Choosing the right color palette is a key part of creating a cohesive, inviting home—but I know it can feel tricky! A color scheme acts as a framework based on color theory (which I cover in other posts), while a color palette is about the specific hues you choose, from paint colors to fabrics, to bring that framework to life in your space. In this post, I’ll walk you through essential questions and simple guidelines to help you create the perfect color palette for your home.
01| Ask yourself 4 questions before you choose colors
It’s important to have a few things at the front of your mind as you choose colors for your house. Which is why you should ask yourself 4 questions when you’re choosing a whole home color palette:
1. How do you want your home to feel?
Because colors evoke feelings (you can learn more about color psychology here), you will want to choose colors that evoke the feelings you want in your home.
Do you want your home to feel relaxed and cozy or invigorating and energizing?
Warm colors like reds, oranges, and yellows will make your home feel cozy and lively. Cool colors like blues, greens, and purples are chill and relaxed.
Decide how you want your home to feel overall and choose colors that will help create those feelings.
2. What colors do you love?
Choosing a color that you love, will help ensure you won’t get sick of it any time soon. Granted if you love big bold colors, you may not want to go and paint every single wall in that color. But your favorite colors – in clothing, home decor, cars, etc. – can be a great jumping-off point for your whole home color palette.
My favorite color happens to be black. Just one look at my everyday wardrobe and my favorite T-shirt that reads “black is my happy color” will tell you that. But I don’t decorate with ALL black.
Do you have a favorite color? Perhaps a glance at your wardrobe will help you determine what colors you are naturally drawn to?
By starting with a color that you love, it is unlikely that you’ll get tired of your color scheme quickly.
3. What colors are you stuck with?
Undoubtedly, you will have some things in your home that have to stay. Whether due to budget, time, or talent, you will need to take stock of these unchangeable elements in your home. Some of these things may be flooring, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, countertops, faucets, wall tiles, etc.
For me, that’s the tile in our kitchen, entry, bathroom and laundry rooms. It’s very good quality tile, and is well-installed, so I just can’t justify removing it. Our laminate is also staying for a while, even though I don’t love it and think it’s a bit too pink, because it’s just not in the budget to change it.
Unless you’re planning on renovating these as you decorate, they are fixed and—like it or not—play into the color palette you will choose for your decorating.
Most of us can’t change or renovate everything all at once. Some things have to remain long-term in your home.
Take cues as to colors you have to implement based on the unchangeable things in your home, like floors or cabinets that you’re not replacing for a while (or ever).
Pay attention to those fixed things and their undertones:
- What is the undertone of your home’s woodwork?
- What is the undertone of your home’s metal finishes?
4. Do you want a high-contrast color scheme or something a little more soothing?
Take a look at the four most common color schemes here again, paying particular attention to their descriptions.
If you love high contrast color, you may want to utilize a complementary color scheme.
But if you want more of a soothing space without jarring pops of color, stick with a monochromatic color scheme (particularly one with plenty of neutrals).
02| Keep the 60-30-10 color rule in mind
The 60-30-10 rule is a basic and timeless color in interior design rule that states that 60% of the room should be a dominant color, 30% should be a secondary color (or pattern/texture) and 10% should be an accent. It’s a rule that when followed brings balance to the colors used in a space.
- 60% is the Main Color. The easiest way to incorporate your main color into over half of your space is to use your main color on the walls. If your main color is a bright color, you may not want to do that though. But if you do, try to use plenty of neutral colors too, to keep the space from feeling overwhelming.
- 30% is an Additional Color. The purpose behind the additional color is to bring some life and interest to the space. It’s best to use this additional color on furniture, rugs, and curtains.
- 10% is the Accent Color. Generally, the accent color will be the brightest or most intense color in a space. You can utilize this accent color on vases, throw pillows, candles, and various other accessories. The benefit of using your accent color on these things is that they can be changed with the seasons or when you get bored of a specific color.
In this rendition or the space, our living room is mainly black and beige. By keeping the bigger things neutral, we can change out the accents with the season.
03| THE best hack for choosing colors that work perfectly together every time!
Want to know my biggest hack for choosing colors? Seriously, it’s my favorite!
Pull all your colors from an inspiration piece.
Your inspiration piece can be a multi-colored couch or a bedspread, a piece of art, or even a swatch of fabric you LOVE. Professional designers have already spent the time to put the colors together to create these things, so take advantage of that and pull your individual colors from a great piece!
Just be sure your inspiration piece works with the fixed or unchangeable items in your home such as flooring and countertops, etc!
Color Palette FAQs
A color scheme is the overall framework of color relationships, while a color palette is the specific set of colors you choose to use in your home.
This rule suggests using 60% of a primary color, 30% of a secondary color, and 10% of an accent color in each space for balance.
Use different textures, patterns, and shades of the same neutral color to add depth and interest.
More Ideas for Choosing Colors in Your Home
If you need more help with color in your home, these blog posts may help you:
- Color Psychology: How Color Affects the Mood in Your Home
- 10 No-Commitment Ways to Add Color to Your Home
- How to Identify Undertones in Paint and Other Colors
- Your Home Color Palette: The 5 Colors You Need
- Understanding Color Theory: The Basics for DIY Decorators
- How to Choose Paint Colors
- How to Choose the Right White Paint for Your Home
- Paint Finishes: How to Choose the Right One (Paint Sheen Guide)
Choosing a color palette for your home is such an exciting step toward creating a space that truly reflects your personality and evokes the exact feel you want. By thinking through these key questions, keeping the 60-30-10 rule in mind, and drawing inspiration from pieces you love, you’ll be on your way to a home that feels perfectly you.
What does your home color palette look like? Let me know in the comments!
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