COLOR SCHEMES

It's simple: Decide what colors you love and go from there. Whether you're starting from scratch or updating a room, developing a new color scheme can seem intimidating and overwhelming.

Starting with a fabric you love is one good way to narrow your choices. Another is to start with an object whose colors inspire you, such as a piece of artwork, a porcelain bowl, or an Oriental rug. Use those colors to create the palette for walls, floor, furnishings and accessories.

For example, find inspiration in a painting and translate it into a multicolor palette for your home. Don't try to match the painting color for color, but rather use it as a starting point for selecting hues that would work well together throughout your house.

In each room, allow a different color to dominate and give each space a distinct personality. The repetition of colors throughout your home knits rooms together and creates a feeling of comfortable cohesion.

How do you decide which colors to put where? Start with the rooms where you and your family spend their most time. What mood do you want to create? Which colors will help you achieve that mood? Use that color for the walls and perhaps a tint of a secondary color for the ceiling and floor.

For furnishings and window treatments, look for fabrics that combine your inspiration-piece colors in varying amounts and shades. Solid-color fabrics will have the greatest impact; prints or plaids add interest and variety.