Choosing a color scheme for your home is not as difficult as one might think. It starts with a very simple visualization—just close your eyes and imagine the color scheme that you see in your home. No doubt it’s possible to put together an unappealing color scheme, but if you use your intuition and rely on your personal tastes, there really is no wrong set of colors. It’s all a matter of what you like and what you don’t like, and if you can achieve your vision, you’ll be happy with your colors.


Most interior designers consider one of four different approaches when choosing a color scheme:

  • Monochromatic: In a monochromatic color scheme, all the colors in a room are different shades of the same color. For example, you might have light green for the baseboards, a darker green for the walls, and shades of green for many of the furniture items.
  • Analogous: In an analogous color scheme, you’ll pick one color that you want to emphasize in the room, and then you’ll choose two or three adjacent colors on the color wheel to provide highlights.
  • Complementary: In a complementary color scheme, you’ll choose two different colors that complement each other—for example, orange and purple—and use two or three different shades of each of those colors. This is a great approach if you have two favorite colors that go well together.
  • Triadic: Triadic color schemes are a little more advanced. As the name implies, a triadic scheme involves three different colors—for example, red, blue, and yellow. It’s hard to do this without going over-the-top, but if you don’t mind the risk, it’s a fun adventure to try.

If you’re not sure how to choose your color scheme, start with existing pieces of furniture or rugs that you already have. Use them as starting points, and find colors that complement them.

Also, it’s a good idea to check decorating magazines (both paper and online) to get a look at different color schemes that people are using in their homes. Not all of us are good at simply imagining an appealing color scheme. In this case, there’s nothing wrong with using some photos to help you come up with ideas. If you find a photo of a room that you like, take it to the paint department at your hardware store, and they should be able to help you identify the perfect paints to use.