Your choices when it comes to picking out a colour scheme for a room in your house may seem rather daunting. The following is a simple method for creating a room with that "pulled together" look.
Step 1 - Pick a Pattern
Almost every room has a pattern in it somewhere. It might be in a picture, a rug, the bedspread or on an upholstered piece of furniture. It is much easier to start with the pattern, than to try to find a pattern to fit into a given colour scheme later on. From the colours in your pattern, we will create the palette for the room.
Step 2 - Choose Three Colours
From within your pattern select three colours; a light colour, a medium tone and a darker colour. These three colours will form the foundation of your colour scheme.
Step 3 - Use Your Light Colour As The Background
Colour your walls and floor with a soft version of your light colour. You may choose to "knock it down" with a touch of white or gray if it seems too vivid for use as a background colour. It is pleasing to the eye to have your floor colour a bit darker than your walls and ceiling. This helps to "ground" the room.
Step 4 - Put Your Medium Tone On The Largest Pieces
Window coverings and large furniture pieces will take the mid-tone colour - especially if it has a tinge of the wall/floor colour mixed into it.
Step 5 - Add The Darker Colour As An Accent
Now sprinkle in the darker colour on the accessories and small furniture pieces. Use these for punch and distribute them evenly throughout the room. By rotating the three colours you can place a greater emphasis on the background or furniture. Your eye typically will gravitate towards the darker, brighter colours.
