Building a palette from scratch

A palette is not five colors from a Pinterest board. It is a system that starts with what you cannot change.

Step 1: inventory the permanent

Floor, countertops, brick, large furniture — these set the undertone of everything. If your floor is warm oak, your palette must live in warm territory; fighting it produces a room that always looks slightly wrong.

Step 2: three neutrals, one voice

Choose three neutrals that share the undertone (walls, ceiling/trim, textiles) and one saturated color for personality. Add pattern only after the neutrals work — never as a rescue for a broken palette.

Frequently asked questions