Redecorating your home?
These six interior color schemes will look great in any room.
While paint is one of the easiest ways to transform a room, it’s also a lot of pressure. How can you be sure you picked the right color?
Color can be complicated (it’s no wonder most homeowners opt for a neutral color for their walls) but there are ways to make this decision easier.
In this article, we’ll give you 6 classic interior color schemes as well as some tips on finding a color palette that will make your house feel like a home.
Interior Color Schemes You’ll Love
Color trends come and go (remember the avocado green craze of the ‘70s?) so it can be difficult to commit yourself to a particular color scheme. That being said, there are a few classic combinations that seem to never go out of style.
Whether your tastes lean toward the dramatic or a more clean and classic look, you’re sure to find a look you love.
Crisp and Classic
If you really don’t know where to start, blue and white is always a safe bet.
First of all, it’s easy to find furniture, art, and décor items that match, so shopping will be a breeze.
Second, blue and white look great with just about any other color. If you like to change your décor seasonally (i.e. orange in the fall, pink in the spring), you won’t have to worry about it clashing.
Rich & Natural
Green—in just about any shade—has been trending upward in recent years, but this deep shade transcends “trendy.” Paired with a muted rust color, this combo looks amazing all year long.
Clean and Calm
Is blue and white too “basic” for you? Add in some soft white and warm beige with rattan, bamboo, and other natural materials.
Because the color palette is soft and muted, this works great in bedrooms or any room where you want to create a sense of calm.
Bright & Bold
If you’re not afraid of color, this cheerful color palette might just be for you.
Blue and yellow are another classic color combo that look just as great in these vivid shades as they do as pastels. Add in a deep pink for an unexpected pop of color!
Warm Monochromatic
When most people think “monochromatic,” they picture a cold space in black and white. Instead, pair warmer whites (yes, there is more than one shade of white!) with shades of khaki and taupe.
Fun & Quirky
Pink and green is another classic color combination that works in all shades and hues. To make it feel less juvenile, opt for deeper shades (like this bubblegum pink and emerald green) with a soft neutral to prevent them from overwhelming the room.
How To Choose an Interior Color Scheme
So what if you looked at all of your options and you still can’t settle on a color scheme?
Here are some expert tips to make sure you cover all the bases and wind up with a palette you love.
Consider All Your Options
To make sure you’re not missing out on your next favorite color, make sure you consider your options—all of them.
Most paint manufacturers sell paint chip decks with all of their color options in one convenient spot. This makes it easy to select a gorgeous shade without having to run back and forth to the hardware store.
Color Theory
Brush up on some basic color theory before you get started. Just about any two colors can coordinate, it all just depends on the mood you’re trying to evoke in your space.
Do you want to feel calm? Energized? Creative? Knowing what vibe you want to create can help you settle on a color scheme.
Pick a Neutral
Sure, pink might be your favorite color, but if the room looks like a bottle of Pepto Bismol, it can feel overwhelming.
Make sure you have at least one neutral shade (beige, gray, white, brown) in your color palette. Just remember, even “neutral” colors can skew warm or cool. Make sure your neutrals don’t clash with the rest of your colors.
Pick Paint Color Last
Paint is inexpensive and can be found in literally any color you can imagine. Furniture, on the other hand? That’s much harder to find in that perfect shade of lavender.
Choose furniture and decorative items first, then pick a paint color to match.
Look Around!
Remember, the rooms in your house have more than four walls. There are actually two other “walls” you may have forgotten about: your floor and your ceiling.
Consider refinishing your floors or painting your ceiling for a cohesive look.
Consider Your Home’s Layout
Most experts suggest treating open concept layouts as one room. Because you can see all of the rooms at once, it can get chaotic if each of them has a clashing color scheme.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t choose a different color palette for each room (you can do whatever you want), but you want to make sure they look cohesive together.
Follow the Golden Rule
Experts suggest using the 60-30-10 rule when choosing interior color schemes. This ratio is a foolproof way to avoid your colors competing against each other.
The rule is as follows: 60% of the room should be in your dominant color, 30% should be your secondary color, and 10% should be your accent color.
Try It Out
Of course, sometimes the best way to decide whether you like a particular color, is to actually see it in the room.
Luckily, Sherwin Williams has an app that lets you virtually “paint” a photo of your room. This is an easy, commitment-free way to try it before you buy it.
Conclusion
Any of these 6 interior color schemes has the potential to make your home look spectacular and change the appearance of any room. But there’s no right or wrong when it comes to paint colors, so feel free to pick whatever you enjoy.
Whether you’re painting a bedroom or bathroom, office or kitchen, the right color palette can completely change the look of your home. But who you choose to paint is just as important as the color you pick.
Scott McDonald Painting has experience with both interior and exterior residential projects and we also do floor and cabinet refinishing to transform your home from top to bottom.
