With the abundance of home renovation shows, Pinterest inspo boards, and color swatches out there, it can be difficult to choose the right color palette for your space. As a result, many people gravitate towards tan (or the ever trendy gray) as a “safe” choice. Today, we discuss some strategies that can help you pick a palette that enhances the beauty of your home instead of fading into the background.
1. Find paint inspiration from everyday life
Are there color combinations that call out to you aesthetically in everyday life? Why not find a way to incorporate those colors? Here are some examples of pictures that we have recently taken just because the colors looked beautiful, and how we might suggest planning a room around it.
A bowl of farm fresh eggs, via our agent Raechel.
This photo suggests a soft palette with lots of muted blues and grays. This style is typified by a Joanna Gaines modern farmhouse or bungalow, for example. The room photo above is actually a sneak peek of Natalie’s Santa Barbara beach cottage refresh, which we will be covering in detail in an upcoming post!
A blushing succulent, via our business development specialist Amy.
This geometric succulent could suggest a palette full of ruddy grays, earthy purples, and plant accents. If you want to get really specific, the austerity of the desert can mirror a more stark, industrial room styling.
A fun retro light fixture on a building in Boulder, via our agent Sage.
Sage took this picture because she loved the contrast between the complementary primary colors and the white wall. If you would like to decorate with this type of palette, keep it simple and restrict yourself to a few bright colors against a white backdrop.
A fresh halibut taco on the beach in Santa Barbara, via our Managing Broker Natalie.
Natalie snapped a quick picture of her taco with papaya salsa to show off the lovely contrast of colors in the dish. When you are using unusual color choices like those in this palette, you can get creative and center the room around a statement piece, and then fill out the room with simple touches that compliment it, like the room above with the pink couch. Love a color but think it’s too “out there” to decorate with? Get creative and think again!
2. When was your house built?
When was your house built? Look at some of the styles and color palettes that were popular during that era. You might be surprised at how “right” those colors feel in your home. Let’s look at some examples.
1950’s
Do you live in a cozy 1950’s bungalow and aren’t ready to commit to full mid-century modern? Add some tones like turquoise or teal, or a few vintage items to tie the house’s style to your style.
1970’s
Do you have a 1970’s split level but hate shag carpet and avocado green fixtures? You can still use a pop of bold colors and a bohemian vibe! Say yes to orange!
1990’s
Remember the days where you could view golden blonde wood floors, hunter green, and brick red walls as far as the eye could see? There are some beautiful contemporary shades of deep green to build a palette around, and blonde floors are making a comeback. If you are really feeling sassy, throw in some neon highlights for the true 90’s feel.