Color Confidence Starts Here.
Designer-level color combos sorted by interior style and top paint brands – download and start painting today.
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Color Guides by Interior Style
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Our bestselling color guides reveal the exact formulas professional designers use to create magazine-worthy spaces. Stop guessing and start designing with confidence.
Color Basics
Hue, Value & Chroma
Hue is the family name on your paint can – blue, red, green. Value tells you how light or dark that hue appears on the wall, from whisper-pale tints to deep, moody shades. Chroma measures vividness: a misty sage and an electric lime can share the same hue but sit at opposite ends of the chroma scale. Master all three and you’ll never wonder why a sample looked different once it dried.
Warm vs Cool
Warm colors like terracotta, buttercream and coral visually advance and create a cozy, sociable vibe. Cool tones like powder blue, mint and charcoal recede and make tight rooms feel calmer and airier. See real-room photo examples in my Warm-Vs-Cool Guide.
Undertones
That “plain white” isn’t neutral at all; it carries a sneaky undertone (pink, green, gray) that jumps out the second you pair it with flooring or fabrics. Always paint an 8 × 11-inch sample, move it around the room for a full day, and watch how hidden undertones reveal themselves under morning, noon, and evening light.
Find Your Palette and Design Spaces with Confidence
FAQ
What color should the ceiling be?
Either the wall color lightened by about 10 percent, or a gentle warm white. Both routes lift the room visually without stealing attention.
Can I mix warm and cool tones?
Yes. Anchor the scheme with one temperature family in large areas, then sprinkle roughly 20 percent accents from the opposite side to keep things lively.
How do I avoid paint regrets?
Paint two 12-inch squares on every wall, live with them through morning, afternoon, and evening light, and decide only after you’ve seen the shifts.
