How to Build an Interior Color Scheme

Have you been staring at paint chips for weeks and still can’t tell the difference between Desert Taupe and Taupe Gray? Choosing an interior color scheme is tough. We’re here to make it easier.

 
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

It might seem counterintuitive, but the first step to creating the perfect interior color scheme is looking at the exterior of your home.
Focus on brightness and tonality. Do you use warm colors or cool? Bold or subdued?
You’re going to want to carry those same themes indoors.
We’re not saying the colors need to match exactly, but utilizing a similar palette inside and outside creates a noticeable sense of harmony appreciated by every single person that walks through your front door, and avoids the conflicting unease created by clashing interior and exterior color schemes. 
 

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Creating an interior color scheme is like cooking up the perfect meal. So where better to start than in the kitchen? As a centralized room, the kitchen will have a big impact on the rest of the home, especially in popular open concept floor plans.
Wall color should fit with the same color themes you defined based on your home’s exterior, cabinets and countertops as well. 
Let’s tackle the cabinetry first. Will they be stained or painted? Light or dark? Warm or cool? Find a color that speaks to you, and remember that cabinets are a major focal point of the kitchen, and should help drive the decisions you make about  the rest of the home.
As for countertops, go for a bit of contrast. Dark cabinets look great with light counters, and vice versa.
And always remember that there’s only one star of the show. If the cabinets, counters and floors are all vying for center stage the look will get too busy, and lose consistency.
 

EXCELLENT ACCENTS

The devil is in the details, and accents are incredibly important in designing the perfect color scheme.
For instance: the bathroom. It’s a room that guests will use frequently, and deserves some design love.
The simplest choice is to carry over the same cabinet and counter styles from the kitchen.
But if you’d rather create different personalities for different rooms, feel free to switch it up. Just make sure you stick to the original color motif.
Other accents can be added in the form of dishtowels, decorative pillows, tablecloths, furniture, wall art, etc. Go bold with patterns, or stay sleek with solid colors. This is a great area to experiment in, since it’s much less permanent than cabinets, counters, and paint.
 
As always, be true to you. Your home is a reflection of your personality, and one person’s perfect interior color scheme might not work with another person’s vision.
 
Get interior color scheme and open concept design inspiration at one of our model homes.