Tips on Choosing the Color Scheme of Your Home

Nowadays, choosing the right color scheme for your home can feel overwhelming because there are thousands of available options and finishes. Furthermore, the decision can be daunting because the colors you choose set the tone for your entire home. They can highlight the architectural features, change the perception of space in your rooms, and even influence your mood. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right color palette for a cohesive and stylish look in your home.

Look for Inspiration

If you're not a professional decorator, you need to spend some time looking at possible color schemes you might like in other homes. Whether you're looking through the window at the wonderful color balance in nature or consulting home design websites, this experience will help you decide on a trend or direction you would like to bring inside your home.

Art and textiles can also be a great source of inspiration. Ultimately, you will also be able to combine the colors of your home with the existing pieces you already have and cherish.

Apply the 60-30-10 Rule with Your Favorite Colors in Mind

The 60-30-10 rule is a tried and true color design trick that implies using 60% of a dominant color, 30% of a secondary color, and applying an accent color in 10% of the space. That includes the furniture, fixtures, and objects, not only the wall painting. For example, you could combine an overall beige dominant color with forest green furniture or fixtures and burned orange accents by using objects or paint. You may also get inspiration from the 2025 Color Collection of the Year to choose and define your preferences.

Consider Natural and Artificial Lighting Conditions

The colors change dramatically based on the lighting during the day or at night, under artificial lighting. Usually, in a naturally bright room, you can apply deeper and bolder colors. In contrast, the spaces that receive low daylight will feel brighter if you use lighter shades. At night, warm artificial lighting will enhance the warm colors, such as yellow and red, while bulbs with cool light will get the best out of blues and grays. When considering a room paint job, apply samples to multiple walls or surfaces and observe them at different times of the day. This will help you save time, energy, and money.

Take the Fixtures and Finishes into Consideration

Not everyone has the luxury of completely renovating the home. If you already have wooden floors, tiles, and other fixtures, you should incorporate them into your design. For instance, keep in mind that a dark wooden floor is best combined with warm neutral colors such as cream or taupe. In the bathroom, the gray tiles pair well with soft, cold tones of blues or greens. Combining the fixture colors with the surrounding backgrounds and objects should ideally blend seamlessly and feel intentional.

3 to 6 Colors Are More than Enough

Using one or two colors for your home will make it look bland and uninspired. In contrast, using too many colors will turn your space into a distracting and disruptive environment. Design specialists recommend combining 3 to 6 colors in varying intensities. It is your choice if you want to treat each room differently or establish a cohesive look throughout your entire home. However, ensure that the contrasts are not too aggressive between two adjacent rooms or spaces.

Ultimately, use color psychology to set the tone of your rooms. For instance, blue is perfect for a bedroom because it's calming. Green works perfectly as a refreshing color for offices or the kitchen. Yellow will brighten up spaces and energize them, making it an excellent choice for entryways or hallways. Red and orange can be stimulating and may be used as accent tones in dining spaces or living rooms. Finally, neutral colors are suitable for any room thanks to their versatility and grounding effect.

Choosing the color scheme for your home is all about creating a space that feels like home. By understanding the undertones and their combinations, you can design a personalized interior that can be both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Take your time, test your samples before applying them to large surfaces, and let your personality guide you.

We're Always Happy to Help

You don't need to struggle alone with this personal project. Our team at HNK Interior Design can help you not only with a full home redesign but also find the perfect color scheme that defines you and your space.

Whether we're designing your dream living room or reimagining your home in its entirety, we approach our every project with intention, organization, honesty, and care.