I continuously get the question, “Where do I start?” or better yet, “I’m so overwhelmed that I haven’t done ANYTHING”. Are you stumped by decorating according to a color palette? Do you feel a bit lost, so much so that you are simply paralyzed in making decisions?

Well I have a basic guideline that may help. I’ve blogged about this before but thought I’d bring it up again because it seems everyone often feels a bit lost in design and choosing color palettes in various ways.

Where to start:

1) With a RUG

2) Choose your WINDOW COVERINGS. Typically I recommend two, one for light control and insulation (example, lined bamboo shade) and then the second being the fabric drapes. The only trick here is to connect the tones in the window coverings with the rug (example, warm, cool). IT IS ABSOLUTELY OKAY TO MIX PRINTS…in fact, it is very trendy at the moment.

3) The SOFA is the next item. This is typically a larger investment in a room so choose something in a neutral tone that you can change its surroundings over time to suit your taste.

4) CHAIRS (likely to be upholstered or leather) fall in line after the sofa. This is a great opportunity to bring in another color (found in the rug or drapes) into the palette.

5) OCCASIONAL TABLES. Material, style, finish, could stem from the furniture items you have already selected for the space. This is also a great opportunity to mix styles as no designer is a fan of the matchy-matchy set of furniture. Try a different material such as metal legs, glass top, or reclaimed barn wood to name a few.

6) OTHER FURNITURE ITEMS. Examples are other occasional tables, unupholstered chairs, bookcases, ottomans, and such. Fill in the space with eclectic items you find from various sources. This is also something that most likely will happen over time. There is no need to buy everything and fill an entire space immediately. The best environments develop organically over time…just don’t wait until you have it ALL to add something new to the space.

7) NOW you are ready to choose your PAINT COLOR. Pull the paint color from the rug, fabrics, or inspirational accessory you picked up along the way.

Of course this ideal order is only if you are starting with a blank slate and nothing in the room. Most of us, in reality, already have several pieces we intend to reuse or keep in the room such as the sofa, chairs, and finished floors. If this is the case then I suggest choosing an accessory, a new rug, a piece of art, or an inspirational fabric and use it to set the palette for the space.

That said, you most likely already have a “general” idea for the paint color or dominant color scheme. That is okay, just don’t pick your paint color until you have found some of the other items first. It is MUCH easier to match paint to  a fabric, rug, or accessory than it is to try to match all the things in the room to the paint color already on the walls. Besides…paint is probably the cheapest thing in the room at only $25 per gallon or so!

 Happy Painting or Should I Say Color Picking!