The easiest way to choose the best interior paint colors is to start with the colors you love. When you start with the colors you love, you are not bound by the traditional color schemes for a particular decorating style. Your favorite colors can be the perfect inspiration for your new color palette for the whole room. It will guide you to different decorating styles, just see this post for more ideas.

Here’s how to find out what your favorite color means, and how you can decorate with it.

Shades of Light

Magazines and catalogs have always been the staple of decorating inspiration. You have access to thousands of pages of inspiration on the internet. Retailer sites can be inspiring with their room vignettes, and paint company sites can also show you ways to use color in your home. 

Use Color Theory to Create a Color Scheme

You don’t have to study color theory to get great ideas from a little color wheel. These inexpensive color tools can generate color scheme ideas quickly. With a turn of the wheel, you can see how colors might relate to each other and learn the basics of color theory. It’s easy to use a color wheel to create a color scheme once you learn a few easy concepts.

Get Creative With Neutral Paint Colors

Just because you choose neutral paint colors doesn’t mean they have to be laid-back. You can rev up your neutral color palette by being creative with how the colors are used. A striped wall in neutral colors adds tons of style but still keeps the room looking relaxed. Neutral wall color with a pastel ceiling is a sneaky way to add color without losing the soothing vibe of the space.

Pull Your Paint Color From a Print

One of the easiest ways to choose interior paint colors is to start with a print fabric. Throw pillows, bedding, and even table linens can provide you with paint color ideas. If you’re creating an accent wall, look to the boldest colors in the print. If you would like to choose a paint color that is more subtle or for a larger space, look at the color in the small details of your print fabric. Take a fabric swatch to the paint store so you can choose paint strips to view at home.

Look Outside for Ideas

Bringing the outside in is a popular inspiration for color schemes. Whether you choose foliage green or the laid-back blues of the beach, exterior-inspired color schemes are meant to be restful and relaxing. Be sure to sample your favorite paint colors at all times of the day and night and with the window treatments closed and open to get the most realistic view of your possible choices. 

Find Your Paint Color in Artwork

An interior designer’s secret is choosing colors from artwork in your home. Most artists are masters of color and light, creating their color schemes for their pieces. You can benefit from their insight by choosing colors from a favorite piece of art. You can also choose complementary colors from the same work of art to create a color scheme.

Look to Historical Color Inspiration

Just because you love Craftsman color schemes doesn’t mean you have to decorate in a Craftsman style. Historical paint colors are offered by many of the paint industry leaders. Use these collections as inspiration and tailor them to your decorating style.

Benjamin Moore’s Damask Yellow is a rich and warm wall color that would work well in a variety of decorating styles including Craftsman and Mid-Century modern.

Try a Lighter or Darker Shade

Sometimes all you need is a little adjustment to find the right interior paint color. Before you abandon your paint color choice too quickly, consider a lighter or darker shade of the same color. Many paint colors appear on a paint strip in gradual shades, but you can also ask your paint store to customize it by percentages of light or dark shades.

Do Your Homework Before Shopping

Choosing the right interior paint color starts at home. Before you head to the paint store to gather paper samples, gather inspiration from catalogs and magazines, and fabric swatches. This will keep you from grabbing too many paint color options on your first trip to the store. The hardest part of choosing a paint color, at first, is having too many options.

Sample Your Paint Colors Before Committing

This is a simple rule that should never be ignored. Always sample any paint color you’re considering. When you are committing gallons of paint and hours to your project, you have to get the color right the first time. 

Flow Color Throughout Your Home

If you’re decorating a small home, flowing paint color throughout the rooms can give the illusion of a larger space. Flowing paint color through your home can also create a relaxing vibe. The most stunning way to use flowing color is to choose a neutral paint color that will be your signature hue for your home. 

Ask help from a Color Consultant

If you would like a new color scheme and aren’t sure which interior paint colors to choose, a color consultant can point you in the right direction. A color consultant can provide you with paint color ideas to sample or even a custom-designed color palette for your home.

Before you meet with your color consultant, gather ideas and inspiration to share with them so that they can see what you have in mind. Don’t be surprised if your color consultant suggests changes to your lighting to correct color problems in the room.​​​ Steal these secrets of a color consultant.

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