How do I Choose the Best Interior Design Colors?

Choosing the best interior design colors is possible even if you aren't an interior designer. Using an interior design and artist's tool called a color wheel is one way to choose a color scheme to create the mood you want in a room. Another way to pick the colors for a room is to look at paint chip sample cards in a home improvement store. One of the most insightful ways to select your interior design colors is to look to your favorite wardrobe pieces and home accessories.

By examining the clothing and furniture pieces you have that you love, you may notice that these objects share common colors or a type of color such as a neutral or pastel that repeats in your favorite things. This exercise can help you better understand which colors you find appealing. If you then think about how these colors may work as part of your interior’s design, you may be able to find the ideal color scheme for you.

Another great color finding exercise is to stand in front of a large selection of paint chip sample cards at your local home decorating store. Don't limit your selections, but rather pick out the color cards you feel the most attracted to. Try to select those you love more than ones you merely like. Bring home a few cards to help you decide on paint and fabric colors to coordinate with your wood tones and furniture pieces you want to keep.

The mood you want to create in a room is an important indicator of which interior design colors you should choose. For instance, yellow and red are energetic while green and blue are calming. The relationship between the colors in a room also makes a difference in the mood created. For example, colors opposite each other on the color wheel can make a striking contrast in interior design colors such as red and green, orange and blue, or purple and yellow. These complementary colors can form the basic color scheme with a neutral such as black, white or gray added.

It's important not to rush into choosing interior design colors. By taking time to think the color selection process through, you'll be more likely to end up with colors you'll enjoy living with each day. Use your imagination and picture in your mind which colors you'd prefer in each room. Narrow your choices down to a maximum of three interior colors, plus neutrals and metallics, so you don't create a gaudy, overdone look.