheme in motion. Grab a few different paint color ideas and create three to five color schemes to look at when you’re back at home. If possible, it’s best to paint your favorite color scheme options onto your wall to account for changes in light within your home. Sometimes, paint looks slightly different when it’s on your wall!

Woman testing pain swatches on a white wall

 

Remember the 60-30-10 rule

Interior decorators recommend a 60-30-10 rule for all color schemes. When deciding on your color scheme, you would pick the primary color covering about 60% of your space. Use your primary color on walls, larger pieces of furniture, carpet, and anything that takes up a lot of space.

30% of your space should be a secondary color that compliments your primary color. Incorporate your secondary color on drapes, throws, area rugs, and other pieces, but make sure it’s different enough from your primary color to show contrast.

Finally, 10% should be an accent color that pops throughout your space. Add your accent color in lampshades, art, and frames, and throw pillows.

Living room with a blue-green color scheme

If you’re still struggling to pick the perfect paint color ideas for your home or room, Bela Development offers design services in LA to help with any style. Our experienced team of professionals is well-equipped to provide guidance on layout, paint, wallpaper, and furniture that fits your budget. Contact us to schedule your initial consultation!

Tags: