Interior Color Schemes

A good interior design also has the most thoughtful color scheme. Simply choosing a paint color is not enough. What rooms are you contemplating painting? Do these rooms receive natural light? Who is its intended user? What is the paint finish you are considering?

Answering all these questions is vital to understanding how to produce an effective color scheme for a home. An interior color palette is a meticulous and well-thought-out selection and strategic placement of colors. This visual language of colors dictates people’s influence and experience in that home. 

Read also – 20 Ways To Add Color To Your Home Without Painting

When creating an appealing color scheme, it is vital as a designer to let your creative juices run. But it’s not always necessary to reinvent the wheel. There are tons of pre-existing color palettes that are being successfully used in the field. These can also be a good foundation for you to build advanced color schemes. Let’s glance at some of the most typical color schemes we have seen.

Colors located at the opposite ends of the color wheel are termed complementary colors. The concept of a complementary color scheme is to bring out the character of the contrasting color. The rule of thumb for using a complementary color scheme is to use one subtle and one dominant color to avoid clashes.

If clashing colors and drama are for you, look no further. For the bold ones, a split complementary scheme is it. One must select a primary color and choose the colors on either side of its complementary color. This dramatic effect can help you create a unique statement as a designer or a homeowner.

In this age of minimalism, monochromatic shades are widely popular. They basically consist of one color and all its shades and hues. The scheme is built entirely on changing the primary color‘s values, saturation, and tones.

Although it seems simple, picking an effective color idea can make a difference when creating a good interior design. Warm colors, cool colors, and muted colors, all have different effects on the mood. There are several advantages of establishing a good color scheme, but let’s take a closer look at some of the most critical aspects.

1. Connect the house 

A color scheme can flow through the house, connecting each room to create an eye-catching visual language. For instance, you can ensure the room stays neutral and monochromatic while adding pops of colors with the throw pillows, sectionals, or lampshades.

 2. Mixed Madness

Conversely, you can choose different schemes for different areas of the house to add a fresh perspective. Some clients are more than willing to experiment with a varied color palette. You can get a complementary color scheme from room to room instead of just inside one room.

 3. Neutral is the norm

If your clients prefer a quiet, serene house and dislike color thoroughly, do not fret. No colors don’t necessarily mean boring. You can propose a calming palette of attractive neutral colors and play with their undertones. The palette you select should have either a subtle grey or beige to bring down the vibrancy of the house color.

 4. Let the natural light speak

The wall color scheme can be adjusted per the natural light available in each room. If you don’t factor this in, you risk a room looking too dull or too vibrant. In a room with plenty of sunlight, even lighter hues tend to look brighter. 

 5. Start with the living room

Always remember to start planning your color scheme from the most widely used space. In most cases, it is the living room. On entering the home, this room is practically the introduction to your color schemes and concepts.

 6. Consider neglected spaces

Transition spaces like entryways, landings, and hallways are often neglected. Make sure to bring these spaces into the narrative when you plan a color scheme. If done well, they can also become the highlight of the house with accent colors and unique treatments.

Read also – The Psychology of Colors in Interior Design

Starting from the static elements in the room is an easy and sure-shot way to design an effective interior paint color scheme. This could be the inflexible aspects of the home like its architectural elements, furniture, flooring, tiles, or even its art. You can then start defining the perfect colors for the walls with the help of the pointers given below.

Inspiration can be derived from anywhere. It could be a picture your clients love or a theme you both like. Anything that appeals to the eye and sparks joy in the heart can be the foundation of your color scheme. 

When choosing colors, keeping the color values in mind is vital. Color value stands for the hue’s darkness or lightness. Playing around with these values can help your color scheme take on a deeper meaning and look more attractive.

It’s easy to get intimidated by the variety of colors available. You can make a floor plan or a 3D home model to experience the space in all its color options. Ensure to swatch the colors on the walls, so there are no surprise elements.

You can even create a mood board with the different materials, textures, and furniture from the room placed against the proposed colors. Planning well can help you achieve the desired goal and avoid unwanted errors during execution. 

Natural light has a fantastic effect on every color, even in small spaces. After all, color is a reflection of light. Hence you can use real-time sun charts available in 3D software to map out how light from natural and artificial sources will react with the paint on the walls.

 Without further ado, let’s talk you through the top 20 interior color schemes for homes, their distinct character, and their effect on each room.

Read also – 18 Top Home Design Trends To Decor Your Home

For nature lovers, there’s no combination as perfect as moss green, tan, and white. Natural textured fabrics like linen, burlap, hemp, etc., are brilliant compliments to this palette. You can further dramatize this combo by adding nature-inspired artwork. The Sherwin Williams moss green has been a cult favorite for a good reason. This rich, delicate and classy combination is here to stay.

Read also – How To Choose The Exterior Paint Colors for A House?

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Look no further if you are looking for a nautical or coastal vibe that’s not done to death. The grouping of blue, sand and a touch of gray is refreshingly beachy. This palette is instrumental in designing interiors that have a sophisticated, modern, yet easygoing air. The dining room and living room can look welcoming and sweeping when donned in this palette.

Read also – 15 Modern Dining Room Ideas for Your Home

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Not for the weak of heart, this is a recipe for a chic masterpiece if used well. It lends any room young and vibrant energy. When paired with the correct furnishings, you can expect to be blown away by its discernable old-world charm. 

Image Credit: pinterest.com

White paint is literally the blank canvas on which your imagination can run wild! Pops of color in the form of a mural, abstract shapes, or artwork can adorn this canvas. Every element gets highlighted and showcased in white. However, overuse of this theme may get chaotic if crowded with details. Master bedrooms can be personalized with this approach.

Read also – Bohemian Interior Design Style for Colorful Decor

Image Credit: pinterest.com

An unconventional and jarring color choice that’ll make your space look exuberant and punk. Neons can garnish any old corner and immediately grab attention. Think accent walls in the bar areas or balconies with a mystic, overgrown vibe.

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Softer shades of blue paint with the opulence of emerald green is pure elegance! The Benjamin Moore Emerald Isle has been a long-time favorite of designers. These room colors give off a serene albeit confident trail. They can be comfortably used to adorn cabinetry too. 

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Splitting the walls with two cool tones like blue-green looks smart and sharp. How you divide the room between the two hues will depend on the size of the room and the amount of light it receives.

Image Credit: pinterest.com

You must have guessed by now that blue plays a pivotal part in most color combinations. Blue is a color that gives wings to the mind, while beige keeps the feet firmly planted on ground. This combination is best for formal settings like the living room or study. 

Read also – A Guide To Use and Mix Pattern in Interior Design

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Opt for rigidly neutral colors like gray and brown for highly intense air. This combination works best when you want to highlight a brass or bronze statement piece or artwork. 

Image Credit: pinterest.com

It pays to be brave! The drama unfolds in oodles when there is a medley of red and black. This combination packs a punch and is perfect for focal points in dens, clubs, and stairways. It envelopes the room and its inhabitants with a ferocity that cannot be tolerated by all!

Read also – 21 Most Popular Types of Interior Design Styles

Image Credit: pinterest.com

To incorporate nature into the interiors more formally and subtly, go for the contemporary gray-green, white, and black combo. While grayish-green and white add a smidgen of crispness to the room, black anchors the rest of the elements. 

Read also – 9 Ways To Incorporate Modern Interior Design Style Into Your Home

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Colors in a room can largely influence our mood. Universally, shades like gray and blue are restful, while taupe has a warm, cocooning touch.

Image Credit: pinterest.com

It is a common misconception that neutral shades are boring and monotonous. Two heavy hues like black and navy can be combined to create a sumptuously stately appearance. A classic for masculine energy, these go well in dens, bedrooms, and even kitchens.

Read also – 15 Tips To Incorporate Hygge Interior Design Into Your Home

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Jewel tones like emerald can be burnished in a glossy finish. They bounce light around and instantly lift spirits. Add to it the earthiness of tan, and you have a room makeover! As a bonus, let the color seep onto the soft furnishings in plush textures like velvet.

Image Credit: pinterest.com

When paired with a buoyant hue like light gray, vibrant color like forest green is perfect as the wall paint in areas like the kitchen. Cabinets in darker shades complement the light walls. Add to it some vintage fixtures and lights, and you are golden!

Read also – 40 Best Home Decor Online Stores

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Yellow is the most stimulating wall color on the color wheel. The happy-go-lucky yellow looks mysterious when paired with a moodier subtle gray. This combination feels fresh and can work wonders in nurseries and playrooms.

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Have you ever wondered what happens if we take two deep colors and blend them together? The combination of pink with green immediately impresses and can breathe new life into a bedroom or living room.

Image Credit: pinterest.com

One more modern practice is pairing a dark color with a pastel shade, e.g., the soft Pink Cup from Farrow & Ball and black. The warm playfulness of pink is comforting and flattering, while the dark contrast of black is the missing touch of suave. 

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Classic black and white are the favorite colors in interior design schemes for ages. No matter how you use it, this combination seldom goes wrong.

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Depending on the interior style, blue and white can play the roles of modern and elegant as well as can carry rustic DIY and plain on its shoulders. One of the most straightforward combinations to use, is an evergreen merger.

Read also – 8 Best Ways to Tell Your Story Through Interior Design

Image Credit: pinterest.com

While it’s natural to be excited to try all these color combinations and convert the space into a visual masterpiece, things can get messy and complicated if you get the colors wrong. Getting the client’s nod of approval before putting any color down on the walls is always better.

To help you with the challenge, you can always take the help of a powerful rendering software such as Foyr Neo’s. Add different elements, home decor and furniture from the extensive library of blocks and models available at your disposal. You can then try out the various color schemes on the model. Finally, render a super realistic visual to see how the room would look after executing the ideas! Sign up for a 14-day free trial to up your color game!