Five Color Mistakes to Avoid in Home Decorating

Ultimately, your interior color scheme is your choice. It should consist of colors you love that work well with your home's architecture, its period style and your personal decorating style or theme. However, there are a few mistakes that you should avoid making, if at all possible. First of all, most of us can tell with one look that a color scheme just isn't working. But how can you avoid making a color mistake in the first place? 

The below picture is the office in a house we used to rent; the room was already painted in this pink and blue color scheme, yellow polka dots included, when we moved in. I didn't bother with re-painting, which is lucky because we moved out a year later! 

Example of a color mistake to avoid in home decorating

Consider these five color mistakes to avoid in home decorating.

1. Don't use too many colors

 

Choose a color palette of three to five colors. This may be a monochromatic scheme of several greens, or it may be a few complementary colors that you love. Then stick with that color palette. Once you start adding too many colors to your home decor, it can get to be very confusing to the viewer. Avoiding too many colors in one room is just the first rule to avoid making a color mistake in your home decor.

2. Don't try to match colors

 

No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to "match" a color exactly from one surface to another. This is one of the first things I learned in school for Interior Design. When you have a piece of fabric and want to find a carpet to match the exact color, you will find it an impossible task. Instead, look for colors that complement your fabric or a similar color that is a couple shades lighter or darker. 

3. Don't use the wrong colors

 

This may be wondering how you can avoid using the wrong colors. Some palettes just work better in some rooms than in others. This doesn't mean you can never use yellow in a bedroom, but you just might not get the calming effect you were hoping for. Bedrooms benefit from cooler, more soothing hues, while warmer, more bold colors might better suit the kitchen.

4. Don't choose "safe" colors

 

Don't choose them just because they are safe. While working in a paint store, I helped many customers choose very boring, light neutrals just because they were "safe". They also had very similar color choices for their carpeting and other finishes throughout the room. Choose a color because you like it, or because it helps you achieve the overall atmosphere you want in a room. 

5. Don't ignore the lighting

 

Lighting plays a huge part in your interior design. The exact same lighting design can enhance one space, while ruining another. The types and amount of lighting you need varies from one room to another. For example, one room might call for plenty of cool, bright, general lighting throughout the entire space, while another would benefit from softer, layered lighting with warm undertones. 

Have you ever decorated a room with a color scheme you were sure you'd love, only to end up hating it? Share your experience in the comments below. 

*Note: This article was previously published at Yahoo! Voices and the rights reverted back to the author when the site closed.

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