Sometimes color schemes can be tricky. I get it. Especially on something like home decor. It’s such a big commitment! Often times we want to play it safe, but I’m here to push you outside your comfort zone a bit. Color can be fun! It doesn’t have to be crazy. So get ready, because I’m going to make my case for using color and how to pick your palette with less fear!
The ways you can combine colors are endless. They can be used in subtle combinations, or in ways that evoke great contrast (and emotion). Bold colors mixed with softer hues. Light bright whites and pastels all together, or dark moody tones to envelop you in a cozy cocoon. There really are no rules, or bounds, to the color schemes you can create.
Maybe you’re hesitant to try. Or maybe you don’t know where to start. Today I’m going to share seven resources to help you get started. Let’s get to it!
What colors do you like?
Maybe this is a no brainer, or maybe it has you shaking in your boots. But my first tip is to just use colors you like. Maybe not ALL of them in one room, but if they look good together, why not?
My favorite colors are mostly jewel tones, but I am not one for all out maximalism— I prefer to sprinkle them in small (or big) doses among my base color palette of more subtle neutrals. Sometimes I think I’d like an all neutral home, but then I look around at my space and couldn’t imagine it any other way— I’m surrounded by the colors I love.
Look to your wardrobe
Your closet is a great place to look for color combinations that you like and look good together. And (hopefully) look good on you! If your clothes fit your personal color season, and make you look good— those colors will have the same effect if you use them in your home! Double the benefits!
It was no surprise (or maybe a relief) that my favorite jewel tone colors were part of my color season as a dark autumn (I talk more about that HERE)! So the colors I used in my home and have been slowly bringing into my wardrobe are those that look best on my natural coloring. Win win!
Embrace nature
Mother Nature offers some great inspiration in her color schemes. Look to the sunset, foliage during different seasons, the beach or a lake surrounded by trees, birds and other wildlife. For color combinations, patterns and even texture inspiration!
Pinterest!
Of course, there’s the obvious room decor photos on Pinterest to use as inspiration, but if you search for “color palette” and include one color you’re considering, you will find lots of results where people have curated swatches of colors pulled from beautiful imagery and they can serve as a great jumping off point for your scheme. Also moodboards are a great place to pull color palettes. If it looks good together on a moodboard, chances are it will look good IRL too.
I’m not listing Instagram separately, but that can also be a great source for inspiration too. Or any photography really: books, magazines, websites, etc. Or even television shows and movies. Set designers know what they’re doing, and it’s perfectly acceptable to draw inspiration from these sources.
Artwork
Do you have a favorite piece of artwork that speaks to you? Use that as your focal point and pull one, two or even three colors from it for your decor.
If you want the artwork to stand out, choose a contrasting color for your wall and then pull in some of the other shades as accents in furniture or accessories to make them really pop throughout your space (and in the artwork).
If you want a more moody look, pull a lower contrast/darker color from the artwork and envelop your space in that shade.
Paint chip brochures
Maybe this should be tip number one, but if you visit the paint section at Lowe’s or any other big box store (or small paint shop) that sells paint, you’ll most likely also find brochures from the various brands showing you what colors work together. Looking at that sea of paint chips can be intimidating, but the brochures are there to guide you. There’s no shade in looking to these experts for advice. It’s also a great reference to take with you when shopping for decor!
Online Generators
If all else fails, there are great online tools to help you create a color palette for anything. An outfit, a design project, a website, a painting, a room! Whatever you need a little help with.
Here are a few simple, intuitive tools to try out to get the juices flowing:
- https://coolors.co/
- https://www.figma.com/color-palette-generator
- https://www.canva.com/colors/color-palette-generator
- https://colors.muz.li
- https://mycolor.space
Color can be a great way to add energy to a space or an outfit or anything it is applied to! It doesn’t have to be scary. If you’re on the fence, I hope you’ll consider some of these resources and look into some color schemes that you might want to try in your life.
How do you feel about color?
Photo by Andy Brown on Unsplash