You dont necessarily have to follow design theories orthe color wheelto create a successful combination.

The most important consideration is finding a color palette that feels right to you.

Then base your paint colors on those elements.

Living room with multiple framed artwork behind couch

Credit: Kim Cornelison

Here are some ideas on how to narrow down your color choices.

Pull out specific shades within the design and apply them to your decorating choices.

Pay attention to the proportions of each shade to recreate a similarly balancedinterior colorscheme.

pink-and-blue themed open-concept living room and kitchen

Credit: David Tsay

A mix of values within your color scheme helps to keep a multi-hue palette from looking chaotic.

Try selecting one dark color, one light color, and one bright color in each room.

The color that acts as the rooms dominant hue depends on your preference.

Choose clean and bright or soft and subtle.

Plan Your Homes Color Scheme

If youre wary of color, map it out first.

Gather swatches or paint chips that represent the colors of those items.

Assess the spaces for both positive and negative attributes; write them down.

Find focal points from the list of positive traits.

Plan the house one room at a time.

Consider How Light Affects Colors

Pay attention tothe impact of lighting.

Natural light changes from sunrise to sunset as the suns rays travel through varying amounts of atmosphere.

For example, a room with only northern exposure receives less daylight than other rooms in the home.

Incandescent lamps emit a redder and warmer light than sunlight.

Fluorescent lamps, on the other hand, generally create a bluer, cooler light.

Keep in mind that any color with white in it will reflect the colors that surround it.

Artwork brings in color and personality at the same time.

Accessories and personal collections can act as colorful accents in your room.

And dont forget the lively hues of natural elements like flowers and fruit.

Grouped in vases or bowls, they create a colorful mass in any space.

While neutrals might seem safe, there are many benefits to using color in your home.

Color can unite disparate furnishings styles and works well for renewing worn or outdated furniture.

A fresh, unexpected pop of color can turn a dull room into a stylish, personalized space.

Using color can also manipulate your sense of space.

it’s possible for you to visually lower aceiling with a dark colorand raise it with a light one.

When transitioning between colors, let architecture guide you.

For an accent, apply color to a self-contained wall.

Use your chosen color scheme to help define distinct spaces within an open plan.

For example, delineate an area with molding and use paint within that space for a block of color.

To break up endless walls, separate a long stretch with a bookcase, screen, or shelving.

you could also distinguish spaces with rugs.

You might also consider applying a monochromatic scheme in an open-concept layout.

Change the value of a color from space to space to define the areas.

Another option is to use three colors for your interior color scheme.