A Beginner's Guide to Creating a Color Palette You Won't Get Sick Of

We're working to crack the code on curating spaces that stand the test of time. Here is what we have learned thus far: while design styles come and go, color palette rules remain the same.

We consulted with trusted interior designers to build the ultimate beginner's guide to creating a color palette you won't get sick of. This guide applies to any scenario and any room, whether you want to design a bedroom your child can grow with or a living room you will never want to redecorate.

Follow these easy-to-implement rules to choose a color palette you'll always love.

Establish a Neutral Base

Justin Williams, an Atlanta-based interior designer and the owner of Trademark Design Co. urges his clients to "start with a neutral wall color." This allows the space to function as a blank canvas: ready to be filled, dressed up, and accessorized. Whether you're a color lover or prefer to stay muted, this is a route worth taking.

"This yields endless options to add color with furnishings and accents," Williams says.

To create a palette that can effortlessly evolve over time, try "a balance of warm and cool tones anchored by neutrals," says Kelsey Haywood, principal designer and owner of Haywoodmade.

Keeping with the theme, designer Sallie Lord, principle designer and founder of GreyHunt Interiors, suggests starting with "a primary color that is generally a lighter neutral."

Selecting furniture, pillows, art, and decor is where the fun really begins. If you or your style changes over time, as it almost always does, you can easily replace accessories, and transform the space and reflect your style without taking on a big redesign project. 

Start With a Core Shade

According to Danielle Chiprut, interior designer and founder of Danielle Rose Design Co., it's important to start off with a core shade you adore.

"When it comes to crafting a color palette that you'll cherish, we believe in the magic of creating a tonal space, filled with texture and a vibrant dash of color," she says.

Once you've settled on a shade, "weave in lighter and darker tones of that color for depth," Chiprut says. You can do this in form of rugs, furniture, and accent pieces. If you want to add an extra sparkle or pop, throw a complementary color into the mix.

This core shade could be a neutral, but it doesn't have to be. If blue is your favorite color, layer light blue with navy to achieve a feeling of consistency.

Incorporate a Dash of Color

Designer Meg Lavalette, founder of LAVA Interiors, prefers when spaces replicate the outside world. The outside world isn't completely neutral, figuratively or spiritually. She believes that a room should force the eye to travel, and a room should feel natural while still being interesting.

Lavalette echoes other designers' core advice of starting with a neutral base, but she also encourages sprinkling in color to add visual interest and showcase your personality.

"If you want to create a color palette that will have longevity, dash a bit of color in small doses of different shades and hues around the room," Lavalette says. "A little blue here, and little yellow there. Using a little bit of everything will help the eye travel and feel natural because everyday life has a little bit of everything."

Lord advocates for incorporating color in unique ways: painting the ceiling a shocking color or playing around with wallpaper. Consider contrasting patterns with textures, and play around until it's just right.

Williams, on the other hand, prefers to incorporate color as a quiet, subtle "whisper."

"[Add] one or two pieces with some color," he says. "This technique makes for a warm space with color that isn't overwhelming."

Where and how you incorporate your dash of color is completely up to you. Regardless of how much, the experts agree that color should be incorporated somewhere and somehow.

Evoke a Mood or Feeling

How do you want to feel in the space? How can you weave that mood throughout all decor elements? Perhaps you want the room to feel energized, or maybe you want the room to evoke a feeling of peace. Perhaps you are trying to design a dreamy living room, a moody office, or a cozy guest bedroom.

Michelle Gage, creative director and founder of Michelle Gage Interiors, is familiar with decorating for a mood.

"Think about the tone or mood you want the room to invoke," she says. "I love going darker in small spaces. For a guest bedroom, you might want to create a cozy vibe, so lean on the darker shades to bring that vibe to life."

Lord also designs rooms based on how she wants them to feel.

"From there, I play with the colors on the walls," she says. "For instance, you can make a sexy or cozy living room by taking the deepest tone of your palette and painting those on the walls while adding the reverse pops of color with art, pillows, and decor."

Attach an emotion, mood, or energy to each room in your home. From there, feel it out and weave those feelings throughout the space — and above all, trust your instincts.