Color combinations, palettes, and color schemes play a major part in complementing the indoor spaces of your home, adding to the overall design, and creating the ambiance or feel that you are going for in your house. Whether you are planning a major home makeover or redesign, or putting your home on the market and utilizing home staging efforts as part of the strategy, being aware of the power of color schemes will be an advantage to you as you set out to find the right balance and visual impact that your house needs.
Not just the paint
When you consider color combinations and schemes, this does not refer to just the paint on the walls (although paint is a major aspect of it). You will also factor in the furniture that will be installed in that area, fixtures, lighting, window treatments, accessories, décor, and other visual elements that also tie in with a room or area’s color scheme. In other words, be prepared for changes not only to the color of the walls, but also updates on the functional and decorative items you already have in that space.
Where to start
Figuring out where to start can be confusing. Don’t try to change everything all at once; this can be overwhelming, and different areas of the home need different perspectives and blends in order to create the proper ambiance. You can start with the home’s formal areas, such as the entrance or foyer, dining room, and living room. Incidentally, these are also some of the most high-traffic rooms of the house where you will be spending a lot of time hanging out with family or entertaining company. You can pick a high-impact color combination for these formal areas, and then simply adopt a lighter shade for other areas around the home, creating a unified theme.
You can also anchor the color schemes to certain large patterns or décor in the room or space. If you have a large Oriental area rug in the living room, for example, you can use one of the major color shades of the rug as the base for your walls or ceiling. Or if you have a piece of artwork as the central focal point of your dining room, a couple of the colors and hues could be your inspiration for that room’s furniture. This creates a sense of harmony and is easier for the viewer to appreciate.
Accessorize
Accessories, home décor items, window treatments, and furniture should be incorporated into the color combination for complete visual effect. Avoid using too much of the exact same shade, however, as this can look monotonous and uninspired. For instance, if green is the color scheme you have picked for your living room, pick a darker shade of green for your drapes or throw pillows, aquatic green hues for coffee table center piece or décor, and a hint of brown and other earth colors to complete a very nature-inspired theme.
