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Color scheme ideas for home


20 Designer-Approved Interior Color Schemes To Try Now

Design: West of Main, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

In interior design, two colors are better than one, and three are better than two. But with thousands of colors and millions of shades to choose from, how could you possibly create a combination that works? The answer: With some professional guidance.

We tapped 20 interior designers for the tried and true color schemes they find themselves revisiting time after time. Whether you prefer rich colors with a glamorous feel or cool tones that look coastal chic, here are 20 pairings to incorporate in every room of your home. 

01 of 20

Design: Valerie Darden of Brexton Cole Interiors, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

Almost everyone loves blue, and it's easy to see why.

"One of my favorite color schemes is a simple Parisian grayish-blue paired with natural beige tones and the addition of gold hardware," Valerie Darden, head designer of Brexton Cole Interiors says. "I mixed this combo together for this master bedroom, using Sherwin Williams' Silver Grey on the walls. I was inspired by Marie Antionette! It gives the room a calm and serene atmosphere."

02 of 20

Design: Valerie Darden of Brexton Cole Interiors, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

For a bold look, try green and red. We promise it won't look like Christmas.

"I love pairing hunter green and rich reds together, especially for boys' rooms," Darden says. "I like this color combo because it can give a vintage vibe to any room when paired with the right accessories. In this boy's bedroom, we went for the old-world collegiate look. The room looks adorable paired with plaids and a gallery wall mixed with vintage style frames and toys."

03 of 20

Design: Diana Weinstein, Photo: Jane Beiles, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

Blue is extra calming, but a pop of bright colors can give it the oomph it needs.

"I love how fresh and young the bright pops of fluorescent hues make a soft blue wall color feel," designer Diana Weinstein says. "The boldness of these neons adds an edge to what is typically a more traditional design. The clients on this specific home didn't like to take risks with color, but we encouraged them to try out this rug and tweed armchairs with these fun pops of pinks and yellows and oranges in them. This is now their favorite room."

04 of 20

Design: Desiree Burns Interiors, Photo: Tamara Flanagan, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

If you're in the market for more earthy tones, green cannot be beat.

"I love incorporating pops of green as an accent color throughout a neutral home," Desiree Burns, the founder of Desiree Burns Interiors explains. "Bolder shades like forest green pack a big punch and make a beautiful impact, especially when combined with neutrals like light gray. It's a nice balance of a bold color counteracted by a neutral and works in almost any room! Whether you're going bohemian, rustic, farmhouse, contemporary, or glam, I think this color palette speaks to all different design styles. "

05 of 20

Design: Latham Interiors, Photo: Mike Schirf, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

A classic color combination found everywhere from Cape Cod homes to beach California bungalows, a pairing of blue and white is never a bad idea.

"Shades of blue and white are a fan-favorite combination that people feel they can often rely on," Sarah Latham, the principal of Latham Interiors, says. "The classic pairing looks clean and fresh, and we often pair it with natural wood tones to add depth, color, and texture to any space. Our favorite blue is Newburyport Blue HC-155 by Benjamin Moore, and the best part is it can easily be translated into most décor styles from bohemian to rustic and traditional to farmhouse." 

06 of 20

Design: Michelle Gage, Photo: Rebecca McAlpin, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

For a more unexpected take on interiors, try a variation of pink and green.

"My favorite color scheme is pink and teal," Michelle Gage, the principal and founder of Michelle Gage Interior Design says. "There's something so perfect about how the pairing pops against one another. I love the soft and bright balance the combination brings to a room."

07 of 20

Design: Julia Alexander, Photo: Anna Yanovski, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

For a cooler toned room, blues and greens give off a calm and easygoing vibe.

"A color scheme of graduated blues and greens with neutral tones, natural woods, and black accents is my favorite combination," designer Julia Alexander of Julia Alexander Interiors says. "To recreate the look, take one color and repeat it in shades lighter and darker throughout your space. The pale blueish-green walls in this bedroom, paired with a rich green velvet headboard, feel classic, timeless, and serene."

08 of 20

Design: Katherine Carter, Photo: Amy Bartlam, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

Who says neutrals have to be boring? With pops of nearly cobalt blue, this space is anything but average.

"I love how elegant and chic black, blue and beige look and feel in this Venice beach home—the colors work so well together and add depth to this space," designer Katherine Carter explains. "With such versatile shades, this color scheme really works in any room in the house. However, for this project, we chose to keep it in living room, finding room, family room, and kitchen. For a modern contemporary look, make navy and black the primary colors and sprinkle in beige tones."

09 of 20

Design: Kelly Hurliman Interior Design, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

As they're both cool colors, green and blue always play well together.

"My all-time favorite color scheme is blue and green—it always works and, depending on the shades, can be super versatile," Kelly Hurliman of Kelly Hurliman Interior Design says. "Brighter tones can feel preppy and fresh, while dark shades give off a sophisticated, moody vibe. We went with Benjamin Moore's Polo Blue on the walls and added grass green art and decor into the mix in this room."

10 of 20

Design: Mindy Gayer Design Co., Photo: Vanessa Lentine, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

For a more neutral, earthy take, try gray-green and add black and white.

"My favorite color scheme at the moment is grayish-green hues combined with black and white neutrals," designer Mindy Gayer, of Mindy Gayer Design Co. "I gravitate towards green colors to bring the outside in, and sage tones are also very soothing. I love how this combination boasts plenty of contrast while still maintaining a timeless quality."

11 of 20

Design: Jonathan Rachman, Photo: Suzanna Scott, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

For an high-impact space, black and red make a bold statement.

"Any touch of color against black—preferably high-glossed black—makes for a winning combination," Jonathan Rachman of Jonathan Rachman Design says. "I love pairing it with red, because it's bold yet soft, and definitely a statement! There are so many shades of black, but for me it's blackest of the black possible that I love the most, such as Benjamin Moore Black."

12 of 20

Design: Diana Rose Design, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

Looking for more of a modern coastal vibe? Blue, tan, and gray are for you.

"One of my favorite color combinations is blue, sand, and gray, as it evokes a sense of peace and comfort and boasts a clean, modern feel," Diana Rose, the principal and creative director of Diana Rose Design says. "Although it is adaptable for many environments, I especially love it for homes situated with water views. Other nature-inspired accents such as tan driftwood, green plants, white marble work with the nature-inspired color palette to evoke a feeling of water and the beach."

13 of 20

Design: Michelle Berwick, Photo: Larry Arnal, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

Pairing a strong shade, like black, with a lighter pastel, like blush pink, provides a great contrast.

"Ever since I was a little girl, my favorite color has always been blush pink—there's just something about it that makes me happy and calm," Michelle Berwick, the founder and principal designer of Michelle Berwick Design, says. "These days, I've found a way to use it in a way that feels fresh, modern, and not at all childlike.

Berwick suggests selecting a pink with "brown or putty undertones" like Queen Anne from Benjamin Moore.

"I love pairing this faint hue with black and mixing it with a host of other naturals, like white, tan, and putty shades," Berwick explains. "It complements many styles of interiors, including the trendy minimalist spaces we see today."

14 of 20

Design: Kate Davidson, Photo: Lauren Miller, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

For those drawn to mustard shades, try pairing it with a charcoal gray.

"My favorite color scheme at the moment is yellow and gray because it's both timeless and evokes modern sensibility," Kate Davidson of Kate + Co Design says. "Yellow brings a light-hearted feel and lifts the vibe of the muted gray tones but actually blends effortlessly into a home that does not have much color. The pair works in most spaces because it's gender-neutral and surprisingly brings quite a calming feel to any space."

15 of 20

Design: West of Main, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

The two most popular neutrals of the moment, gray and brown, play well together too.

"When we work with cooler tones, such as grays, we bring in balance through warmer tones and textures," designer Sascha LaFleur of West of Main says. "For instance, we love using this deep charcoal grasscloth wallcovering that boasts hints of bronze when the light hits it just right, and pairing it with organic brown textures. Through decorative elements, we can bring in that beautiful warmth to even the coolest-toned rooms."

16 of 20

Design: West of Main, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

For a high-drama space without using a ton of color, pick neutral shades and include luxe fabrics.

"We love incorporating color through texture. Injecting color through texture creates drama, even if you still want to keep a neutral palette," La Fleur explains. "We paired this almond-colored linen headboard and dark wood nightstand with a textural moss-green grasscloth wallpaper and I believe these rich, moodier tones are certainly here to stay. Pair them with crisp, creamy whites to keep a fresh and inviting feel while developing some contrast with those deeper hues. "

17 of 20

Design: Courtney Sempliner, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

An ever popular choice, white paired with some bright colors always delights.

"To me, the most classic color scheme of all is a clean white palette with pops of colored accents throughout with the help of artwork and accessories, designer Courtney Sempliner says. "My go-to white paint for a blank canvas is Benjamin Moore's White Dove, which has just enough warmth to keep a space from being too stark, but still feels fresh and works with any other tones you bring into a room."

Interior Designers Have Spoken and These Are the Best White Paints

18 of 20

Design: Courtney Sempliner, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

Blue works in almost any space, especially when paired with easy neutrals.

"I love using a neutral blue color scheme in almost any space," Sempliner says. "A soft blue, combined with any whites, taupes, and grays, works well to provide a calming and warm environment while still feeling dynamic and fresh. For paint colors, two of my favorite blue tones are Borrowed Light by Farrow and Ball and Van Deusen Blue by Benjamin Moore."

19 of 20

Design: Mary Patton, Photo: Molly Culver, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

Greens are having a moment. To get in on the trend, try an emerald shade with a neutral.

"A medium green like this bold emerald shade paired with warm neutrals, like tan, is my current favorite color scheme," Mary Patton, the owner of Mary Patton Design says. "Calke Green by Farrow & Ball is the perfect shade to try a floor-to-ceiling paint job."

20 of 20

Design: Marlaina Teich, Photo: Patrick Cline, Graphics: Sabrina Jiang for MyDomaine

A true classic, black and white will never go out of style.

"Classic black and white is a chic way of dressing up a more casual interior style, like the trendy modern farmhouse," Marlaina Teich of Marlaina Teich Designs says. "The key with making this simple color palette work is layering in texture, which you can do by varying up the paint finishes. "

The 12 Interior Paint Colors Designers Can't Get Enough Of

The 30 Most Popular Living Room Paint Colors to Choose

Erin Williamson Design

Nothing transforms a space like a fresh coat of paint. But deciding which coat of paint to commit to can be an arduous process. Snag the right one, and you'll take your space from stale to striking. Snag the wrong one, and, well, you'll need to carve out some time to repaint. 

In moments like these, it can be useful to consult public opinion. Fan-favorite paint colors and widely beloved for a reason—they look great in a range of different homes. So we consulted some interior designers and asked them one simple question: what is your favorite color to paint a living room? 

We rounded up the most common answers—the most popular living room paint colors, if you will—to give you a designer-approved list of colors to choose from.

01 of 30

Yael Weiss Interiors

Warm white is everyone’s favorite paint color. (It isn’t actually, but 14 different designers cited it as a go-to.) And while designers love a few different warm white paint colors, Sherwin-Williams’ Alabaster was an absolute fan-favorite. “Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams is a beautiful neutral paint color,” Yoselin Castro, senior interior designer at Mackenzie Collier Interiors, says. “This soft and creamy off-white tone fits almost any decor style and creates a balanced combination when paired with either cool and warm colors.”

Maya Williams, interior designer at Maya Williams Design, couldn’t agree more. “This dreamy shade is a warm white that gives a candlelight glow,” she says of the color. And Ginger Curtis, interior designer at Urbanology Designs, calls the color “a lovely warm white, not a stark museum [white].”

02 of 30

Reena Sotropa

Looking for a less expected shade to paint your walls? Take a chance on teal. “For a bolder choice, [I love] Farrow & Ball Hague Blue,” Killy Scheer, interior designer at Scheer & Co. , says. “It’s a rich, velvety blue that makes you feel like you're wrapped in fabric.”

And if you’re not willing to paint your walls such a bold color just yet, consider using the shade as an accent. “I love to do a contrast trim, which keeps the walls somewhat neutral but adds the color on the trim,” Scheer says. “It's a really beautiful effect and highlights the trim in an unexpected way.”

03 of 30

Liljencrantz

If you can’t decide between soft gray and warm beige, consider combining the two. Designers have fallen in love with versatile gray-beige—also known as greige. “Benjamin Moore’s Balboa Mist [is] a soft greige that is perfect when you don't want white walls,” Nicole Salceda, interior designer at Eye For Pretty, says. “It changes in every room and complements any style.” 

Another fan of Balboa Mist? Lisa Melone Cloughen, principal designer at Melone Cloughen Interiors. “It has a bit of a sage green undertone that makes it inviting and easy to live with,” she says of the color. “I also like the timeless feel it lends a space."

04 of 30

Erin Williamson Design

Charcoal may seem like a bold pick for your walls. But since it’s a touch softer than black, it should feel both cozy and dramatic. “One of my secret weapons is Cheating Heart by Benjamin Moore,” Emily Yeates, principal designer and CEO of Urban Revival, says. “It’s always a crowd pleaser and conversation starter.” 

She describes the color as a “deep charcoal with a beautiful blue pull.” Her favorite way to use it? Paint an entire room—the walls, the ceilings, the cabinets, the trim, everything—charcoal to create a “dramatic and moody setting.”

05 of 30

Calimia Home

Light pink isn’t just for nurseries. If you want to make a statement without committing to a bold shade, consider painting your walls a pretty pale pink. “For a warm glow, Clare Paint’s Wing It is a really lovely pale pink that reads as a warm neutral and is rosy at night,” Kevin O'Gara, interior designer and founder of Kevin Francis Design, says.

06 of 30

Royal Roulotte

It’s pretty hard to go wrong with a true white. (That’s designer speak for a white with neither cool nor warm undertones.) And the designer favorite is, without a doubt, Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace. “Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore is stunning when opting for a pure white color with absolutely no undertones,” Yoselin Castro says. “When a space doesn’t have many windows, it’s important to focus on selecting light and airy finishes that will brighten up the room. And this is where Chantilly Lace puts its magic to work!”

Nicole Salceda says she uses Chantilly Lace on everything in the living room. Mia Jung, Interiors Director for Ike Kligerman Barkley, says the shade is her go-to when she needs a “bright and clean white.” And Kristen Connor, owner and interior designer at Little Farm Cape Cod, says she turns to the color any time she’s painting trim.

07 of 30

Post Company

Dark colors may seem intimidating, but they can be a great way to make a statement in your living room. “For small living rooms, I love going with a dark color,” Kevin O’Gara says. “And Benjamin Moore’s Gentleman’s Gray is a fabulous navy with just enough of a green undertone.”

08 of 30

Bespoke Only

Just like whites, grays can have cool or warm undertones. And cool grays—specifically, grays that look almost sage green—are becoming increasingly popular. One designer favorite? Farrow & Ball’s Blanc de Chine. Maya Williams calls the color “a no-fail classic that works for both traditional and modern interiors.”

09 of 30

Reena Sotropa

Go all in on statement-making style by painting your walls pitch black. The classic shade may be dramatic, but it’s a favorite among designers looking to make an impact. “[One] paint color I return to from Farrow & Ball’s collection is Pitch Black in full gloss,” Kellie Sirna, principal and cofounder of Studio 11 Design, says. “I like to use paint in unexpected ways and applied this full gloss paint to the brick in my entryway for major impact.

10 of 30

Rikki Snyder

Aqua may seem like a surprising choice for a living room. But it’s soft, calming, and just striking enough to turn heads. “I love Benjamin Moore's Galt Blue,” Tara McCauley, interior designer at Tara McCauley, says. “It's the perfect pale aqua.” She notes that she likes to apply a slightly lighter shade as a glaze to make the space stand out even more.

11 of 30

Tyler Karu

If greige is a touch too dark for your taste, consider snagging a light greige, instead. The color blends gray, beige, and white together to create what might be the most versatile neutral around. “I have a few favorites. [One is] Heron Plume by Sherwin-Williams,” Brenna Morgan, interior designer at Brenna Morgan Interiors, says. “It isn’t quite white, it isn’t quite gray, and it isn’t quite beige, but it matches everything!”

12 of 30

Erin Williamson Design

Willing to go bold? Bright blue may be a perfect choice. “I love Sherwin-Williams's Dynamic Blue for the living room, because it's a joyful blue, and it makes the perfect backdrop for bold statements in the living room,” Courtney McLeod, founder and principal of Right Meets Left Interior Design, says—adding that she covered her own living room in the color.

“Don't be afraid to cover the entire room with your paint color,” McLeod says. “But if you have some trepidation, you can simply paint the inside of a bookshelf, trim, fireplace, or the inside of a closet.” She notes that this can be a great low-commitment way to add a new color to your space.

13 of 30

Michelle Boudreau Design

Pump up the volume in your space by trading warm white for pale yellow. “I enjoy using yellow in living rooms to bring an overall sense of contrast and interest to the space,” Billie Tharaldson, interior designer and founder of Julian Design, says. “It is soft enough to work as a neutral, but can be colorful enough to add some personality as well. ” She notes that a pale yellow—like Sherwin-Williams' Lily—can be a “great alternative to white” in larger rooms.

14 of 30

Maite Granda

If you’re looking for a neutral that feels versatile but surprising, gray should get the job done. “Finding a good neutral color can be tricky,” Rozit Arditi, principal of Arditi Design, says. “Benjamin Moore’s Harbor Gray is one of my go-to grays, because it is such a great middle-ground between a warm and a cool gray. It works with everything!”

15 of 30

Ashley Montgomery Design

If yellow undertones just aren’t your thing, consider snagging a cool white—rather than a warm one. “There is a vast array of white shades, which can each bring a drastically different feel to a living room,” Kristen Connor says. Connor says she loves Benjamin Moore’s Mountainscape to “create a soothing, inviting vibe.”

“It reads ever so slightly gray, with just a hint of green, which is actually my favorite undertone,” Connor says. “Faintly green undertones make the room feel warm in the right way, while retaining modern sophistication.”

16 of 30

Rikki Snyder

Don’t forget to paint your ceiling. This so-called “fifth wall” is the perfect place to try out an accent color, like a striking sky blue. “We love using a sky blue on the ceiling to bring the outdoors in and give the space a sense of endlessness,” Meg Rodgers, principal of Marguerite Rodgers Interior Design, says, adding that she recently painted a ceiling Benjamin Moore’s Woodlawn Blue. “It was a great finishing touch.”

17 of 30

Devon Grace Interiors

One easy way to make your space feel moodier and cozier? Paint your walls dark gray. “For smaller living rooms, I prefer to [use] dark paint colors to create a moody, dramatic space,” Juliana Oliveira, owner and principal designer of Beyond Interior Design, says.

Oliveira notes that she loves using navy, charcoal, or—you guessed it—dark gray to get this look. “My favorite paint colors to enhance this look are Vanderberg Blue or Graphite by Benjamin Moore, and Mole's Breath 276 by Farrow & Ball,” she says.

18 of 30

Dazey Den

According to one designer, pops of color are having a moment. And her go-to bold shade is salmon. “We've been seeing the request for more pops of color ... which is a fun way to add personality into the space,” Laura Umansky, founder and CEO of Laura U Design Collective, says.

Umansky notes that she recently used Sherwin-Williams’ Sockeye to pull off this look. “Sockeye is a punchy and bright pink that was perfect for adding an artful, playful twist to the space,” she says.

19 of 30

Liljencrantz

Taupe is as classic and versatile as any other neutral. But since it’s darker than your average greige, it should make a striking addition to your space. And designer Maya Williams calls Benjamin Moore’s Pashmina one of her favorites. “[When you’re] tired of gray but want a great modern neutral, this color touts sophistication with it's beautiful taupe-gray hue,” she says.

20 of 30

Rikki Snyder

If you’re searching for a rich color that doesn’t feel too vibrant, consider giving blue-green a try. “Skip the accent wall, and flood the walls with color,” Andrea Schumacher, owner and president of Andrea Schumacher Interiors, says. She recommends picking a bold color—like Benjamin Moore’s Knoxville Gray—and filling the room with it. “Rich-colored walls create drama with little effort,” she says.

21 of 30

Studio Peake

Some grays are so light they’re almost white. Almost. And these subtle shades are exactly as versatile as they sound. “My favorite living room paint color is Sherwin-Williams’ Spatial White,” Karen Parziale, principal and chief designer at The Real Estate Staging Studio, says. “It is a neutral color and has a warm tone, [as well as] underlying hints of gray.” These undertones keep the color from reading too stark or severe, she says. 

And Parziale loves that the color plays well with other shades. “This is an ideal color, because it coordinates well with grays, blues, and browns,” she says. “[And] if your walls are [painted] Spatial White, you can add pops of color with throws, pillows, and art.”

22 of 30

Bespoke Only

One bold shade that deserves more love? Mustard. “I love to use yellow, either as an accent wall or for the whole room,” Billie Tharaldson says. She notes lighter yellows tend to work best in large spaces, whereas darker yellows—like Sherwin-Williams' Nugget—can make a striking addition to a smaller living room.

23 of 30

Erin Williamson Design

You don’t need us to tell you that everyone’s favorite shade of green is a hit in the living room. “As of late, I find myself very inspired by shades of green, such as Evergreen Fog,” Beth Diana Smith, CEO and principal designer at Beth Diana Smith Interior Design, says, adding that Sherwin-Williams’ Rosemary is another recent favorite. “The colors feel unexpectedly beautiful and eye-catching, which is important for a living room if you want it to wow you and your guests. ”

24 of 30

Rikki Snyder

When choosing a neutral for your living room walls, don’t forget about ivory. The shade is neither as bright as white, nor as dark as beige. So it makes a great pick when nothing else seems quite right. “Exclusive Ivory is a gorgeous off-white hue that could work in any number of rooms,” Lindye Galloway, founder and Chief Creative Officer at Lindye Galloway Studio, says. “If you’re wanting a neutral shade that’s not too white and not too beige, I’d say this is your best bet.”

25 of 30

Casa Watkins Living

Pale blue may seem like an odd choice for a living room. But the soft shade should keep your space feeling calm and cozy. “Most people choose colors by what they like or dislike, but color has a deeper meaning than what meets the eye,” Mary Maydan, principal and founder of Maydan Architects says. “In particular, blue and green are calming.” So she tends to favor colors—like Benjamin Moore’s Breath of Fresh Air—that “inspire feelings of tranquility and peacefulness. ”

26 of 30

Bespoke Only

Searching for a striking neutral that’ll complement everything in your space? Stick with a classic shade of beige, like Benjamin Moore’s Shaker Beige. “This neutral paint color is the perfect backdrop to allow art to take center stage,” Meg Rodgers says. “We recently used it in a living room, and it complement[ed] the rusts and greens in the [space] perfectly.”

27 of 30

Devon Grace Interiors

Blue-gray is bold enough to feel like a color, but subtle enough to feel like a neutral. In other words, it offers the best of both worlds. “I love using unexpected tones in living rooms, such as … dark powder blue,” Malka Helft, interior designer and founder of Think Chic Interiors, says. “It is equal parts neutral, inviting, and engaging—a very easy color to design with, while still making an impact.” In particular, she likes the look of Benjamin Moore's Hale Navy—a dark blue-gray that's sure to make a statement.

28 of 30

Devon Grace Interiors

Make your living room feel even warmer and more welcoming by trading classic warm white for rich cream. “I love Creamy by Sherwin-Williams when you have floors with a lot of yellow undertones,” Shaolin Low, interior designer at Studio Shaolin, says. “The creaminess of the color helps to balance that out, [while making the space] feel really white and bright.”

29 of 30

Erin Williamson Design

Can’t get enough of jewel tones? Mark Manardo, principal designer at Perlmutter-Freiwald, can’t either. “I find that rich tones, like peacock blue, in a smaller living room can do wonders,” he says. “It adds instant character and interest and will help anchor the rest of the room's design in a very cohesive way.” Spring for a striking shade of the color. Or temper it by picking a darker option, like Benjamin Moore's Twilight (a Manardo-approved favorite).

30 of 30

Devon Grace Interiors

There’s no going wrong with light gray. Since the color is a neutral, it’s inherently pretty versatile. But since it’s underrated, it should make a pretty striking choice. “I love Dove Gray for a living room,” Georgia Zikas, principal and founder of Georgia Zikas Design, says. “It is elegant and intimate, but also works well as a neutral that you won't tire of in a room that gets daily use.”

10 Design Mistakes That Designers Always Notice in a Living Room

Colors in the interior: how to choose

One of the first and far from the easiest steps in design: we share ways that will help you choose colors for the interior.

The choice of colors for the interior is one of the main issues that arise at the very beginning of the creation of a design project. Even a clear understanding of what color you want to see in each room is clearly not enough: you need to choose a shade, similar colors, accents and harmoniously combine them. In this article, we will try to help you with a choice that you will not regret after the repair.

Contents:

The color scheme in the interior - what dictates the style?

Style and color go hand in hand in our passions: often we ourselves do not even know what we choose in the first place. However, if you have a precise style, this can help you a lot with your color scheme:

Read in detail about the chosen style and study the photos of the interiors - maybe there is a ready-made solution. Do not forget that with good taste you can mix elements of different styles, creating interesting mixes: the choice of color in this case can also be a field for experimentation.

If choosing a style is difficult, read: "How to choose an interior style for a future apartment."

Desired mood and color preferences

Each of us has colors that we prefer more. It is a pity, but not all of them are suitable for the basis of the interior. For example, if you love purple, you should not make purple walls: you will quickly get tired, and the color will begin to psychologically press. You can always stop at light walls and a purple chair or carpet.

It's no secret that psychologists advise choosing calm, light and cold shades for the bedroom, and warm colors for the kitchen that awaken the appetite. There is no need to memorize these rules: think about what kind of atmosphere you would like to create in the room, and the basis of the color scheme will come by itself, on associations. Designer and decorator Olga Rozet calls this an intuitive approach. From the story of her lecture, you will learn a lot of useful things: "Color in the interior: from a scientific approach to an intuitive one. "

Choosing the basis

The color basis in the interior is usually set by the largest objects: floor, walls, ceiling, large furniture. But the main color may not be one; it will be even better if you take several close shades, for example, a little darker and lighter than the selected one.

Very often in the interior the floor will be wooden or imitate wood, as well as cabinets, tables, shelving, so the tone of the wood or the black/white color of the furniture can set the color balance of the entire interior. If you are not going to paint furniture, take designer furniture or make it to order, look at what shades are available from the manufacturers available to you that fit into your budget and taste.

Related:
Ultra violet: the "new black" in the interior

Sometimes furniture can also act as a constraint, especially if you want to keep some of the old when renovating: the task of fitting these shades into the new desired palette can be difficult.

Choosing an accent

Your favorite or mood-setting color can be an accent, not necessarily bright and iridescent, but always contrasting to the base one. There can also be several accents: either close in scale to each other, or, conversely, of different colors. Accent colors should be harmoniously combined not only with each other, but also with the base. The number of such objects that stand out should be controlled by your sense of proportion and taste.

Balancing the gamut

How to achieve harmony between colors? This is even more difficult than choosing a gamma. Designers use various tools for this purpose, such as a color palette. About what a palette is and how to create one yourself, we just wrote: "Interior color schemes: we create and use." Ready-made color combinations can be found on the Internet.

The second option is to create a collage: it will help you figure out the percentage of colors in your interior. In any graphic editor, you can take samples of wall paint, flooring (as well as furniture and decor) and put them side by side. Putting everything together, it is easy to understand which color is superfluous and which should be added for balance.

I sketched the collage in the first image below from IKEA furniture and decor for my upcoming renovation, so that in the future it would be convenient to choose the color of the floor and walls. The second and third images are collages of my completed bathroom. They show how I chose the tiles: thanks to the collage, it became clear that darker and larger ones look better.

Related:
Yellow in the interior: bringing spring closer

Checking colors in real conditions

When choosing colors in the store before renovating, don't forget to check. You should always have samples of primary colors with you, without relying on memory, and a piece of the final material or a painted sample should be taken home and see how the shade changes with different lighting in the interior.

Check live and those colors that will be adjacent in the room, putting them side by side in different combinations: due to the device of our vision, the same color can look completely different if it is surrounded by different colors.

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Interior design, Color

How harmoniously combine the colors in the interior

9000 9000 available to everyone. Even the most modest environment will look cozy and stylish based on a competent combination of colors. If your favorite shade is dazzling ultramarine, acidic lemon or frenzied fuchsia, this does not mean that there is no place for it in a comfortable residential interior. Well-placed accents, well-chosen tones and appropriate contrasts will allow any shade to settle in space without violating color harmony.

Color combinations in the interior: how to use color schemes and the color wheel

In the variety of shades of the natural world that the human eye can catch, there are many harmonious color combinations. It remains only to recognize them and correctly introduce them into the interior.

Using the Adobe Kuler color mixer or similar online service, you can create harmonious color schemes based on your favorite shades. In addition, you can upload a photo or render of any interior you are interested in to the service and get a palette of 5 primary colors. Applications for creating color combinations are also available for smartphones - Adobe Capture, Color Harmony, Capture Colors.

The color scheme of a harmonious interior always consists of 5 shades, of which 3 are primary and 2 are secondary. Auxiliary shades are usually neutral tones, against which bright strokes of color or color contrasts can bloom. If the interior does not have either, the mission of auxiliary shades is to support and not conflict with the main colors.

If you use more primary colors in the interior of one room, it can become overloaded and unbalanced, as a result of which staying in such a space will cause a feeling of discomfort.

You can understand the principles of color harmony using the Itten circle, which is based on the triad of basic colors: red, yellow and blue. The secondary triad of colors (green, orange, purple) forms a hexagon in the center of the circle and shows the results of mixing primary colors. Mixing neighboring colors of the first and second order generates a tertiary group of shades, and so on. The scheme of color formation can be found on the example of a 12-color circle of color combinations.

Each color has its own pair on the circle - the color located exactly opposite. Opposite colors are the most contrasting, but at the same time they do not overwhelm each other and can be organically and expressively combined in the interior, but they should be used sparingly. One of the colors of the contrasting pair should prevail in space, while the second should take on the function of a color accent that emphasizes the opposite color. The color scheme, using a contrasting pair, must necessarily include neutral shades-diluents.

By drawing a vertical line through the yellow color, it is possible to divide the Itten circle into equal halves, showing two temperature spectra: a cold spectrum on the blue side, a warm spectrum on the red side. Antipodal colors exist in different temperature spectra, which means they affect the interior in different ways. Depending on which shade of the color pair will prevail in the space, the interior may be warmer or cooler.

If your favorite color is neutral or pastel

Interiors in soft pastels or muted neutrals are the most popular on the market due to their versatility.

If your favorite shade belongs to this color scheme, it will not be difficult to introduce it into your living space. Moreover, the entire color scheme can be built on the basis of your favorite color, competently combining it with adjacent tones from a colder or warmer spectrum.

One of Mossebo's new projects, created at the intersection of Scandinavian and eco-styles, shows a neutral color scheme, typical for this style. This color scheme serves as the basis not only for the minimalist interior of the living room, but also for the space of the children's room. The neutral combination of natural tones allows you to get away from the stereotypical "childish" colors that limit the stylistic possibilities of the interior. Light shades of wood are organically combined with white gloss and gray tones, including warm quartz, cool slate and neutral gray.

The interior can be completely light-coloured or with rich color accents. On the basis of neutral color combinations, smears of bright color, selected from an adjacent or opposite temperature spectrum, look spectacular.

On the example of this project, you can see how cold dark turquoise and warm saffron are organically introduced into a monochrome color scheme with the help of textile decor elements.

If your favorite color is bright and bold

It is customary to place bright accents in the interior with the help of decorative elements. These can be rare strokes of active color, taking the form of pillows, wall posters, ceramics, furniture items. A bolder decision is to use entire contrasting zones of bright color in the interior.

The appearance of a rich shade in a space should be accompanied by more subdued tones of the same spectrum and neutral base shades. A bright color can also overlap with a rich hue from its contrasting pair.

On the example of this render, you can see how the royal shade of blue, in which one of the walls is painted, supports the rich shade of ocher from the contrasting pair and its neighbor in the spectrum is a muted cobalt blue. The base for bright colors are white and natural tones.

As a rule, only one wall of an expressive shade appears in the space of one room, contrasting with neutral light surfaces. And there are reasons for this - if all the walls in the room have a saturated color, this will visually reduce the footage. In addition, such a decision will not contribute to either a serene rest or productive work. That is why the abundance of bright colors is recommended to be avoided in the interiors of bedrooms and offices.

Color contrasts can be introduced into the interior not only with the help of saturated shades.

In this case, we see how the muted denim-blue color contrasts with the snow-white walls, blends seamlessly with the beige scale and at the same time is responsible for the functional zoning of the room, highlighting the wall at the head of the bed. This color zoning is especially relevant for studio apartments and open-plan apartments.

If your favorite shade is dark

The interior should reflect the individuality and attitude of the person living in it. If you don’t like a bright palette, and interiors in pastel colors are dreary, indulge in the pleasure of settling your favorite dark shade in your living space.

Nevertheless, having decided to introduce a dark color into the interior as one of the main ones, it is important to remember the disadvantages of such a decision. The dominant black color in the interior is not practical. Imagine black sanitary ware with splash marks or a black countertop that has to be dusted several times a day. In addition, the active use of dark shades will visually hide the footage of the room. If you completely immerse the space in dark tones, the effect can be very depressing.

As in the case of bright colors, the introduction of a dark color into the interior should be dosed. So, with the help of black, you can effectively place accents in a monochrome space. But this does not mean that you have to limit yourself to decorative elements and furnishings - dark shades can be used for wall and flooring.

The dominant dark shade will be appropriate in the interior, the purpose of which is to create an atmospheric chamber space, the main thing is not to overdo it and not completely plunge into darkness. An important rule: ceilings should always remain light.

An ebony black wall that appeared in a loft space in one of Mossebo's projects is harmoniously combined with contrasting cream textiles, an adjacent shade of graphite and a neutral brick brown. The effect of intimacy is enhanced by subdued lighting.

Design of a bachelor's studio apartment, made in high-tech style, is built on monochrome, diluted with adjacent gray tones and bright accents. The kitchen facade in dark graphite color is successfully combined with cold shades of gray, contrasting white and strokes of red.

If you really want to see black on the ceiling, it is advisable to limit yourself to some finishing elements, such as dark wood ceiling beams.

How to choose a color combination for a new interior

Using the online service, you can create a harmonious color scheme yourself, and the designer will help you choose furniture, decor and finishing materials for your chosen shades.

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