The question then is how to pick your colors. A great place to start is with your own preferences. Think of place or things that please you and the colors they have or evoke. The inspiration may come from a fabric, food or place. Color is everywhere, pay close attention and you can find ones that excite, or calm you.

You can also make a trip to the paint store where there are hundreds of paint chips to choose from along with small sample cans for purchase. These small samples allow you to try the color at home on a larger area and can be a great way to test your final choices before committing to them.

Designers use a storyboard to create a mock up design of a room. Create your own storyboard using pictures or clippings from magazines that illustrate designs and colors that you like. Add to this your paint chips, fabric swatches, floor plan, photos of accessories and any other decorating and remodeling ideas you would like to use in the space. Pooling these items allows you to see how they will all work together.

The following is a short lesson from Dave Donovan at doityourself.com that will help you understand color and the way different colors work together.

Understanding Color

First, there are three primary colors – red, blue and yellow. All other colors have their base in one of these three primaries. Next are the secondary colors. Secondary colors are what you get when two primary colors are mixed in equal parts, such as combining red and blue to create violet. Lastly, we have the tertiary colors, which are created by combining a primary color with a secondary color. Understanding the primary base colors and their derivatives makes it easier to choose two colors that accentuate each other.

So, What are Color Schemes?

Color schemes are collections of certain colors that work together in a pleasing fashion. There are four types of color schemes – complementary, monochromatic, triadic and adjacent.

Complementary Color Schemes – Complimentary colors are two opposite colors on the color wheel that when combined create a dramatic contrast, like using red as the primary and green for the accents.

Monochromatic Color Schemes – Monochromatic color schemes are based on a single hue, like blue, but with two variations used, like dark blue and light blue.

Triadic Color Schemes – Triadic color schemes are created using three equidistant colors on the color wheel. This type of color scheme is more difficult to come develop and is most commonly applied by a professional with an experienced eye.

Adjacent Color Schemes – Adjacent color schemes are designed using two colors from the color wheel that are either right next to each other or nearby. This scheme can employ a number of harmonic colors, like blue, green and blue-green.