Whole House Color Schemes

Whether your personal style can be described as minimalism, maximalism, or somewhere in between, choosing a whole house color 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 Color Schemes

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

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

Choosing interior paint colors shouldn’t feel overwhelming. One way to simplify the paint selection process and improve color flow throughout the house is to establish a whole house color palette. The process starts with the selection of a dominant color, followed by a few secondary colors, a trim color, 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 colors.
Living room with fireplace centered 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 Color Scheme

The first step in creating your palette is to select a dominant color. To do so, identify the central room of the home. For some, it’s the kitchen; for others, it’s a space with a favorite 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 color 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 color 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 center stage.
“A neutral hue is a great starting point as the dominant color of the home as it creates a great base for layering.”

- Anastasia Livcha-Gourley, Color 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 Colors for Every Room

The secondary colors 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 colors that tie in with the main paint color,” says Anastasia Livcha-Gourley, a Benjamin Moore color expert. “This increases color flow, connecting each room back to the central room.” When selecting supplemental colors, you can go with a shared undertone, an analogous color scheme, or a monochromatic look that uses a few shades of the same color.

Paint colors that live between two color families (like green-gray and pink-beige) create layers and lend complexity to secondary rooms. These are some of our favorite “between” colors:
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 Color to Make a Statement

Trim paint color should not be overlooked as it plays a supporting role in your whole house color palette. It is no surprise that off-white paint colors are the most common for trim, thanks to their endless versatility. A warm white hue like 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 colors 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 colors.

Don’t forget to sample your trim choices to make sure you’re creating a color 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 Colors for Visual Interest

Accent colors 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 color to a room, consider the 60-30-10 Rule. This classic design strategy states that a good color ratio is 60% dominant color, 30% secondary color, and 10% accent color.

The accent becomes the focal point for the room, so the color should offer contrast to the rest of the palette. Brightly saturated colors 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 color, 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 color of the scheme.

Ready-to-Use Color Palettes

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

If you need extra help selecting colors, visit the experts at your locally owned store or consider booking a personalized Virtual Color Consultation with one of our color experts. We can talk through your goals and help you find a color 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 color scheme for my entire home?

A. The process starts with the selection of a dominant color. 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 colors for areas that visually connect to the central room. Consider distinct colors that tie in with the main paint color. You can go with a shared undertone, an analogous color scheme, or a monochromatic look that uses a few shades of the same color.

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



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

A. In addition to the ready-to-use color palettes listed above, you can explore an extensive range of color palettes on our website. Our color 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 color samples and see how your selections will look before painting.



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

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

However, don’t be afraid to experiment with color. Allow your personal color 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 favorite time of year to create a seasonal color palette. Try sunbaked shades for a summer-inspired palette; bright, fresh hues for a spring color palette; cozy, warm hues for a fall-themed color palette; or a comforting collection of colors 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 color palettes throughout my home?

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

Lighting plays a big role in how a paint color 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 colors in the palette you choose is so important.

A selection of Benjamin Moore paint color samples.

Order Color Samples Online

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

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White and neutral paint chips, home interior photos and other natural accents lay atop a navy blue-painted surface.

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