Choosing colors for your home can feel overwhelming because the options are endless! You may feel equally drawn to completely different color stories or unsure of how much color you can handle in your environment. Maybe you want to paint your walls but don't know where to go from there. Maybe you rent and have certain restrictions you need to work with. Here are a few things I've learned along the way about how to settle on colors for your home.
Tip 1. Saturate your mind with images of interiors and color stories you feel excited about.
Pinterest is an excellent resource for organizing images you find online because it allows you to see all of your images in one place. You can then start looking for any patterns you see within your categories. Do all of your interior images have bright white walls with colorful accessories or are they toned down and moody? What colors do all of your images have in common? Are the colors appearing in small amounts or are your interior images saturated with them?
Once you've collected enough images and had time to analyze them, you'll pick up on the trends and patterns that you're drawn to and can then think about how to incorporate those into your own home.
Tip 2. Break up lots of color with neutrals.
If you have white walls, you may want to experiment with bold art and bright curtains. If all of your living room furniture is upholstered in colorful patterns and prints, you may want to stick with a solid color rug and pillows. Neutrals give your eye a place to land and help balance out a colorful room.
Examples of neutrals are natural wooden elements such as the dining room chairs and clipboards above. They allow your attention to focus on the colorful elements rather than create distractions.
Tip 3. Repeat your colors throughout your room.
Repeating colors throughout a room, or even your entire household, creates a stronger design. In the room above I repeated the light blue by painting a vintage frame and old wooden bench. I also repeated the pink from the bedspread in the throw pillow and pink poster. The black houndstooth pattern in the second bedspread is repeated in a smaller pattern on the upholstered seat of the wooden chair in the corner and helps break up all of the color a bit.
Since all of the colors in our bedroom compliment each other, I can easily rearrange or add elements in similar tones when I want to change things up a bit. I can also use the bench or upholstered chair in other parts of my house because I've got a similar color story in almost every room.
In conclusion, look for patterns in the things you're inspired by, break up color with neutrals, and repeat your colors throughout as you decorate. Most of all, don't be scared to commit to color in your space. It's one of the best ways to make your space uniquely yours! xo, Rachel
Great ideas for choosing color. I'm feeling the need to spruce some things up...might have to revamp some colors while I'm at it :)
Rhoda
http://www.rhodadesignstudio.blogspot.com
Posted by: Rhoda | October 12, 2011 at 08:40 PM
Great tips Rachel!! I absolutely LOVE your home tours, and am totally inspired by your style! I'm still trying to commit to colors for my house. So I will def keep your tips in mind! :) Thanks!
Posted by: Monika | October 12, 2011 at 08:48 PM
Love your style!! Thanks for sharing your tips! Love the 1st pic full of color!!
Posted by: Daisy | October 12, 2011 at 09:01 PM
Thanks so much for this Rachel - it was a big help.
I'm moving house on Saturday to a new place that is entirely white, except for a kitchen with red walls and black cabinetry! It kind of throws out my plans for the place (wanted to use turquoise as a highlight colour), how would you suggest I work with such a strong coloured kitchen?
Posted by: Kerry | October 12, 2011 at 09:57 PM
Fabulous words of wisdom!!!!!!!! I mean tips, ha ha!!!!!
Posted by: Michelle Torres | October 12, 2011 at 10:02 PM
such a great post and very much needed!
-grace
http://herumbrella.com
Posted by: grace | October 12, 2011 at 10:07 PM
Still love that first photo! Thanks for the tips. I need all the advice i can get......
Posted by: Kristin | October 12, 2011 at 11:01 PM
The desk is quite good.
Posted by: hair extensions for cheap | October 12, 2011 at 11:13 PM
It's true: neutrals let you go a bit crazy with colour.
--Jaclyn T
Nature Inspired Jewellery
http://www.etsy.com/shop/trickart
http://www.positiveponderings.blogspot.com
Posted by: Jaclyn T | October 12, 2011 at 11:17 PM
really helpful and useful advice. i'm always trying to think about the best ways to tie things together in my house.
Posted by: Lisa | October 12, 2011 at 11:17 PM
Great tips! I rent, so all walls are white, but I find this actually really useful in breaking up lots of colour!
Posted by: Hannah @ Sparrow + Spark! | October 13, 2011 at 12:44 AM
I am ADDICTED to Pinterest, though I find I look at things more than I pin, so at least i'm a discerning addict?
Posted by: Hanna | October 13, 2011 at 02:00 AM
Thanks for this! I will be moving into a new home soon and I am already wrecking my brain about how to decorate/paint/spruce up my future house :)
Posted by: Manja | October 13, 2011 at 02:00 AM
Very beautiful!!!!
kisses from your follower! ♡
www.welovefur.blogspot.com
With love Little Sablehttp://littlesable.tumblr.com/
Posted by: welovefur | October 13, 2011 at 02:39 AM
It's way hard to choose when you are a colour lover! Great tips :)
Posted by: Nat @ Dear Little House | October 13, 2011 at 02:57 AM
Love the clip board idea for notes and pictures! I have pinned lots of ideas for my home on Pinterest, such a great source :-)
Posted by: Becky | October 13, 2011 at 03:14 AM
awesome! thanks for the tips Rachel, i just moved and need help setting up my new living room. i also need to paint our bedrooms and that's where im stuck. don't know where to begin with the kiddo room since they share and its a boy and a girl. thanks!!
Posted by: elizabeth | October 13, 2011 at 03:23 AM
I love these tips! I will definitely implement them into my decorating process! We move every year so it is hard to get really into it, but great advice!
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Posted by: jackets | October 13, 2011 at 05:56 AM
Love the styling of the first photo! Great tips but not surprising Rachel, your house always looks amazing!!
Cathy
Turquoise Flamingo
www.turquoiseflamingo.com
Posted by: Cathy | October 13, 2011 at 06:02 AM