Choosing the Right Colors for Your Home: How to Find Your Hue

Color. Choosing a color palette is one of the most exciting parts of home renovation, and also the most overwhelming. A palette will apply to everything, from walls and floors to couches and tables, the list goes on! By selecting certain colors, you can influence the mood and cohesiveness of your home.

This decision is both difficult and important. That’s why at Artisan Renovation, we guide our clients through the process of finding the colors that speak with them. For a sneak peek into this process, we’ve written a collection of tips to point you in the right direction! Check them out.

Determine the Colors for Your Home

First and foremost, your home is yours. The most important factor when choosing a color palette is that you like it. If more traditional color palettes don’t bring you joy, find one that does. That being said, finding a color group takes time and skill. Here are some strategies we’ve used and seen used by those searching for the perfect color combination for their home. 

Choose a Base Color You Love, then Balance It

A solid base color will become the foundation for the rest of your palette. It will make up the majority of the home and is typically the color of your walls, floors, and large furniture. Identifying or establishing a main color creates a base to layer additional accent colors.

The rule of thumb in color selection is the 60-30-10 principle. “60” is your base color, 60% of your home. Secondary color will make up 30% with larger accent features like rugs, curtains, or smaller furniture. The last 10% is given to the accent color. Add a pop of a contrasting hue with decor and artwork.

Bonus color tips:

• Stick to 3-5 colors in your home.

• Remember, color undertones, especially for neutrals. Grays can be warm-toned or cool-toned. This becomes especially important when working with existing flooring; a cool-toned gray will clash with warm wooden flooring.

• Don’t dismiss neutrals. They may stand out less than brighter colors, but neutral color creates a backdrop for your favorite elements to shine against.

• Utilize color continuity. Even if your specific colors change, use similar tones in each room.

Match Color to Mood and Function

Color affects how we feel. When determining your palette, keeping in mind the purpose of each room can help avoid future regrets. You don’t need to stick with what’s been done, but choosing to break them intentionally instead of accidentally is key. 

Living Room: Choose warm, inviting tones like taupe, olive, or soft blues that encourage conversation and relaxation.

Kitchen: You’ll be looking for clean and energizing colors for a kitchen. Greens and blues are timeless kitchen color choices. If you’re looking for something a little cleaner, an off-white or gray will do the trick.

Bedroom: Bedroom colors are the most personal selections. I’m sure almost all of us remember having a childhood bedroom painted the brightest shade we could find of our favorite color. Here are some recommendations if you’re still searching. Tranquil and muted tones—beige, muted blue-green, and warm white—can contribute to a restful space. A bedroom is also a great place to implement an accent wall. Pick a bolder accent color to add contrast and interest to your space.

Bathroom: There are two routes you can take for a bathroom: a colorful, inviting environment or a calmer spa-like feel. A classic off-white or muted green is a popular choice for relaxation. Wanting something bolder? Try a jewel tone. Deep purples, reds, greens, and blues will add depth to this smaller room.

Home Office: You need inspiration in an office space, so look for bright and energizing colors. We recommend greens, teals, and oranges for energy or colors with an added gray tone to unify the space.

Consider Lighting and Architecture

Lighting is one of the most critical factors in how color appears. A gray may appear soft and welcoming when lit by sunlight and dull when removed from it. When selecting colors, keep in mind the following:

Room Location: When planning for natural lighting, use this rule of thumb: North-facing rooms will have softer light, while south-facing rooms will get more intense and direct lighting. As a result, in north-facing rooms, colors will appear dimmer, whereas south-facing room colors may become washed out. Artificial lights can adjust for these effects. 

Artificial Lighting: Different lighting types and bulbs can skew color tones. LED lights will make bright colors pop while dulling cool tones. Edison bulbs are warm light, and will add a yellow filter over each color in the room, making them a good choice for rooms focused on warmer colors. To the opposite effect, Fluorescent lights give off a cool tone. Choose these bulbs to accent blues and grays.

After lighting, you must consider the shape and size of the room. Color changes the feel of a space, so choosing the correct placements is valuable when aiming for a specific feel in a room. For example, light colors will make rooms seem larger. For smaller rooms, this is a neat tool to expand the space. For larger rooms, it’s important not to overwhelm. An extra tip: don’t overlook the colors of your trim and ceiling! These colors will “frame” everything else, bringing it all together.

Happy color hunting!