Unite your indoor and outdoor rooms with a consistent color palette, for cohesion and a polished look.
Originality and creativity are having a moment: eclectic, colorful spaces are all the rage. But though many are over matchy-matchy furniture and one-size-fits-all paint colors, some consistency throughout the home isn't a bad thing. Done right, color coordinating leads to better flow and a polished, cohesive interior design.
Model-home interior designer Mary DeWalt creates designs to appeal to buyers, and one of the ways she does that is by maintaining color flow throughout. "For us, picking colors is all about memory," she says. "People are more likely to remember a home with a particular color scheme, because it's different from all the rest. If buyers are looking at several homes, that all-turquoiseone will stand out in their minds."
DeWalt's savvy color-coordinating strategies can help turn a disjointed, choppy space into a flowing thought-out masterpiece, as this model home design demonstrates. Pick and choose the ideas that might work for you, too.
As you make your color choices, go with what you love, not just what is trendy. DeWalt suggests picking one neutral and two accent colors to carry throughout every room. In this house beige and dark wood are the constants, and blues and greens provide the accents.
Accessories provide the color in rooms with neutral walls. Here the blue and green come in through the cushions, throw pillows, rug and pots. Grouping accessories in threes keeps tabletops interesting yet clutter free.
Not every room needs to include every color. With its subtle blue rug and same-stain wooden furniture, this traditional home office fits right in with the rest of the spaces in the home.
Cohesion is key, but that doesn't mean you can't experiment with materials. While this bedroom includes bits and pieces of the signature blue, it also uses reflective accessories. The mirrored accent wall and nightstand add variety without skewing too far from the rest of the house.
When accessories aren't enough, add a wow factor, or what DeWalt calls a punctuation mark. The bright blue tile backsplash adds surprise to this bathroom while allowing it to harmonize with the rest of the house.
Game rooms and kids' rooms are great spaces to take chances in; consider going bold with a brightly painted ceiling. This color matches the mosaic tile throughout, but the creative use of paint gives the room its own unique energy.
Don't limit your color scheme to the interior — bring it to your pool or patio with matching tile. With its blue tile frame and swim-up bar, this pool subtly connects with the indoor theme.
For those whose budget doesn't include a pool renovation (or even a pool), something as simple as colorful outdoor cushions can ensure that your outdoor and indoor spaces pair perfectly.