Whole House Colour Schemes

Whether your personal style can be described as minimalism, maximalism, or somewhere in between, choosing a whole house colour scheme ensures a cohesive, balanced look.

Open living room and kitchen with light blue and lavender-gray walls, a white ceiling, a set of modern white armchairs, and cabinets painted red and white. Open living room and kitchen with light blue and lavender-gray walls, a white ceiling, a set of modern white armchairs, and cabinets painted red and white.

Whole House Colour Schemes

Whether your personal style can be described as minimalism, maximalism, or somewhere in between, choosing a whole house colour scheme ensures a cohesive, balanced look.

A unified colour scheme creates visual harmony throughout your home, making the space feel well designed and intentional.

Choosing interior paint colours shouldn’t feel overwhelming. One way to simplify the paint selection process and improve colour flow throughout the house is to establish a whole house colour palette. The process starts with the selection of a dominant colour, followed by a few secondary colours, a trim colour, and an accent that’s painted or otherwise incorporated into the space.

The benefits of a well-chosen palette—including a seamless flow from room to room and a solid foundation for decorating—far outweigh the time it takes to select your perfect colours.
Living room with fireplace centred on a white wall, framed by two matching windows, two plants, and two modern white chairs, with brown wood joists along the ceiling.

Creating a Cohesive Colour Scheme

The first step in creating your palette is to select a dominant colour. To do so, identify the central room of the home. For some, it’s the kitchen; for others, it’s a space with a favourite stationary element, like a living room with a unique fireplace. Regardless, in every home, this point must be designated.

Once you’ve chosen your central room, understand the needs of the space. The goal is to work with the room, not against it. Consider things like existing furniture, flooring, cabinets, and countertops. Determine whether a paint colour with a warm or cool undertone is best based on the direction the room faces and how much natural and artificial light it gets.

In this living room, the dominant colour is Steam AF-15, a neutral shade of white that offers a clean yet sophisticated look. It provides the perfect backdrop for this understated fireplace to take centre stage.
“A neutral hue is a great starting point as the dominant colour of the home as it creates a great base for layering.”

- Anastasia Livcha-Gourley, Colour Expert

Dining room with pale pink on the upper portion of the walls and white on the lower portion; a wooden bench is set beneath large, bright windows that illuminate a wooden dining table set on a red rug and light wood flooring.

Choosing the Right Colours for Every Room

The secondary colours in your whole house palette are used in the supplemental living spaces such as the foyer, dining room, and any other areas that visually connect back to the central room. “Consider using distinct coluors that tie in with the main paint colour,” says Anastasia Livcha-Gourley, a Benjamin Moore colour expert. “This increases colour flow, connecting each room back to the central room.” When selecting supplemental colours, you can go with a shared undertone, an analogous colour scheme, or a monochromatic look that uses a few shades of the same colour.

Paint colours that live between two colour families (like green-gray and pink-beige) create layers and lend complexity to secondary rooms. These are some of our favourite “between” colours:
A study with white walls and a chocolate brown accent wall set with a large, white-framed window, a fireplace, a desk and several other pieces of furniture spread throughout the room.

Determine a Trim Colour to Make a Statement

Swiss Coffee OC-45 brings a comforting style to any room, while a bright cool white like Ice Mist OC-67 creates a modern aesthetic.

Three of our most popular off-white colours for trim are White Dove OC-17, White Heron OC-57, and Chantilly Lace OC-65. They have a way of working with a very wide range of paint colours.

Don’t forget to sample your trim choices to make sure you’re creating a colour scheme that works perfectly in your home.
Interior room painted white, with a dark purple accent wall over a fireplace and a blue painted hallway leading out of the room.

Incorporating Accent Colours for Visual Interest

Accent colours add character and intrigue to a whole house palette—but unless you’re going for a maximalist decor style, we suggest using them in moderation. When adding an accent colour to a room, consider the 60-30-10 Rule. This classic design strategy states that a good colour ratio is 60% dominant colour, 30% secondary colour, and 10% accent colour.

The accent becomes the focal point for the room, so the colour should offer contrast to the rest of the palette. Brightly saturated colours work well in sectioned rooms and those with unique architectural details. Here, jewel-toned Shadow 2117-30 adds intensity above the fireplace, standing out against the dominant colour, Chantilly Lace OC-65, on the walls and ceiling. Playful Tear Drop Blue 2053-60, shown on the back walls, adds dimension as the secondary paint colour of the scheme.

Ready-to-Use Colour Palettes

Need more inspiration? Our colour experts have hand-picked the following whole house palettes to help guide your colour selection journey. Always sample colours in each room because the lighting will affect how the colours appear.

If you need extra help selecting colours, visit the experts at your locally owned store. We can talk through your goals and help you find a colour combination you’ll love.

Classic/Timeless

Balanced, versatile, and sophisticated.

Modern Traditional

Sophisticated, streamlined, and relevant.

Shabby Chic

Romantic, cozy, and whimsical.

Eclectic

Charming, nostalgic, and romantic.

Contemporary

Simple, light, and airy.

Hygge

Warm, relaxing, and welcoming.

Bohemian/Vintage-Inspired

Easygoing, casual, and relaxed.

Scandinavian

Sleek, modern, and inviting.

Farmhouse

Comfy, clean, and effortless.

Coastal

Dreamy, carefree, and charming.

Moody/Rustic

Elegant, modern, and cozy.

Frequently Asked Questions


Q. How do I choose the right colour scheme for my entire home?

A. The process starts with the selection of a dominant colour. First, designate a central room of your home and consider the needs of the space, its decor, and whether a warm or cool undertone is best based on the lighting.

Next, choose a few secondary colours for areas that visually connect to the central room. Consider distinct colours that tie in with the main paint colour. You can go with a shared undertone, an analogous colour scheme, or a monochromatic look that uses a few shades of the same colour.

Finally, select the trim and accent colour. Off-white shades are most popular for trim due to their versatility. The accent becomes the focal point for the room, so the colour should offer contrast to the rest of the palette.



Q. Are there specific Benjamin Moore colour palettes recommended for whole house use?

A. In addition to the ready-to-use colour palettes listed above, you can explore an extensive range of colour palettes on our website. Our colour and design experts developed palettes categorized by everything from design styles and regions to zodiac signs and seasons.

Visit your locally owned Benjamin Moore store or shop online to purchase colour samples and see how your selections will look before painting.



Q. How do I ensure consistency in my colour scheme while allowing for variation?

A. To ensure consistency in your whole house colour scheme, draw inspiration from tried-and-true colour principles. Monochromatic colour schemes creatively combine different shades of the same hue, complementary colour schemes pair a cool colour family with a warm one, and analogous colour schemes combine three colour families that are adjacent to one another on the colour wheel.

However, don’t be afraid to experiment with colour. Allow your personal colour preferences and unique style to guide your choices.



Q. How can I incorporate seasonal variations into my whole house?

A. You can take inspiration from your favourite time of year to create a seasonal colour palette. Try sunbaked shades for a summer-inspired palette; bright, fresh hues for a spring colour palette; cozy, warm hues for a fall-themed colour palette; or a comforting collection of colours for a winter-inspired palette.

Alternatively, you can infuse your home with seasonal character in the form of accents and decor. Consider changing things like pillows, window treatments, and artwork to add festive flair.



Q. Can I mix and match different colour palettes throughout my home?

A. Yes, you can mix and match different colour palettes. Our ready-to-use palettes are meant to act as a starting point in your colour selection journey. However, colour is subjective as we all interpret it differently.

Lighting plays a big role in how a paint colour will cast in a space. For example, if warm lighting is making a crisp white hue appear yellow in a room, you might want to consider another shade. This is why sampling the colours in the palette you choose is so important.

A selection of Benjamin Moore paint colour samples.

Order Colour Samples Online

Buy one or more colour samples to help finalize your choice of colour—and ensure peace of mind.