The natural world is full of complex color palettes and textures: the bright, soft green of leaves against a rough dark brown bark; a sprig of pink flowers growing amid gray and white rocks. Use nature as a starting point to plan out the perfect color palette for any room in the house.
Winter Colors
In colder climates, the winter season means the arrival of white snow, barren dark brown tree trunks, and crisp bluish ice. Channel these winter colors into a chic, high-contrast look for a living room, bathroom, or bedroom.
- Gray: use this versatile neutral for wall color, window treatments, or textiles. Combine with white to create a brighter space, or use several shades of gray to add depth.
- White: add some pop to a gray or blue room with crisp white woodwork. White bedding, area rug, or window treatments provide contrast for a gray or blue wall color.
- Light blue: a classic neutral, light blue offers a versatile backdrop that is more interesting and relaxing than plain white. Brighten a space with cool blue walls and silvery blue textiles.
- Dark brown: a rich chocolate brown will offset the cool blues, whites, and grays of a wintry room. Try adding dark brown with throw pillows, a sofa slipcover, footstool, or bedding.
Autumn Colors
The vibrant, colorful palette of the autumn season offers bright reds, oranges, and a myriad of brown shades from which to choose. A combination of these colors is perfect to create a cozy den, home office, or family room.
- Dark brown: this rich color is ideal for a neutral to help balance a space with a large amount of color. Use for woodwork, floors, or furniture to ground the room and add an earthy element.
- Khaki/natural: like dark brown, a light khaki or "natural" off-white can act as a canvas for more colorful textiles and accessories.
- Dark red: a deep red provides eye-popping color against a brown wall or furniture color. Use red for accents like throw pillows, plant holders, and other decorative accessories, or go bold with a dark red accent wall.
- Burnt orange: a dulled, brownish orange will provide an effect similar to dark red in a foliage-inspired room.
- Mustard yellow: try this flattering tone on an accent wall, in textiles, or plant holders.
Spring Colors
Channel a lively, colorful flower garden with this springtime palette for a living room or sunroom.
- Grass green: use this bright color, or tone it down to a soft kelly or lime, and use for throw pillows, couch cushions, or to brighten mismatched or plain coffee and end tables.
- Yellow: add eye-popping color with a cheerful yellow. A yellow area rug creates a lively focal point in a room, while a few yellow accessories keep a space fun and funky.
- Khaki/natural: a creamy off-white provides the perfect neutral to offset an array of springtime colors.
- Pink/magenta: to break up a citrus-y green and yellow room, add a few magenta accessories. The jewel tones will depth and visual interest to a sunshiny space.
Summer Colors
A summertime by the seaside evokes a lovely, calming palette of greens, blues, and other cool tones. Use these relaxing shades to liven up a bedroom, bathroom, or living room.
- Khaki/natural: just as a sandy beach provides the ideal backdrop for watery blues and greens, so does a light neutral brown for a living space. Put this color on the walls, on the floor, or bring in this light neutral with pine or birch furniture.
- Light blue: try this cool blue on the walls or with textiles like bedding or accent pillows.
- Teal: a deep blue-green provides intriguing contrast to the other light neutrals in this seaside color palette. Work in through accent pillows, a collection of decorative bottles or vases, or for a bold look, try spray-painting accessories like candlesticks or bookends.
- Bottle green: capture the look of ocean glass by incorporating rich bottle greens. Pair green bottles and glass vases with teal accessories; display on a windowsill or use to break up a packed bookcase.
These color palettes offer relaxing and lively combinations inspired by nature. Use these palette ideas to add depth and visual interest with color.
