Decorating Guides
How to Confidently Choose Colors for Your Home
Learn 10 ways to identify the shades you like and the ones that will work well in your rooms
Using color in our homes can instantly cheer us up, make a drab corner cozy or magically lift a tired space. Yet many of us still feel daunted by it. Perhaps we forget which shades we really like, worry we’ll change our minds in the future, or just aren’t sure which shade goes with which.
With that in mind, three interior designers on Houzz explain how to confidently choose color for your home, from using base color and accents to layering them with neutrals, and the effects of changing light conditions.
With that in mind, three interior designers on Houzz explain how to confidently choose color for your home, from using base color and accents to layering them with neutrals, and the effects of changing light conditions.
2. Create a Mood Board
An obvious starting point is to identify which colors and tones you actually like and toward which you naturally gravitate. “A good approach is to create an inspiration mood board, where you pin pictures of interiors that create an emotional reaction without thinking about it too much,” Fournet says. “When you look at it, you should start to see a recurring theme of hues, schemes and styles.
“You can then get an idea of whether you gravitate toward warmer tones, bolder colors or cooler hues,” she says. “This self-editing exercise should help you identify your base color or a palette.”
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An obvious starting point is to identify which colors and tones you actually like and toward which you naturally gravitate. “A good approach is to create an inspiration mood board, where you pin pictures of interiors that create an emotional reaction without thinking about it too much,” Fournet says. “When you look at it, you should start to see a recurring theme of hues, schemes and styles.
“You can then get an idea of whether you gravitate toward warmer tones, bolder colors or cooler hues,” she says. “This self-editing exercise should help you identify your base color or a palette.”
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3. Consult Your Clothes
“A quick glance at your wardrobe will tell you what colors you’re naturally drawn to and which colors suit you,” says Rosie Au of My Bespoke Room. “If you don’t have a hint of green in your wardrobe, for example, it might be wise to steer clear of it.”
This strategy is also useful when choosing neutral tones. “Do you tend to choose warm-toned cashmeres or cool grays as your ‘go-to’ neutrals?” Blott says. “If you have a strong preference, it’s likely you’ll be happiest if you also choose a neutral base from the same color family for your home.”
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“A quick glance at your wardrobe will tell you what colors you’re naturally drawn to and which colors suit you,” says Rosie Au of My Bespoke Room. “If you don’t have a hint of green in your wardrobe, for example, it might be wise to steer clear of it.”
This strategy is also useful when choosing neutral tones. “Do you tend to choose warm-toned cashmeres or cool grays as your ‘go-to’ neutrals?” Blott says. “If you have a strong preference, it’s likely you’ll be happiest if you also choose a neutral base from the same color family for your home.”
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4. Factor in the Psychology of Color
One of the best things about using color in your home is how uplifting, energizing or calming it can be. “Think about how you want to feel in a space,” Au says. “If you’re inspired by bright colors and patterns, you could surround yourself with these in your home office, for example. Equally, if these colors stress you out or are distracting while you work, opt for muted colors and warm neutrals.”
“It’s no secret color can massively affect people’s moods, and color psychology shouldn’t be ignored,” Fournet adds. “Think about how you want a room to make you feel. If you want it to energize you, go for bold colors. To feel relaxed, go for neutrals or warm hues. Saying that, it’s important to have a personal approach.”
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One of the best things about using color in your home is how uplifting, energizing or calming it can be. “Think about how you want to feel in a space,” Au says. “If you’re inspired by bright colors and patterns, you could surround yourself with these in your home office, for example. Equally, if these colors stress you out or are distracting while you work, opt for muted colors and warm neutrals.”
“It’s no secret color can massively affect people’s moods, and color psychology shouldn’t be ignored,” Fournet adds. “Think about how you want a room to make you feel. If you want it to energize you, go for bold colors. To feel relaxed, go for neutrals or warm hues. Saying that, it’s important to have a personal approach.”
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5. Build in a Sense of Cohesion
“It’s important when you think about a color scheme for a whole house that you have a common thread running throughout,” Fournet says. “It could be your ceiling or door colors, for example, or an accent that you can find in every room in different accessories or furnishing. This gives a cohesion to the space that you can build on.”
Key here is identifying your base color. “Consider which colors will complement it,” she says. “If you’re going exclusively for a neutral palette, it’s doubly important that you build up textures and create contrasts to lift it and add new dimensions.”
Shop for furniture on Houzz
“It’s important when you think about a color scheme for a whole house that you have a common thread running throughout,” Fournet says. “It could be your ceiling or door colors, for example, or an accent that you can find in every room in different accessories or furnishing. This gives a cohesion to the space that you can build on.”
Key here is identifying your base color. “Consider which colors will complement it,” she says. “If you’re going exclusively for a neutral palette, it’s doubly important that you build up textures and create contrasts to lift it and add new dimensions.”
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6. Think About the Period of Your Home
The era of your house can offer helpful clues as to what might work. “The architectural style of your property can help you identify a base color,” Fournet says. “For example, midcentury houses can handle deep greens and bold oranges. Period properties might be more suited to muted colors or yellow- or red-based neutrals, whereas modern properties suit cool and sharp base colors with strong accents.
“So take cues from your house, adapt it to your personal taste and embrace it.”
“Many paint brands provide color palettes linked to the heritage of homes,” Blott adds. “This can also be a great place to start. If you stay with one brand’s heritage palette throughout your house, the colors are much more likely to work together and not jar. Then you can consider which architectural features you’d like to highlight.”
The era of your house can offer helpful clues as to what might work. “The architectural style of your property can help you identify a base color,” Fournet says. “For example, midcentury houses can handle deep greens and bold oranges. Period properties might be more suited to muted colors or yellow- or red-based neutrals, whereas modern properties suit cool and sharp base colors with strong accents.
“So take cues from your house, adapt it to your personal taste and embrace it.”
“Many paint brands provide color palettes linked to the heritage of homes,” Blott adds. “This can also be a great place to start. If you stay with one brand’s heritage palette throughout your house, the colors are much more likely to work together and not jar. Then you can consider which architectural features you’d like to highlight.”
7. Adopt a Less Is More Strategy
“Personally, I’m a big fan of simplifying a palette in a room,” Fournet says. “I advise going for two or three colors max, unless you’re color blocking or highlighting a specific architectural feature.”
If you need color guidance, Au says, “Look at the color wheel. As a rule, opposite colors on the wheel work really well together: for example, blue and yellow or green and pink.
“Also, look at light-to-dark contrast in colors,” she says. “For example, pairing a deep gray or blue with an accent of turquoise or teal.”
“Personally, I’m a big fan of simplifying a palette in a room,” Fournet says. “I advise going for two or three colors max, unless you’re color blocking or highlighting a specific architectural feature.”
If you need color guidance, Au says, “Look at the color wheel. As a rule, opposite colors on the wheel work really well together: for example, blue and yellow or green and pink.
“Also, look at light-to-dark contrast in colors,” she says. “For example, pairing a deep gray or blue with an accent of turquoise or teal.”
8. Embrace the Idea That Pale Isn’t Always Best
“A mistake people often make is to play it safe with pale colors,” Blott says. However, these might not work behind a TV or certain pieces of furniture, for example. “It can be much better to choose a dark blue that will disguise a black screen or confidently pull assorted pieces into a theme,” she says.
“People often shy away from opting for darker colors in small rooms for fear of it feeling smaller,” Au adds. “But quite often it can have the opposite effect by adding depth to the space.”
Remember, you have the power to change anything you don’t like. “We find clients often worry about certain colors dating, so they’re reluctant to use them,” Au says. “But paint isn’t permanent. It can always be painted over in a few years if you’re no longer in love with it.”
“A mistake people often make is to play it safe with pale colors,” Blott says. However, these might not work behind a TV or certain pieces of furniture, for example. “It can be much better to choose a dark blue that will disguise a black screen or confidently pull assorted pieces into a theme,” she says.
“People often shy away from opting for darker colors in small rooms for fear of it feeling smaller,” Au adds. “But quite often it can have the opposite effect by adding depth to the space.”
Remember, you have the power to change anything you don’t like. “We find clients often worry about certain colors dating, so they’re reluctant to use them,” Au says. “But paint isn’t permanent. It can always be painted over in a few years if you’re no longer in love with it.”
9. Consider the Impact of Light on Color
“Lighting can completely transform a color,” Au says. “It all depends on the quality of light. South-facing rooms get lots of natural light, so the yellow and red undertones in a color will be emphasized.
“This is why we always recommend getting samples so you can see the color in the room throughout the day as well as in artificial light,” she says. “Paint on large bits of card rather than straight onto your walls. You can then move them around the room at different times of the day to see how they react to the light.”
“Whether it’s artificial lighting or daylight in a room, you must know what you’re working with in order to pick the right color,” Fournet says. “North- and east-facing rooms get a bad press as they receive less sun, but I say they should be embraced rather than feared. North-facing rooms can still look warm and cozy if you choose red-based neutrals or darker colors.
“For east-facing rooms, sharper, cooler shades, such as aquamarines, greens and blues — not the muddier tones — work well,” she says. “South- and west-facing rooms are where you can have a bit more freedom, but be careful with neutrals in a south-facing room. They can often be too light and end up looking bleached out, so don’t be scared to add a bit of an undertone.”
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“Lighting can completely transform a color,” Au says. “It all depends on the quality of light. South-facing rooms get lots of natural light, so the yellow and red undertones in a color will be emphasized.
“This is why we always recommend getting samples so you can see the color in the room throughout the day as well as in artificial light,” she says. “Paint on large bits of card rather than straight onto your walls. You can then move them around the room at different times of the day to see how they react to the light.”
“Whether it’s artificial lighting or daylight in a room, you must know what you’re working with in order to pick the right color,” Fournet says. “North- and east-facing rooms get a bad press as they receive less sun, but I say they should be embraced rather than feared. North-facing rooms can still look warm and cozy if you choose red-based neutrals or darker colors.
“For east-facing rooms, sharper, cooler shades, such as aquamarines, greens and blues — not the muddier tones — work well,” she says. “South- and west-facing rooms are where you can have a bit more freedom, but be careful with neutrals in a south-facing room. They can often be too light and end up looking bleached out, so don’t be scared to add a bit of an undertone.”
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10. Start With One Piece
Blott says many people feel they’d like to “inject more fun and adventure” into their home, but then get overwhelmed. “An easy way to get started is to choose a favorite decorative element within your room and use it as your guide,” she says.
“This may be a beautiful piece of artwork, a rug, fabric or wallpaper design. Study the balance of colors within the item and pull them out into the room,” she says. “You can choose a shade lighter or darker, but if you stay within the palette and follow the general color proportions, you can be confident of the outcome.”
Tell us: How have you used color in your home? Share your advice and photos in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more color stories
Browse photos
Find professionals
Shop for products
Blott says many people feel they’d like to “inject more fun and adventure” into their home, but then get overwhelmed. “An easy way to get started is to choose a favorite decorative element within your room and use it as your guide,” she says.
“This may be a beautiful piece of artwork, a rug, fabric or wallpaper design. Study the balance of colors within the item and pull them out into the room,” she says. “You can choose a shade lighter or darker, but if you stay within the palette and follow the general color proportions, you can be confident of the outcome.”
Tell us: How have you used color in your home? Share your advice and photos in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more color stories
Browse photos
Find professionals
Shop for products
If you find using color tricky, you’re definitely not alone. “Some people know what their favorite colors or undertones are, but a lot of us struggle,” says Emilie Fournet of Emilie Fournet Interiors.
“Many clients who are quite comfortable with color in other areas of their life are relatively nervous when it comes to choosing it for their homes,” says Debbie Blott of Decorbuddi. “This is understandable when you consider the costs and time scales involved. The consequences of choosing the ‘wrong’ dress color are less problematic than choosing a paint color that doesn’t work.
“People see colors differently,” she says. “Every individual has a very personal relationship with it. This will depend on their tastes, cultural background and deep-rooted memories and associations. Practical aspects, such as the location of the property, amount and direction of light, proportions and existing decor, also affect the way color appears. It’s really no wonder people lack confidence!”
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