How to Choose a Color Scheme

Here's one easy way to choose a color scheme for a room in your home.

Difficulty Level: Average      Time Required: Varies by project

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Here's How:

1. First, choose a style (formal or casual) and a theme for your room (such as American country, English garden, techno modern).
2. With the style and theme in mind, decide on an "anchor" fabric with 3 or more colors.
3. Use the background color from the fabric as a wall color.
4. Pick a mid-toned color from the fabric for flooring and large furniture pieces, which could be a solid or patterned design. Upholstery can also be done in your anchor fabric or coordinating fabric.
5. Use the brightest colors from the fabric for accessories.
6. Place your anchor fabric in at least 3 places in the room (upholstery, pillows, curtains, etc).
7. Use coordinating fabrics in other scales (larger or smaller) as accent fabrics on chairs, pillows, cording, and tablecloths.
8. For example, to use an "anchor" fabric with an American flag design: use white for walls, navy on floor, blue and white ticking on the sofa, and red for accessory pieces.
9. To continue this example, the coordinated prints could be the blue and white ticking stripe, a navy star print fabric, and a red and white mini-check used on chairs, curtains, and pillows.
   

Tips:

1. Repeat colors evenly throughout the room.
2. Adding dressmaker details in cording and trims is one way to disperse color and add interest.
3. Divide color use to approximately 60% of the room in the background (lightest) color, 30% in the mid-tone color, and 10% in the brightest, accent colors.
   

Related Features:

• "Adding Personality to a Room"
• "Tips for Choosing Interior Paint Color"
  

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