Watch an Overview Video

Gather Your Materials and Tools

Materials and Tools:
interior paint
color collections
color chips
color samples
poster board
brushes

Make Choices From Color Collections

Matching colors is one of the toughest home design challenges; you need beautiful colors that have personality and make a statement, but they also have to work together from room to room.

Choices are simple if you mix and match within color collections designed for room-to-room harmony.

Don't be afraid of dark or vivid colors. Neutrals are great for lightening and brightening small spaces, and used in combination with dark colors, they can add personality and drama to an otherwise ordinary space. But don't restrict yourself to neutrals.

Start with a color you love, maybe a piece of clothing in your closet, a flower, a sunset or something in nature, or an art object on your wall; then find companion colors to harmonize with it.

Try a blended selection of colors for walls, trim, ceilings and adjoining spaces.

Choose from color collections that emphasize an open floor plan so that colors harmonize from room to room.

Test Out Your Colors

Test color combinations with online color visualizers or cell phone apps or use large paint chips or swatches painted on walls or poster board.

Poster board is a great tool because you can move it around; remember that colors look different on different walls in different lighting at different times of day.

Try Out Dark Shades

Experiment with a darker colors.

Try dark walls with white woodwork and a light ceiling or vice versa.

Finish Adjoining Rooms, and Add Accessories

For adjoining rooms, choose different shades of the same color or any of the other colors in the collection.

Finish your color theme with focal pieces of furniture painted to harmonize with walls and trim.

Use a color collection as a guide when shopping for home decor to complete your look.