Make Your House A Home: How To Choose the Perfect Colour Scheme

Is it time to decorate your home? Well, choosing your colour scheme is an integral step in any home makeover, but it isn’t as simple as it might sound. Colour is an exceptionally influential component of interior design and it affects everything from your mood to your home’s atmosphere and even the room’s perceived size. 

 

Choosing the right colour scheme for your home is like picking out the perfect outfit for a big night out; it sets the vibe and reflects your personality. Whether you’re going for cozy and inviting or sleek and modern, your chosen colours can make a huge difference in how a room feels. 

 

So, when you’re new to interior design, you may wonder, “How exactly do I choose the right colour scheme for my home?” Stick with us because we’ve got the best guide to helping you pick a colour combination that will both complement and transform your spaces. 

 

What is a colour scheme?

A colour scheme is a group of colours chosen by the designer to create an aesthetically pleasing display for viewers. There are six colour schemes that every interior designer should know: 

 

• Monochromatic – a variation of colours in the same hue
• Analogous – colour combinations made up of those that are next to one another on the colour wheel
• Complementary – found on the colour wheel by choosing one colour and the colour directly across from it
• Triadic – combinations of three colours that are evenly spaced apart on the colour wheel
• Split-complementary – two complementary colour schemes that land right next to one another on the colour wheel
• Tetradic – made up of two complementary pairs
• Neutral – achromatic hues (white, grey, and black) with near neutrals (beige, tan, and brown)

 

How colour schemes affect interior design

Colours can be used to do so much in a home. Here are a few ways colours can be used to change and improve the interior of your home:

Colour schemes create the atmosphere

Warm tones like earthy browns and soft yellows can create a snug, comfortable atmosphere, perfect for curling up with a good book, while cool shades like blues and greens can evoke a sense of calm and serenity. 

Colour schemes can create the appearance of space (or lack thereof!)

Colours can play a clever trick on the eyes, making a room appear larger than it actually is. Lighter shades, like soft pastels or creamy whites, have the unique ability to bounce light around a room, creating an illusion of more space. They reflect light rather than absorbing it, which opens up the room and gives it an airy, larger feel. 

 

Another trick is to use a monochromatic colour scheme, where you stick to different shades of the same colour. This creates a seamless flow from one area to another, eliminating visual breaks and making the room feel more spacious. Painting the ceiling a lighter colour than the walls can also draw the eye upward, making the room seem taller and more open. 

Colour schemes create flow

We’ve already mentioned how using monochromatic colour schemes can create a flow in a room that removes visual breaks, making the room feel more spacious. But this flow also brings continuity, making it great for larger rooms that have multiple functions. For instance, similar colours can be used to create a flow from the living room to the dining room. 

 

Tips for choosing the perfect colour scheme

Choosing the colour for your home’s interior requires so much more than choosing whatever is trending at the moment. You need to be intentional about the type of space you want to create. Here are four steps to help you perfect the colour scheme:

• Be inspired

While you can spend all day on Pinterest or pursuing magazines and taking colour palettes from the store, why not look closer to home for inspiration? Literally! Consider your favourite colour, or maybe you have a beloved jumper you can’t get enough of. Surely, there’s something around your home you’d like to capture its essence. Whether it’s a feeling, a person or a book, draw inspiration from that. 

• Consider your furniture

Are you starting completely afresh? Then, you can skip this step. However, if you have furniture, painting or other items that are going to remain in your home, you need to think about how they’re going to fit with their surroundings. Rather than ignore these items and cause a potential eyesore, incorporate them into the plan. 

• Pick three colours

The best thing you can do when you have a huge project as a beginner interior designer is to stick to five or fewer colours. Three is the trifecta! So, look around you and choose three colours from objects around your home. Remember, these items usually stay behind after you paint the walls, so you must match them accordingly, unless you’re doing a complete remodel. 

• Consider your atmosphere and style

Have you ever been in the room, and it felt like the whole atmosphere shifted? We can tell you now that colour probably had a big part to play. So, when choosing your colour scheme, ensure you’ve considered the type of atmosphere you want to create. Is it a wild and carefree area, or is it more relaxed and dreamy? 

 

For example, when choosing colour schemes for Queenslander homes, you would want to capture that traditional, timeless aesthetic, and the neutral, monochromatic or analogous colour scheme is always a safe bet. Opt for soft biscuits, light neutrals and muted greys, and you’ll be good to go. 

Final Thoughts

We all need a change once in a while, and giving your home a makeover is the perfect way to do it. In order to achieve your desired effect, it’s good to be aware of the different colour schemes. Remember, your imagination is the limit, so go wild, try new colour schemes and see what fits best into your ideal interior. Enjoy!