When it comes to adorning the walls of your home, you need to do a little digging and a lot of experimenting before making a color commitment. Every creative venture requires inspiration – and that especially applies to decorating your home.

• Look to Mother Nature. Any color combination found in nature can easily be translated into an interior arrangement and make for a soothing ambience. Spend a little time outside, observe which tones you’re drawn to most and bring your ideas back home.
• Defer to a beloved pattern. Whether it’s from your favorite wallpaper, dress or artwork, a preexisting pattern is likely to coordinate well. Even if the pattern incorporates disparate colors, a harmony can be achieved by layering a dominant tone with more subtle hues.
• Consider your target vibe. The colors in each room should correlate, emotionally and visually, so pinpointing the overall atmosphere you want for your home can help you determine which shades to use in each room.

The process of conceptualizing your perfect home palette also requires some technical observation. Here are some additional steps to help in your color choices.

• Sketch out a floor plan. Note the immovable pieces in each room – such as wallpaper, furniture or décor. Be sure that the hues you’re considering can coexist with these items.
• Understand and contemplate value. As you put together your favorite mix of colors, consider the concept of value, or the relative degree of lightness and darkness. Think about integrating dark, bright and light shades in each room.
• Observe daily light changes. Color is drastically impacted by light, so you should note how much daylight each space receives. For a room with less sun exposure, use a warm combination to offset the shadows. For a room with plenty of windows, darker hues may be best.
• Decide on a neutral. A successful in-home color palette should include one neutral hue. These timeless shades give the space a cohesive look and feel. When certain color fads fade, you can phase them out while keeping your neutrals and general design intact.

Before applying a single stroke of paint to any of your walls, you’ll want to buy samples of your favorite shades and test them out on a small section of your walls. After you’ve done some informed, artistic deliberation, the home color scheme of your dreams will be within reach.