Color palettes are the secret to giving every makeover that tied together look, but how do you build one? We’re sharing some simple steps to help you put together a palette of your own for your next DIY project.
Step 1: Start with the Space
Unless you’re doing a floor-to-ceiling overhaul, the first place to start when building a color palette is figuring out what’s staying. You can easily switch up blankets and throw pillows to match your new look, but fixed pieces like floors and countertops need to be worked into your palette if they’re not going anywhere. Paying attention to existing colors and tones in your room will help you create a coordinating color scheme that all flows together.
Step 2: Find Inspiration
Inspiration is everywhere, so where do you start? Sometimes you might have a style you already gravitate toward – if that’s the case, the colors and patterns you love are probably already in your home. If you’re starting with a blank slate, you can find inspiration anywhere from artwork and magazines to Pinterest and Instagram. No matter where you look, these sources are the perfect way to get an idea of the colors and styles that speak to you.
DIY TIP: Want personalized color recommendations that pair with the hues already in your space? Sherwin-Williams Color Expert™ app uses next-gen technology to give you instant options.
Step 3: Pick a Color Scheme
You can always lean on classic schemes like monochromatic or complementary, but did you know an emotional side comes into play too? Color is a powerful way to infuse a space with personality, so it’s just as important to think about the mood you want to create. If you love a space that feels dramatic, you can explore a color scheme that’s bold and saturated, but if you’re looking to create a natural color scheme, soft and earthy hues can help you get the look. This simple trick helps narrow down the color families and tones you want to stick with for your palette.
DIY TIP: Check out our guide on Color Theory to learn more about tones and each color family.
Step 4: Choose Your Base Color
The foundation of every palette starts with your base or primary color – aka the color you’ll use the most. Since your base makes up the biggest part of your palette, it’s important to choose something relaxing to the eye. Neutrals offer the most versatility because they go with anything and are easy to build off, but that doesn’t mean you have to go white or gray either. Shades like Evergreen Fog, Urbane Bronze, and Naval all have neutral undertones.
Featured Product: Emerald® Interior Acrylic Latex Paint
Step 5: Build Your Color Palette
You’ve planned, prepped, and picked your base color – now it’s time to layer in some more hues. While there’s no hard-and-fast rule on how many colors to use, a great place to start is choosing a secondary and accent color. If you stick with a palette of three colors, keep the 60-30-10 rule in mind – 60% of the space should be your primary color, 30% should be the secondary color and 10% should be your accent color. If you want to add more than three colors, you can build a bigger palette with varying shades of complementary colors to give yourself a few more hues to work with.
Once you have an idea of how many colors you want, the key is to mix and match until you’ve found a combination you love. Color chips are our favorite way to mix and match when you’re building a palette, and you can order them online for FREE!
DIY TIP: A color palette goes beyond the walls by helping you find decor and furniture in similar shades to create a seamlessly styled space.
Ready to try building a color palette? Drop a comment below to share which room you’re making over. And if you find you need a little help along the way, book a FREE Virtual Color Consultation with one of our color experts to bring your color to life.
I like warm colors and I would like to maximize the space.
Here is the link to my home: https://www.zillow.com/homes/1140-Pierce-St-S-Shakopee,-MN-55379_rb/2189045_zpid/?
Hi Jennifer! What a lovely home! We’d like to get a better sense of your space before making a recommendation. Sign up for a free Virtual Color Consultation here: https://www.sherwinwilliams.com/homeowners/color/lead-csi
I want to change my home exterior from a plain white, to a 3 color suggestions
Hi Ali, We’d like to get a better sense of your space before making a recommendation. Sign up for a free Virtual Color Consultation here: https://www.sherwinwilliams.com/homeowners/color/lead-csi
want to paint my small apartment with a soft gray in the living room. I have a small GALLEY
kitchen, hallway, small bathroom, and a bedroom.
should all the rooms be the same color? kitchen accessories are RED. : moving Room dark blue with yellow accessories and bedroom with black and white. I love vivid accessories, Because i rent the apartment the main color has to be pretty much natural. U saw a gray color last time I was on your site I saw a gray with blue hue. Also one with silver . I requested color samples, but did not get any.
Hi Linda! We’d like to get a better sense of your space before making a recommendation. Sign up for a free Virtual Color Consultation here: https://www.sherwinwilliams.com/homeowners/color/lead-csi
We are a small house painting company in Aurora CO and recommend Sherwin-Williams paint to all of our customers…thanks for this great information.
We are building a house. I want to paint my cabinets ‘sage’.. I like your ‘Naturalist’ collection but I don’t know that Sage is a good match for the ‘Naturalist’ collection. If Sage does go with the collection can someone help me develop a pallette?
Hi Lorraine! We’d like to get a better sense of your space before making a recommendation. Sign up for a free Virtual Color Consultation here: https://www.sherwinwilliams.com/homeowners/color/lead-csi
I am trying to use your web site to see how color would look like on my house. Does not work
Hi Russell, We’re always working to improve your color exploration experience. Our team is ready to assist with any questions or challenges you are experiencing with our color tools. Please contact us at 1-800-4Sherwin (474-3794) or email us at http://bit.ly/2Dgu0Ti Thank you!
We have sage cabinets with our new kitchen with white marble countertops with brown/grey stone looking tile. What would be a good combo for our walls? Wanting to change
Hello Amber, For a project like this, you would be best served by a Virtual Consult – the consultant would need to see your “sage” in order to recommend colors. You can sign up for this free one-on-one half hour consult at: https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/virtual-color-consultation#book-now Thank you!
Good afternoon, I would like you to help me with colors to paint my house on the outside. My favorite color is blue and I would like a combination of blues with other matching colors. Thanks in advance
Hi Laura! We’d like to get a better sense of your space before making a recommendation. Sign up for a free Virtual Color Consultation here: https://www.sherwinwilliams.com/homeowners/color/lead-csi
Small master bedroom, I need help
Hi Rod! We’d like to get a better sense of your space before making a recommendation. Sign up for a free Virtual Color Consultation here: https://www.sherwinwilliams.com/homeowners/color/lead-csi
Very interesting
I am building a house soon and want to work with Lime wash paint in great room . Creams and pastel greens. Would love a pallette. No greys.
Hi Connie! We’d like to get a better sense of your space before making a recommendation. Sign up for a free Virtual Color Consultation here: https://www.sherwinwilliams.com/homeowners/color/lead-csi
I want to paint the outside of my home it’s a stucco finish I have gold ,brick red and a pinkish colored flag stone. As of now I have a light solid color on home I’m looking for 3 to 4 colors to repaint home and trim plus garage door and 2 gates plus some shutters any help, been leaning on a medium golden for house mate Navajo white for trim and need something for gates and shutters the gates are wooden with large black strap hinges and door pulls or even any suggestions for complete job . I’m stuck with those colors of the flagstone& have flag stone on front and sides of home so I do need to bring those color schemes in somehow. Thanks any help would be Greatly appreciated.
Hi Ken! We’d like to get a better sense of your space before making a recommendation. Sign up for a free Virtual Color Consultation here: https://www.sherwinwilliams.com/homeowners/color/lead-csi
I need a copper color that is iridescent
Hi Kim! We no longer carry any iridescent products. We used to carry a copper glaze that would give a luminescent/iridescent sheen to colors but that has been gone for quite some time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
Hello! Trying to find some accent colors for our house. I need a few walls and cabinets. Our walls are Mindful gray. I like blues, greens and most inspired by the farmhouse look. We have white cabinets and a few wood accent walls.
Hi Britany! For a job of this scope and detail, you would benefit best from a one-on-one virtual consult with one of our designers. You can schedule a “real-time” appointment with a designer when you sign up. This virtual consult will allow the designer to see your space and lighting which would be the best option for your project. Click the following link to get started. https://homeowner.sherwin-williams.com/colorconsult/
What is a good color for a small bathroom?
Hi Sue! What are colors are in your bathroom? countertops, flooring upholstery?
I have a much easier 1-step process. Choose a throw pillow or a painting or a chair fabric that you love, and match up the colors to SW paint colors.
This is great advice, Debra!
We are using retreat for an accent wall. Can you suggest some complimentary warm-toned neutrals to go with this?
Hello! Check out these warm neutrals, any of which would work:
Neutral Ground SW 7568
Natural Tan SW 7567
Stucco SW 7569
We have a 1 year old house and are needing to paint to front porch and decks. I need help to choose a right color for what we have. I am looking forward to a video consultation with a SW consultant soon! Thanks! Donna
New build with light (slight blue undertone) gray large format tile floors throughout home except bedrooms. Darker gray countertops and gray ledgestone fireplace in a medium gray. I love sagey greens but can you help direct me to a good wall color with 10 foot ceilings?
Hi Cindy, For a job of this scope and detail, you would benefit best from a one-on-one virtual consult with one of our designers. You can schedule a “real-time” appointment with a designer when you sign up. This virtual consult will allow the designer to see your space and lighting which would be the best option for your project. Click the following link to get started. https://homeowner.sherwin-williams.com/colorconsult/
Where can I purchase the chair you have featured with the colour Evergreen Fog SW 9130?
Hi Justine! Here ya go! https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/seating/armchairs/tai-armchair-teak-off-white-leather/id-f_27087612/
This one is also close: https://www.perigold.com/Uultis-Design–Tai-30.13-W-Polyester-Armchair-50100128-L54-K~UULT1132.html?refid=FR457-UULT1132
Looking for some guidance on painting exterior of house.
Hi James! You would benefit best from a one-on-one virtual consult with one of our designers. You can schedule a “real-time” appointment with a designer when you sign up. This virtual consult will allow the designer to see your exterior/home. Click the following link to get started. https://homeowner.sherwin-williams.com/colorconsult/
One big room, living room, kitchen, and breakfast or dinning room. All walls are painted with “Pachyderm”, As a secondary color I would like to add a soft Pink. then add a touch of grass green. Painting kitchen cabinets, should I paint them western reserve , or a couple of shades lighter than Pachyderm. I don’t want them to look
yellow. Am I crazy ??????
We’d like to get a better sense of your space before making a recommendation. Sign up for a free Virtual Color Consultation here: https://www.sherwinwilliams.com/homeowners/color/lead-cs
What accent color goes with double latte on my exterior house
Hi Janet, blues and greens work well with Double Latte SW 9108; is there one family you would prefer? Will this color be for doors or shutters or something else?
My husband and I are building a new home. I chose Gossamer Veil for the kitchen cabinets and the cabinets on either side of the fireplace. The walls have not been painted yet. The cabinets look too gray for my taste and I am hoping someone here can suggest a wall color that would tone down, or neutralize, the gray. At this point, I am considering Aesthetic White on the walls and Pure White for the trim. I am on a short deadline to give the builder the name of the wall paint color. Please help! Thanks in advance.
Hi there, For a job of this scope and detail, you would benefit best from a one-on-one virtual consult with one of our designers. You can schedule a “real-time” appointment with a designer when you sign up. This virtual consult will allow the designer to see your space and lighting which would be the best option for your project. Click the following link to get started. https://homeowner.sherwin-williams.com/colorconsult/
Love Urbane Bronze & have decided on having it as the color for an accent wall in our family room/kitchen as well as changing out my black kitchen island to urbane bronze. Where I am torn is the main color for the walls – I have white kitchen cabinets & white trim on the doors/baseboards and all mid-tone wood furniture and flooring in the room . I was leaning towards Perfect Greige or Anew Gray but am not 100% as I fear they might not play well with urbane bronze & may also be too dark. after reading a few articles & seeing the suggested coordinating colors with Urbane bronze, I am now leaning towards Shoji White or Shitake but am also concerned about how those colors will play with all the white trim. We live in the southwest so get plenty of light & sun in all rooms – this room faces east (patio slider doors at that end of the room) and has two south facing windows and one north facing window – however, because of the extreme heat in the summer, I tend to keep our floor length linen drapes closed during the day which may make it darker. Any advice would be appreciated – thank you!
Hello Annie, thanks for contacting Sherwin Williams. We’d like to get a better sense of your space before making a recommendation. Sign up for a free Virtual Color Consultation here: https://www.sherwinwilliams.com/homeowners/color/lead-cs
I need some color selection help!. Painting bathroom and vanity in secondary bathroom. The more I look at colors the more confused I get. I like blues, greens and want something warm and calming, possibly light walls and a darker accent color for the vanity. The countertop is white/creamy. I am open to any suggestions my main goal
would be for something striking. Thanks in advance for your help.
For a project like this, you would be best served by a dedicated one-on-one half hour virtual consult. This consult is free – you can register through this link:
https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/virtual-color-consultation#book-now
We just had our 1988 house painted and I would like to select a fresh modern pop of color for our front door. The base house color is SWVS 405 Stock Pot, all windows and trim are SW 7636 Origami White, with our shutters and garage door painted SW 7069 Iron Ore. Our home is an old style Cape Cod with a full covered front porch, the porch ceiling and porch posts are all painted Origami white. We have teak colored (orange / honey toned) patio furniture with dark teal cushions. The front of our home faces West, leaving our home dark until later afternoon. Also, we have a full glass storm door which creates a glare on the main door. I was hoping to use a lighter color so you’ll see it from the road. Can you help with a color for the front door?
Help is appreciated!
Hi Teressa, Your house sounds stunning! We think that it would be a great idea to grab a pop of color from what you currently have going on. Would you be open to bringing in your teal cushion and having it color matched? This will tie in everything while still adding that modern pop of color you’re looking for. If you’d like to sign up for a free 30 minute Virtual Color Consultation, here is a link to sign up. Most people find it to be very helpful in this type of situation! https://www.sherwin-williams.com/en-us/virtual-color-consultation