14 Designer Tricks for Picking a Perfect Color Palette

14 Designer Tricks for Picking a Perfect Color Palette

Choosing a color palette for your interior space may seem difficult, but it’s not! Here are some palette-perfecting tips to guide you in choosing the perfect color combinations for your home.

1. Choose a color scheme from the largest pattern in the space

If you already have pieces of furniture you want to incorporate into the room, you can work off of the colors of those pieces. For example, if you have a treasured sofa that is upholstered in a pattern, a colorful vintage rug, or even a large piece of artwork, pluck out colors you like from their patterns. Not only does this help tie in your furniture to your interior design, but it also helps give your space a seamless, well-thought-out look.

2. Rely on a timeless pairing

Sometimes, the best choice is the timeless choice. Found a house for sale in kuching, but it has old interiors? No worries! Sometimes old is gold. For example, the always chic combination of black and white is a dynamic duo that will never go out of style. Stick to the often-paired color combinations. Sometimes, this is all you need to create a compelling color story that not only conquers trends but stands the test of time as well.

3. Decorate from dark to light, vertically

Taking a cue from nature in your decorating endeavors is a surefire way to make any space look good without much risk. Emulate the outside world by using darker colors for the floor, medium colors for the walls, and lighter colors for the ceiling. The earth is dark below our feet, medium colored as we look straight ahead at buildings and trees, and the sky a light blue. Sometimes, mother nature is the best teacher.

4. Start with the formal areas of the house

The formal areas of the house, such as the living room, dining room and entry way / foyer are generally the most public areas of the house. The tip here is to choose a color scheme for these areas first. It doesn’t have to be matchy-matchy. Keep them complimentary to avoid your house looking like a jig-saw patchwork of unrelated colors. After you have settled on a color scheme, pull one or two colors from the rooms and turn them into accents in the more private spaces of your home. For example, if the emerald green sofa is the centerpiece of your living room, add some green accents to your office or bedroom in the form of drapery or rugs.

5. Use the color wheel well

Generally, colors that are close to each other on the color wheel – analogous colors – are casual and relaxing. You can take advantage of the smooth transition from one color to the next of these analogous color schemes to craft spaces full of peace and serenity. This idea works well in more informal or private spaces such as the bedroom or family room. Conversely, you can take complimentary opposing colors on the color wheel to give your room a strong contrast for a vibrant punch of energy. This works better for larger and more public rooms such as the living room or dining room.

6. Take a cue from your wardrobe

We all have favorite colors that we like to wear. Often, certain colors suit you more than other colors do. Take a cue from how you dress and dress up your room in colors that are bound to flatter you. Do you find yourself looking better in a denim or even burgundy? Consider a navy sofa, or a Persian rug in deep red hues. If you like brighter colors such as yellow, why don’t you try accenting the room with pillows or accessories in these perkier citrusy colors.

7. Go back to black

You may say that black is technically not a color – it’s the absence of color – and it is dull and boring. However, the color black empowers and grounds the rest of the room’s colors. Adding a bit of black into your spaces helps clarify your space. You can add black as a small pop or accent, such as a lampshade or a vase. You can also incorporate black as a bigger part of your room, such as in the kitchen cabinets, for a much bigger, high-drama impact.

8. Go with grays

Gray is the new beige. Or so they say. Gray is becoming one of the trendiest neutrals today, and you can see this in any interior design magazine. However, don’t be afraid of its trendiness. Due to its pure neutrality – it technically is a halfway point between white and black – it gives the color a timeless appeal. Not only does gray work as an invisible neutral foundation, it can also wear other proverbial hats in timeless décor. Its chameleon-like qualities allow the color to appear both warm and cool, depending on what you pair them up with.

9. Remember the rule of 60-30-10

Let’s face it, we’re not bound to use only one color when decorating a space. However, you don’t want your space to be so overpowered by the multitude of colors that it makes your space look like a rainbow explosion. Thus, divide your color components into a 60-30-10 ratio: 60 percent of a dominant color, 30 percent of a secondary color, and 10 percent of an accent color. This ensures your color palette is properly balanced but leaves just enough pop for interest.

10. Make small spaces pop

Although the age-old idea is to keep smaller spaces bright and light, you could go the other way. Instead of following the crowd, play around with some color to stand out! Let your big rooms be the ones that expand with light and give your smaller rooms some oomph with a look-at-me color choice that not only envelop you but excites you as well.

11. Have a healthy mix of warm and cool

Just because colors come in both warm and cool (and neutral!) shades doesn’t mean that you have to stick to one tone alone. Be adventurous by mixing in some warm colors in furniture to complement your cool-toned walls. For example, contrast the chic greige walls of your bedroom with some warm honey-colored drapery. The overall effect is a contrasting but restful blend of opposites that gives just enough tension to the room to wake up an otherwise dreary space.

12. Rock a monochromatic look

Afraid of having too much color? Not to worry! Why not go for a room with a monochromatic color scheme? Give your favorite hue the spotlight it deserves. This tends to work better with smaller spaces, such as a bathroom or small study. For example, paint your bathroom cabinets a beautiful emerald green, but balance it out with white walls and floors. This helps keep your saturated shade in check, letting it be eye-catching but not overpowering.

13. Follow the rule of three

Sometimes, limiting your color palette to just three colors is a safe way to keep you from going overboard with color.

14. Showcase your personal style

Don’t get lost in all these rules and tips that you forget to make your space a reflection of your personal style. As long as you are decorating honestly, your choices will be appreciated by others, even if they won’t decorate their house in the same way.