My Top 5 Interior Color & Design Tips
Create Harmonious Spaces That Feel Cohesive and Timeless
When working with color in your home, it’s easy to get swept up by trends, paint swatches, or Instagram inspiration. But truly successful interior design starts with strategy, and it all begins with understanding color placement, undertone, and visual flow.
Whether you're refreshing a single room or planning a full remodel, here are my top five professional tips for choosing colors and finishes that feel intentional, livable, and beautifully balanced.
1. Start with Permanent Fixtures
Before you think about wall color, fabric, or decor, identify what’s not going to change. These are your fixed elements, and they set the foundation for everything else.
These may include:
- Flooring (hardwood, carpet, tile)
- Stone countertops or fireplaces
- Architectural elements (wood beams, brickwork)
- Cabinetry or built-ins
You want to build your entire color scheme around these permanent features, not try to match them later. Why? Because these elements are expensive and difficult to replace. Your paint and fabric choices should support, not fight against, the fixed materials already in the space.
2. Coordinate with Adjacent Spaces
If the room you’re designing opens into another space—or shares a sightline with a patio, hallway, or even an outdoor area—you’ll want to tie the color scheme in with those adjacent spaces.
This doesn't mean everything must match. But the hues should feel related, even if they vary in saturation or depth. This is especially important in:
- Open floor plans
- Homes with lots of natural light or large windows
- Rooms with a view
- Apartment living, where multiple areas are visible at once
Creating color continuity ensures the space feels cohesive and flows naturally, rather than feeling disjointed or choppy.
3. Choose Fabric or Tile Before Paint
Paint is always easier to match to a fabric or tile than the other way around.
In a living room or bedroom, start with:
- Upholstery
- Rugs
- Bedding or curtains
- Pillows or accent textiles
In a kitchen or bathroom, begin with:
- Backsplash tile
- Countertops
- Cabinet finishes
These are your primary color and texture anchors. Once those are in place, you can select a wall color that complements and harmonizes with the full palette, not competes with it.
4. Undertone Matters More Than You Think
Here’s where most DIY color schemes fall apart: undertone inconsistency.
Every color has an undertone—either blue-based (cool) or gold-based (warm)—and mixing them can create a subtle (or not-so-subtle) disharmony in the room. This is different from general color temperature.
✔️ Blue-based gray + blue-based white = harmony
✖️ Blue-based gray + gold-based white or beige with yellow undertone = visual conflict
When in doubt, hold samples next to each other and ask:
Do these feel like they come from the same spectrum?
If not, it’s better to re-select early than regret the clash later.
5. Don’t Follow Trends—Invest in Timeless Choices
Trends come and go, but permanent fixtures are just that—permanent. When it comes to flooring, tile, moulding, countertops, and other architectural details, choose classic styles and finishes that you genuinely love and can live with for years.
This doesn’t mean your space has to feel boring or neutral. You can express your personality through:
- Wall color
- Artwork
- Decorative accents
- Pillows, throws, and textiles
But when it comes to structural or high-investment items, choose wisely, not impulsively. Let your space evolve naturally around a solid, timeless foundation.
Final Thought
Interior color harmony is both an art and a science. By focusing on what’s permanent, coordinating connected spaces, planning your palette around fabric or tile, and keeping undertones consistent, you’ll avoid costly mistakes and create a home that feels intentional, peaceful, and uniquely you.
Need help with color selection for your home or office? I offer personalized residential color consulting for interiors and exteriors.
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