Color Coordination Around the Home

Much of home design is dominated by color, from the wall paint to the flooring to the little accessories that give it personality. But as more and more homeowners get into DIY décor, designers are noticing the gap between color and color coordination. It's not enough to just choose good colors; it's also important to choose them well and make sure they can work together. That's where coordination comes in.

Instead of choosing just one dominant color, think in combinations. Decide on a main color and choose another that either complements or clashes with it in a stylish way. This allows you to go with your tastes, but also add a bit of variety to keep it from getting saturated. The two-color rule is the safest choice, but you can choose up to three, as long as they all work together and one of them always dominates.

Use the color wheel as your guide. If you really like a particular color and want to keep things consistent, you can go with a monochromatic scheme, which uses a single color but in various shades. If you're feeling bolder, go for contrast instead: choose a main color, and use the color on the opposite side as your accent. The stark difference makes for a strong, eye-catching design that's sure to impress the viewer.

Needless to say, color starts with the walls-no matter what the size or shape of the room, it's always the wall colors that are first to catch the eye. If you choose a strong shade for your main color, such as red, consider painting only two opposite walls and using a more neutral shade for the other two. That way, you don't overuse the red and it's easier to coordinate it with other room elements, such as the furniture.

Finally, make sure your floor works well with the rest of the room. Flooring has a subtle but strong way off affecting room color. The safest choice is to go with a neutral color such as white tile or wood, but don't be afraid to experiment. Try using area rugs to add color contrast, or installing floor accents to complete your color scheme.

Nothing sets a home apart like a well-chosen color combination. Here's a quick guide to coordinating your home colors for a stylish home that's sure to impress. Find more information about wall color tips.