Rico paints the walls red and buys blue chairs. What accent color should he choose?

It doesn't matter; just use 10%.

4 ways to decorate a room with a color palette

Do these colors speak to you?

The colors of the rainbow in plumes of smoke

What about these?

Or these?

A bouquet of orange and yellow flowers Photo by Larisa Birta on Unsplash

Selecting a color palette for your decorating project is very personal, but it's not hard to do. Try one of these methods to select colors that are right for you!

Find inspiration around you
Think about mood
Check the Color Wheel
Follow the 60/30/10 rule

Find Inspiration Around You

Clothes

This outfit might inspire a palette that includes a gray background with pops of red and black.

Textiles

Do you already have pillows, curtains, or fabric that you love? Use those for color inspiration.

This pillow has personality, texture, and a vibrant color palette!

Try a white background along with pinks and blues in bold hues.

Nature

What better way to get inspired than to take a stroll through nature?

Animals

You'll find marvelous color combinations in the animal kingdom!

It is usually best to have at least 3 colors (including black, gray, and white, which are neutrals) in any decorating scheme!

Tia's Decor

Tia has a classic style and tends to wear clothes in soft shades of pink and blue. Which of these palettes might be best for her decor?

A: black & white; B: yellow, brown & grey; C: purple, yellow & pink; D: red, orange, blue, and black

Decide what mood you want to create:

Cool and lighter tones like green, blue and pastels, are soothing.

Warm and bright colors like red, orange, and jewel tones, are energizing.

When using paint, you can add black or white to a color to create a different mood.

Check The Color Wheel

Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel. Using them together provides a lot of drama and contrast.

Analogous colors are next to each other create a cohesive look. Professional decorators recommend using 2-3 analogous colors in a row, and adding small amounts of a contrasting color

TONE IT!

You can tone the purecolors of the color wheel by going lighter or darker.

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Examples:

Pure red and pure green might not result in a pleasing color scheme, but pink (light red) and light green look great together!
Pure purple along with pure yellow might be overwhelming, but eggplant (dark purple) and gold (dark yellow) go well.

Follow The 60/30/10 Rule

Using colors in the following amounts will always result in a harmonious and professional look!

60% of your main color
30% of a secondary color
10% of an accent color

Jump into your next decorating project!

Find inspiration around you

Consult the Color Wheel

Use the 60/30/10 rule

Design with confidence!

Do these colors speak to you?

What about these?

Or these?

A bouquet of orange and yellow flowers Photo by Larisa Birta on Unsplash

Selecting a color palette for your decorating project is very personal, but it's not hard to do. Try one of these methods to select colors that are right for you!

Find inspiration around you
Think about mood
Check the Color Wheel
Follow the 60/30/10 rule