Hey friends! Welcome back to another edition of Home Decor Chat. Today, we’re diving into one of my favorite topics: choosing wall and floor color combinations. I don’t know about you, but I get positively giddy when presented with a blank canvas and an endless array of paint swatches to play with!
But I also know it can be daunting to settle on a color scheme that looks cohesive and stylish. You want to avoid a hodge-podge of mismatched hues. The goal is to create visual harmony that reflects your taste and lifestyle.
Take a deep breath and grab a coffee because Auntie Amanda is here to help. I’ve lived and breathed home decor for over a decade, so consider this your pocket guide to flawless wall and floor pairings. Let’s get decorating!
Contents
- 1 Understanding Color Theory 101
- 2 Testing Your Colors in Natural Light
- 3 Choosing Your Floor Color: The Groundwork for Your Scheme
- 4 Selecting Wall Colors: Tips for Making Them Pop
- 5 Creative Wall and Floor Combos for a Cohesive Look
- 6 Tying it All Together: Finishing Touches
- 7 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Color Journey
Understanding Color Theory 101
Before we start slapping paint on those walls willy-nilly, it helps to understand some basic color theory. I know, I know, it sounds tedious. But trust me, grasping how colors work together makes the entire process much smoother (and saves you from costly mistakes!).
So here’s a quick crash course. The first concept you need to be familiar with is the color wheel. This nifty little circle displays colors around each other. Colors opposite each other are called complementary colors (like red and green). Colors side-by-side are analogous colors (like blue, purple, and pink).
When pairing wall and floor colors, you should stick with analogous or complementary schemes to create visual harmony. Randomly choosing colors can make a room feel disjointed.
Each color has properties like hue, saturation, and brightness. Don’t let these terms intimidate you. Hue refers to a color’s pigment, saturation refers to its intensity, and intelligence refers to how light or dark it is.
Understanding how these qualities interact allows you to create balanced, sophisticated color schemes. For example, you don’t want to pair a bright, flashy red with a muted, earthy green. It just doesn’t work!
Testing Your Colors in Natural Light
Here’s an amateur mistake that even seasoned designers sometimes make: choosing colors based on those tiny swatches from the hardware store.
Listen, unless you’re decorating a dollhouse, paint chips don’t reveal a color’s appearance in an entire room. And they don’t show how your hues will look in natural light!
That’s why I always recommend painting large swatches directly on your walls and observing them at different times of the day as the natural light changes. Clever designers might even use a light meter to test the exact color temperature.
In natural sunlight, that cool grey you loved on the swatch could take on prominent purple undertones. So, before fully committing, take the time to test out wall and floor colors in the actual space.
Choosing Your Floor Color: The Groundwork for Your Scheme
Interior design pros know you should select your flooring color first when decorating a new space. Why? Well, consider your floors the foundation upon which you build the rest of your room.
Floors are expensive and challenging to change frequently. So, you want your floor choice to be flexible enough to work with different wall colors and decor styles down the line.
Some eternally stylish flooring ideas include:
- Warm wood tones like oak, walnut, and birch
- Cool-toned grey wood floors
- Natural stone tiles in travertine or marble
- High-quality vinyl planks in concrete or slate look
Avoid anything too bold or trendy for your feet. The goal is to create a timeless, neutral base to build wall colors.
Selecting Wall Colors: Tips for Making Them Pop
Now for the fun part – it’s time to liven up those blank canvases! When choosing wall colors, you can experiment with bolder hues and make a statement more flexibly.
Start by considering the space’s existing furniture and decor. Your wall color choices should complement these existing elements. Accent colors in your rug, throw pillows, and artwork are excellent sources of inspiration.
Some of my favorite tips for selecting stunning wall colors include:
Complement Your Floor, Hue,
Look for wall colors analogous to or complementary to your flooring tone. For example, pair a rich walnut floor with emerald green walls or a neutral grey floor with bold navy blue walls.
Consider the Purpose of the Room
Every room should evoke a different mood. Energizing oranges and yellows work better in kitchens and offices, while serene blues and greens create a relaxing bedroom.
Account for Natural Light
As we discussed, the direction and quality of natural light impact colors. North-facing rooms with cool light can handle deeper hues, while south-facing rooms with warm light call for lighter colors.
Use the 60-30-10 Rule.
This handy guideline recommends that 60% of your walls be a dominant neutral color, 30% be an accent wall in a bolder color, and 10% have a pop of color from paintings or decor.
Play with Sheens
Matte or flat finishes hide imperfections, while glossy sheens make colors pop. Combining sheens adds depth and interest. For example, use glossy paint on trims and matte walls.
Creative Wall and Floor Combos for a Cohesive Look
Now that you’re armed with expert tips let’s explore some chic wall and floor color schemes you can try in your home!
Rustic Charm
There’s something so warm and welcoming about the rustic look. Try natural-looking laminate flooring in a lighter oak or birch tone for this style. Complement it with walls in deeper earthy hues like oxblood red, rich green, or even mustard yellow. Add textured elements like wood accent walls or brick backsplashes.
Coastal Cool
Transport yourself to the Hamptons with breezy blue and white color combos inspired by the beach. Try weathered driftwood-style floors paired with soft, cloudy blue walls. Accent with crisp white trims and crown molding. Incorporate natural textures like woven seagrass rugs, rattan furniture, and driftwood decor.
Urban Edge
Mix sleek concrete-look floors with cool greys or even black walls for a modern, edgy look with tons of street cred. Stainless steel fixtures, geometric patterns, and abstract art complete the urban chic vibe.
Traditional and Timeless
You can always go right with classic hardwood floors and soft, neutral walls. For example, you could pair light oak-stained floors with creamy beige or taupe walls. White trims and moldings add crisp contrast. This traditional scheme works with any decor style and stands the test of time.
There are many options – go bold or neutral, warm or cool, light or dark. The most important thing is choosing a wall and floor color combo that makes your heart sing!
Tying it All Together: Finishing Touches
We’ve covered the leading wall and floor colors. But the finishing touches pull a room together and create that wow factor. Here are some of my top tips for a cohesive, stylish look:
Rugs: Layer in-area rugs to tie floor and wall colors together. A patterned carpet can incorporate both shades.
Furniture: Choose larger upholstered pieces like couches in hues drawn from your wall and floor colors.
Pillows and Throws: Toss, pillows, and throws are easy ways to incorporate accent colors that tie into your overall scheme.
Window Treatments: Choose drapes or curtains that integrate your color scheme. Hanging curtain panels in a bold wall color is an easy trick!
Art and Accessories: Don’t be afraid to hang art, mirrors, vases, and other accessories in your crucial wall or floor shades. Repetition creates harmony.
With some thoughtful finishing touches, you can combine your wall and floor color from blah to ta-dah!
Mistakes to Avoid on Your Color Journey
This gives you a good grasp of creating cohesive wall and floor color combinations. But before I let you loose with those paint cans, here are a few mistakes to avoid:
- Refrain from considering your architecture – Work with your space’s existing lines and layout, not against it.
- Choose only bold colors. You need contrast between neutral and lighter tones for balance.
- Going too dark in a small space – Dark hues can make rooms feel smaller and cave-like if overdone.
- Ignoring undertones – Check swatches in all types of light to catch sneaky undertones that could clash.
- We need to consider sheen. Sheen affects how colors interact. Mix it up with matte, gloss, and satin.
Okay, color experts! You now have all the tips, tricks, and insider info you need to choose your home’s wall and floor colors confidently. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make bold choices that express your unique personality.
Let me know how your decorating projects go! Share your color palettes and photos on the Home Decor Chat Facebook group. I can’t wait to see your newly colorful spaces.
