Interior designers have a secret weapon when it comes to creating cohesive color palettes in homes. Fortunately, you don’t have to be part of an insiders-only club to access their totally free design tool. Take it from TikTok creator Claire Faulkner of @thatcotswaldclaire. To nail a professional-looking color scheme throughout your entire home — room to…
Paint chips are arranged in vertical columns, with the lightest shade at the top and darkest at the bottom. While many people gravitate toward individual swatches that catch their eye — one blue here, another gray there — the real trick, Claire says, is shopping shades horizontally.
How To Solve Color Palette Conundrums
Using the paint supplier’s store displays or take-home brochures, select five to seven colors on the same horizontal line. These hues will always work together, as they’ve been carefully chosen by the paint company’s experts using the science of the color wheel. No need to worry about undertones or intensities; this method allows you to create a whole-home color scheme with minimal effort and maximum payoff.
Among your five to seven colors, two or three should be used as paint colors for your walls, ceiling, and trim. The other shades can be represented through large decor items, such as rugs, bedding, and bed frames. Color shy? Save your brightest, boldest shade for small accent pieces, be they lamps or throw pillows.
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By following this simple horizontal color selection method, you’ll create a professional-looking palette and a home that feels cohesive, not chaotic.
Not sure where to start? Use something you already own (and love) as a jumping-off point. Say your living room is anchored with a statement sofa. Find the closest matching paint chip, then work across the color row horizontally to build your whole home’s color palette.
