How Designers Find The Perfect Color Palette

The Havenly Team · September 27, 2016

Minimalist Scandinavian console with white marble and black frame, neutral palette with botanical accent

One of the biggest road blocks that you may run into when designing a space is deciding how to choose a color palette. If you start without a plan, it can start to look like something out of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory! Fear not – The designers among us have some tried and true methods for narrowing down the perfect palette.

Designer Tips For Choosing A Color Palette

1\. Look To Nature

Sophisticated color palette of forest green, mauve, greige, and cream inspired by blush peony blooms

If you’re uninspired and not exactly sure where to start with color, just look out your window. What strikes your fancy? The green from the evergreen trees? The deep radish-purple from the changing leaves? A favorite flower? Nature can be your jumping off point to determine a pop of color for your room.

2\. Start With Neutrals

Eclectic living room blending mid-century modern with bohemian warmth, green plants, orange textile

Contemporary minimalist console styling with soft whites, blacks, and natural wood accents

Neutrals are a great place to start with larger pieces of furniture. These pieces should be more investment pieces such as a sofa or chairs. This way you have a good base to start with, and then you can add color with throw pillows, rugs, and other accent pieces such as decor, lighting, and accent furniture.

3\. Consider Your Favorite Color

Minimalist capsule closet in monochromatic black, white, and neutral tones with organized display

{*Apartment Therapy*}

This might seem like an obvious questions, but all too often you are probably trying to please everyone except yourself. You want to appease your boyfriend, girlfriend, designer friend, etc. When you look in your closet, is there a color on repeat? Pull that into your room, and you will be sure to love your space.

4\. Pair Cool Tones With Warm Tones

Eclectic femme office with sage green ottoman, blush curtains, and bold graphic art, playful palette

{*The Glitter Guide*}

This is where a color scheme can go wrong. There needs to be balance in color. Even if you love blue, if you use all blues and grays in your space, it can feel too cold and fall flat. You want to introduce a balance. If you love blue, then look to complementary colors like oranges and yellows. This can come in the form of a great saddle leather to bring warmth and depth into the room. If you love blush pink, a great color to pair with this is emerald green for a sophisticated palette.

5\. Add A Metallic

Contemporary minimalist desk vignette, natural light, geometric patterns, warm wood and brass tones

A little sparkle never hurt anything! Whether it be in the form of a great brass or gold piece such as a coffee table or even in decor, this will tie together any color scheme. If you have mostly warm tones already, then lean towards silver or nickel.

Creating a color palette for your space should be fun, and the end result should inspire you. Use the 5 guidelines above to help create the space that you love. If you’re still unsure about where to start, enlist one of Havenly’s designers to help create your dream space! Packages start at only $79!

[![](/images/blog_wp-content_uploads_2016_05_annf_byline-150x150.png)](https://app.havenly.com/designers/details/ann.flanagan)[Ann F.](https://app.havenly.com/designers/details/ann.flanagan) Hailing from Chattanooga, Ann loves to style classic, eclectic and transitional rooms, and feedback from her customers tends to look something like this: “OMG I am obsessed!!!!!!!!!!!! I don’t know how to choose. I love everything. ” Love Ann’s style? [Book her today](https://app.havenly.com/designers/details/ann.flanagan) and #GetDecorated!