How to Choose the Right Color Scheme for Your Home

A color choice is a matter of personal preference. More often than not, there is a meaning behind our choice of colors.

When you decorate your home or would-be home in case you are buying a pre-selling condo unit, you would want to incorporate the colors that you really want. A downside? Not all colors are appropriate for home designs and décors.

To know whether you are designing your house based on what suits your personality and lifestyle best, here are some practical tips.

Learn about colors

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Before you step into choosing the colors, brush up your color terminologies first so you won't get lost in the process. First is the hue, which is actually the color. Second is the value. Color value simply refers to either the lightness or darkness of the hue. Third is the saturation. Saturation is described as the dominance of the color. 

For instance, when you mix red with white, the red color becomes less saturated thus, becomes less dominant, resulting to pink color. Fourth is the intensity. This simply points to the color's brilliance. Pure colors are the most intense. Stronger intensity means more dominance. 

Prepare a color wheel

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A color wheel is the single most important reference tool that you can use in deciding for a color scheme. If you want to intensify a particular hue for a specific corner, you should check with the color wheel. If you want to use cool colors then, you simply have to refer to the right of the color wheel for the right visual temperature that you are trying to achieve. You may come up with as many color combinations that you want. You may even create a combination that is truly you and without realizing that these two colors actually look good together.  

Test the color scheme

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Whether you choose a monochromatic, analogous, contrast or complementary color scheme based on the color wheel, don't forget to test how they look together. You may use a paint swatches, fabrics or poster boards in testing your choices of colors and their combinations. 

Paints are available in sample sizes and can be purchased from your local hardware. If the scheme looks good on the papers, you may consider painting a small portion of your wall to determine how the colors connect for real.

Create a color flow 

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Colors in one area are not the only thing that must connect; the colors on all areas especially the adjacent ones must connect, too. The colors must complement one another. Check how the rooms interact with one another then, starting building the palette from there. 

The process is very easy. If you have a choice of a main color in one room, check its position in the color wheel. You may choose any color beside that main color. This means you have at least five choices for the next rooms. Do the same for the next rooms or areas. 

Consider the lighting

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Lightings must not be overlooked. There are good reasons why the paint stores themselves keep lightboxes handy. Lights reflect and deflect the colors, which is the reason behind constant changes of colors throughout the day. Natural daylight can show the truest colors. Thus, when choosing a color scheme, make sure that you are doing it in broad daylight. 

Incandescent lights bring out warm tones while fluorescent lights cast sharp blue tones. With this, check the types of lights that you are using or you want to use in the future. Strong colors tend to be overpowering when used beside a huge window. However, you may use these colors on areas that receive no direct sunlight. Think of these as accent walls.

Commit to the palette

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Infusing colors on the spaces is fun and exciting, and the excitement builds up upon painting from room to room. However, if you are not ready or not sure about the perfect color scheme, you may choose neutral colors instead. Once you get started, you must continue with it. With this, you may simply paint your walls with beige, pale beige, sand, gray, white, ivory, etc. Colors can still be brought in through rugs, carpets, artworks, pillows, tapestries, outfitters, furniture, etc. 


With all these, the most important thing to remember is don't rush things otherwise you'd end up with colors or a color combination that don't jive well. Browse as many paint swatches as you'd like. Visit your local paint store and ask for recommendations. Talk to an interior designer. Browse for inspirations on Instagram and Pinterest. Whichever you do, your goal should be choosing a color scheme that lets your personality and style shine you. Instincts never lie, so take heed.