How to Create a Beautiful and Harmonious Space
Color plays a crucial role in setting the mood and style of your home. The right color choices can make a space feel warm, spacious, cozy, or sophisticated. At Sunny Side Interior Design, we help homeowners select the perfect shades to match their personality, lifestyle, and home aesthetics.
Whether you’re planning a full remodel or just refreshing a single room, here’s our expert guide to choosing the right colors for your home.
1. Understand Color Psychology
Colors have a direct impact on our emotions and how we experience a space. Here’s a breakdown of what different colors evoke:
🎨 Warm Colors (Reds, Oranges, Yellows)
✔️ Energizing, cozy, and inviting
✔️ Ideal for living rooms, dining areas, and kitchens
✔️ Red stimulates conversation, while yellow adds warmth
🎨 Cool Colors (Blues, Greens, Purples)
✔️ Calming, refreshing, and relaxing
✔️ Great for bedrooms, bathrooms, and offices
✔️ Blue promotes tranquility, while green brings a natural, soothing feel
🎨 Neutral Colors (Whites, Beiges, Grays, Taupes)
✔️ Versatile, timeless, and elegant
✔️ Perfect for any room, as they allow for easy accessorizing
✔️ Gray adds sophistication, while white creates an airy, open feel
💡 Pro Tip: If you want a peaceful atmosphere, lean toward cool tones, while warm tones are great for adding energy and warmth to a space.
2. Consider the Room’s Purpose
Each room in your home serves a different function, and color should enhance its purpose.
🛋 Living Room → Warm, welcoming tones like beige, soft green, or muted blue
🍽 Kitchen & Dining → Energizing shades like warm white, light yellow, or terracotta
🛏 Bedroom → Calming hues like pale blue, lavender, or soft gray
🚿 Bathroom → Refreshing colors like light aqua, crisp white, or mint green
🎨 Office/Study → Productivity-boosting shades like sage green, soft gray, or navy blue
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re unsure, go for a neutral base and add pops of color through furniture, art, and decor!
3. Use the 60-30-10 Rule
A tried-and-true formula for balanced color design is the 60-30-10 rule:
✔️ 60% – Dominant Color (Walls & Large Surfaces)
✔️ 30% – Secondary Color (Furniture, Rugs, Curtains)
✔️ 10% – Accent Color (Decor, Pillows, Accessories)
For example, in a modern neutral living room, you could use:
✅ 60% Soft Gray Walls
✅ 30% Beige Sofa & Wood Tones
✅ 10% Deep Blue Accent Pillows & Artwork
💡 Pro Tip: This rule ensures harmony without overwhelming the space!
4. Take Natural Light Into Account
Lighting dramatically affects how colors appear. Before finalizing a shade, consider the room’s natural light exposure:
🌞 North-Facing Rooms → Light appears cooler, so choose warm whites, soft beige, or creamy tones
🌇 South-Facing Rooms → Sunlight enhances colors, so you can go bold with deep blues, greens, or warm earthy tones
🌅 East-Facing Rooms → Morning sunlight works well with soft blues, greens, and neutrals
🌆 West-Facing Rooms → Warm evening light complements moody tones like taupe, burnt orange, and olive green
💡 Pro Tip: Always test paint samples at different times of the day to see how the color shifts in natural and artificial light.
5. Coordinate with Existing Decor
If you’re not doing a full renovation, your furniture, flooring, and decor should complement your color choices.
✔️ Match your wall color with undertones in your furniture, artwork, and fabrics.
✔️ If you have dark furniture, balance it with lighter wall colors for contrast.
✔️ If you love a monochromatic look, vary shades and textures for depth.
💡 Pro Tip: If you have bold furniture or statement pieces, keep the walls neutral to let them shine.
6. Try Trending vs. Timeless Colors
Some colors are trendy, while others remain timeless and classic.
🎨 Trending Colors in 2024
✔️ Earthy Greens & Terracotta (Natural, organic feel)
✔️ Moody Blues & Deep Plums (Rich, elegant accents)
✔️ Soft Neutrals & Greige (Warm, inviting foundations)
🎨 Timeless Color Choices
✔️ Crisp White & Warm Beige (Always fresh and versatile)
✔️ Classic Gray & Navy Blue (Sophisticated and adaptable)
✔️ Pale Pastels & Soft Greens (Light and airy charm)
💡 Pro Tip: If you love a trend, introduce it through accent walls or decor, so it’s easy to update later!
7. Test Before You Commit
Never rely solely on paint swatches! Before painting an entire room:
✅ Buy a small sample and paint a test patch on the wall.
✅ Observe it at different times of day under natural and artificial lighting.
✅ Compare it with furniture and flooring to ensure it complements the space.
💡 Pro Tip: Digital color previews can be helpful, but always test in real life before making a final decision.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right colors for your home is about more than just aesthetics—it sets the mood, enhances functionality, and creates a harmonious living space. By understanding color psychology, using the 60-30-10 rule, and considering lighting and decor, you can confidently select the perfect shades for your home!