Tips for Planning a Color Scheme in a Room

Choosing a color scheme for a room is often a daunting task for homeowners and renters alike. This often leads to room after room of beige upon beige or white upon white. Whether you're looking to add some drama to a room or create a soothing atmosphere, these tips and tricks will help you overcome your color dilemma and create the color scheme of your dreams.

Interior Design and Home Improvement: Size and Proportion of a Room

When starting out, it is important to consider the size and proportion of the room. Furthermore, you need to stop and think to yourself, "What do I want to accomplish with this room? Do I want it to look bigger and open or do I want it to be cozy and intimate?"

Stop and consider not only the length and width of the room, but also the height. Do you want the room to look taller or is the ceiling already a bit too high for your tastes? You can do a lot with paint colors to change the visual appearance of a room. For example, darker colors can help a larger room feel more intimate but when used on the ceiling, they can help bring down the height of the room.

Finding Inspiration for Decorating a Room

Finding inspiration for a room is easier than you think. Stop focusing on what's "in" or trendy and focus on you, your wants and needs (and, if you have one―your family's wants and needs). Find a piece of artwork or a piece of furniture that you absolutely love and build outward when decorating. Try to avoid starting with paint, as you may find that while you love that bright, leafy green, it doesn't quite match the rest of your chosen pieces.

Choosing a Style

Once you've decided the above, it's also important to consider what style you're looking to achieve. Mixing and matching color is almost always doable no matter what color combination you've chosen―but certain styles and eras of style don't always mix. Sure, you love that plaid couch, but does it go with your elegant Victorian coffee table and side tables? I think not. Stick to one or two styles that mesh well and avoid combinations that clash.

Getting Attention: Feature Walls, Architectural Elements, Artwork or Furniture

While decorating, some people find that they have a single piece or few pieces of either furniture, artwork or an architectural element (such as a fireplace,) of the room that they desire to highlight or draw attention to. So, do you have one of these kinds of pieces that you absolutely love? If so, how do you plant to draw attention to it.

Fortunately, drawing attention to an individual piece or pieces is easier than you think. For example, artwork can be highlighted easily with lighting or over the fireplace or couch where it's easy to be seen and seen often.

Perhaps you're wondering how this information will help you choose a color scheme, but once you've stopped focusing on the color and started focusing on your room―you'll realize that the color scheme made it's own appearance without you stressing over it. Good luck and happy decorating!