Homeowner Resource
Choosing the right colours for your home
A complete guide to colour schemes, undertones, and finishes, with real palette examples for your exterior, living room, and kitchen, so you can pick colours you will love for years.
Start with a plan, not a paint chip
The most common painting regret is picking a colour off a tiny chip in the store, then living with it under different light at home. A great result starts with a simple plan: choose a palette, understand how the colours work together, and test before you commit. This guide walks you through the basics the pros use, then shows you real palettes on real spaces.
The Foundation
The 60-30-10 rule
The simplest way to balance any room. Designers use this ratio to keep a space feeling cohesive instead of chaotic.
Pick one main colour for most of the room, a supporting colour for furniture and big pieces, and a bold accent for the small details that bring it to life.
Your exterior palette is usually three parts: the main body, the trim, and the door or accent. Here are six combinations that work beautifully on Fraser Valley homes, shown on the same house so you can compare.
The living room sets the tone for your whole home. These palettes range from soft and timeless to warm and characterful, shown on the same room so the difference is easy to see.
Kitchens balance cabinets, walls, and counters. These combinations are designed around the two-tone cabinet looks that are most popular right now, plus timeless all-neutral options.
Four reliable ways to build any palette. Once you know these, every combination above makes sense.
The hidden reason a colour looks wrong on your wall. Every neutral leans one way, and spotting it before you buy saves a repaint.
Sheen matters as much as colour. The right finish balances how a room looks with how easy it is to clean.
| Room / Surface | Recommended Sheen | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ceilings | Flat / Matte | Hides imperfections and avoids glare |
| Bedrooms & living rooms | Eggshell | Soft look with light washability |
| Hallways & kids' rooms | Eggshell / Satin | Stands up to more traffic and cleaning |
| Kitchens & bathrooms | Satin | Handles moisture and frequent scrubbing |
| Trim, doors & cabinets | Semi-Gloss | Durable, wipeable, and crisp |
| Front door & accents | Semi-Gloss / Gloss | Makes a statement and resists weather |
The products we trust on our own jobs. We work directly with Dulux and Cloverdale, so we can match the right paint to your space and budget.
Want a hand choosing your colours?
A Red Seal journeyman will walk your space, talk through your palette, and give you an honest, no-pressure estimate. Colour consultation is part of the service.
Book a Free Estimate