Color is an important factor when it comes to designing. It is vital in every aspect. With so many colors to choose from, it doesn’t take long for people to get confused over which ones to choose. Ultimately frantically going over shades of blue, green and yellow! Hold that thought and that paintbrush – Here’s everything you need to know about selecting a color palette for your interior.

Plan It Out

Source: Mikkeline Contemporary Storage Shelf Floor Lamp

There are over hundreds of colors to choose from, which might be why people are so easily dismayed when going over color palettes. However, the very first step is to start simple with a sample board of color swatches, styles, and wallpapers that stand out to you.

Planning does not imply starting from scratch with an empty room as a canvas. You have furniture and fixtures that you can take inspiration from. For example, if you have a chandelier or a lampstand in your room, you could incorporate colors in your color wheel that would work best with them.

After you’ve created your color wheel, the next step is to create a color scheme – yes, they’re different! The color scheme includes tones and ways in which you can incorporate those colors, such as; monochromatic, analogous, contrast and complementary. 

1. Monochromatic is where the color scheme uses on the tone of the same color with either a black-ish or a white-ish hue to accentuate that color. Green could be used in this sense as either vibrant green or pastel green.
2. Analogous color schemes use colors that are similar to one another on the color wheel. For example; red is typically considered analogous to pink and yellow is to either green or orange.
3. Contrast is where your vibrant and upbeat side comes out. This is a more dramatic way of color matching. This scheme involves a triad of color combinations that might go well together, but aren’t necessarily belonging to the same color families. 
4. Complementary is taking contrast up a notch with two colors that are variably different than one another but can make it work with high energy, bold and uplifting vibes.

Alternatively, you do not necessarily have to start with color – you could just as well start with a pattern. Choose a pattern and work your way from there; selecting colors that would look good with it or hues within the pattern itself to accentuate it.

Consider The Architecture    

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Considering the architecture is an important step since your color scheme has to work well with every room. Walk through your home and note which rooms are connected making them visible. Use a floor plan or a rough sketch of your interior to make it easier on yourself.

It is important to create continuity, check if other rooms are visible through different areas in the house. If they are,k you would have to make sure that those colors are coherent with one another. Otherwise, it’s the same as living in a different home altogether. 

Start by picking a color for the largest and most central room of your home. Typically, this room is the living room with an adjoining kitchen. Think of this room as the ‘hub’ for all the other colors. Hence, you could start this room off with a more neutral hue than other rooms. In effect, making it go well with every room. Alternatively, you could start from the room you tend to stay in the most with a color that you like the most. From there on, you could choose colors for all the other rooms.

You Have Inspiration All Around You

Source: Francesca Contemporary Clear Crystal Chandelier

From magazine clippings to websites, there is an abundance of images of interior living spaces. You do not have to start with no input whatsoever, nor is this the same as having your favorite color since childhood takes over your adult home as well.

Take inspiration from magazines, websites and things you already have. You could look around at the upholstery and pick colors from them or just select a mood you’re going for. Are you going for an uplifting and upbeat mood or a calm and serene one?

Lighting

Source: Sunniva Contemporary Drum Shaped Pendant Lamp

Lighting is an important aspect of decor and should never be slighted when picking out a color scheme for your entire home. Light reflects and deflects color, making it appear different throughout the day. A room can look different in sunlight than it does with the accent lights turned on. Factor in lighting just as you would your color combinations.

Study Your Work

Source: Ebbe Macaron Color Adjustable Desk Lamp

So far, we’ve talked all about what you should do based on what you want. However, there are a few ways in which you can make your home stand out with tips of the trade. To start, never go off buying buckets and buckets upon of paint and blindly begin on any surface. 

Always make sure to test paint a small portion before moving on to an entire wall. Why? Colors look different when they are dry and when they’re wet. Imagine waking up after a nap to wonder whose house you walked into.

Another helpful tip is to follow the 60-30-10 rule. Here’s what that implies; 60% of the dominant color, 30% of the secondary color and 10% of the accent color. This helpful tip has been used by designers to create a perfect blend and balance of color.

Conclusion

Taking over the role as your interior designer is a pretty big role to take on in itself; from picking furniture to carpeting and from choosing light fixtures right down to table cloths – no one said it’d be easy. However, before you can start searching for furniture and accessories online or in stores, you would have to take your time to carefully select the very most important thing: the color palette.