How to Choose Paint Colors that Go Together

Standing in the paint aisle, staring at hundreds of tiny color swatches, can feel overwhelming. You might have a few ideas in mind, but worry about how it will look with your trim. Or maybe you’ve saved a few Pinterest photos but aren’t sure how to achieve that look for your home. Choosing paint colors can feel like a guessing game, especially when you’re trying to make your home look pulled together instead of pieced together.

It’s common for Omaha homeowners to feel unsure about where to start or how to make several colors, like walls, trim, and cabinets, work together. The good news is, you don’t have to guess.

At Brush & Roll Painting, we’ve helped thousands of Omaha homeowners find colors that fit their homes and personalities for nearly 30 years. We’ve learned that the best color combinations start with an inspiration palette. Whether you’re painting one room or your entire home, the process of creating your palette can make everything smoother and more enjoyable.

In this article, you’ll learn how to create your own paint color inspiration palette from start to finish. You’ll discover how to:

• Find colors that go together naturally
• Use online platforms and real-life photos for inspiration
• Test your palette before painting
• Know when to get professional help with final selections

By the end, you’ll feel confident building a color plan that makes your space feel cohesive and true to your taste.

Where to Start When Creating a Paint Color Palette

Every color palette begins with one anchor shade. This is usually the color you’re most excited about, maybe a soft sage green for your walls or a creamy white for your trim. Once you have that, you can build around it with complementary tones.

1. Choose Your Main Color

Think of your main color as the base of your palette. It might cover the largest surface area, such as walls or cabinets. When picking it, consider the feeling you want in the room:

• Warm and cozy: beige, taupe, greige, or creamy whites
• Calm and relaxed: sage green, blue-gray, or dusty blue
• Clean and modern: crisp white, black accents, or cool neutrals

For example, if you love sage green, you might search “colors that go with sage green” to find combinations that fit your home. You’ll see examples of complementary whites, soft blush tones, and light wood accents that work beautifully together.

2. Add Supporting Colors

Once you’ve chosen your main color, choose one or two supporting colors. These are the shades that make your main color pop and give your space more personality.

For an interior palette, supporting colors might include:

• Trim or ceiling paint
• Accent walls or built-ins
• Furniture and decor tones

A good rule of thumb is to balance warm and cool tones. If your walls are cool (like gray or green), warm up the space with beige or cream trim. If your walls are warm (like tan or terracotta), cool white or gray trim creates contrast.

3. Use Online Tools and Real Photos for Inspiration

You don’t have to start from scratch. There are thousands of ready-made color palettes online.

Here are a few easy ways to find inspiration:

• Pinterest: Search for “sage green color palette,” “warm neutral interior palette,” or “modern farmhouse paint colors.” Save photos that speak to you.
• Instagram: Look for hashtags like #benjaminmoorecolors or #interiorpaintideas to see real homes and tagged shades.
• Google Images: Search by color name, such as “Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray living room.” Seeing the same paint color in different lighting can help you decide if it works in your space. You can also search for something like “colors that go with Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige.”
• Paint brand websites: Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams both have pre-built color collections, such as “Coastal Calm” or “Modern Neutrals.” These can help you find combinations that already work well together.

4. Test Your Colors in Real Life

Online photos can be inspiring, but lighting makes a huge difference in how paint looks in your home. Omaha homes, for example, can have very different lighting between east- and west-facing rooms—especially in the winter when sunlight changes quickly.

Here’s how to test your palette:

• Use peel-and-stick samples: These are real paint samples you can move around your walls to see how the color shifts throughout the day.
• Paint small test areas: Try your top two colors on a section of wall and observe how they look in morning and evening light.
• Compare with trim and flooring: Hold samples near your woodwork, flooring, and countertops to see if undertones clash or blend nicely.

Sometimes colors that look great separately can feel off when placed next to each other, so viewing them together in real lighting is key.

5. Don’t Forget Finishes and Materials

When building a color palette, it’s not just about the paint colors—it’s about how everything in your space interacts. Cabinets, tile, countertops, flooring, and fabrics all have undertones that can shift how a color appears.

For example:

• A warm oak floor might make a cool gray wall look slightly purple.
• A white countertop with blue undertones could make a creamy wall color appear yellow.

Try gathering small samples of materials in one spot and viewing them together. You’ll notice how one material changes the way another looks.

6. Pull Inspiration from Nature and Architecture

Sometimes your best color combinations come from what’s already around you.

• Look at your home’s existing features—wood trim, brick, or flooring—to guide your palette.
• Step outside and notice how natural tones pair together. Think sage green leaves with cream bark, or stone grays with warm beige grasses. Nature often provides ready-made palettes that feel balanced.
  
  

7. Get a Professional Opinion

If you’ve built a few color ideas but can’t quite decide, a color consultation can make a huge difference.

Many homeowners find that after narrowing their palette down, they’re still unsure about small details—like whether to choose a bright white or a soft white for trim. Meeting with a designer or paint color consultant can help finalize your choices and prevent expensive mistakes.

A consultant can help you:

• Match undertones across walls, cabinets, and trim
• Visualize how lighting affects your chosen colors
• Provide digital renderings or samples for peace of mind

Brush & Roll Painting we have a color consultant on staff that we have trained to help Omaha homeowners feel confident about their selections before the first coat goes on.

8. Keep Your Palette Simple

When designing a home, it’s easy to go overboard. A good interior color palette typically includes:

• 1 main color (walls or cabinets)
• 1 trim or accent color
• 1-2 complementary shades for, an accent wall if you’re doing one or decor 

Too many colors can make a space feel busy or disconnected. The goal is to create flow, not chaos. Choosing repeating colors for different rooms—like one neutral shade that runs throughout—helps your home feel cohesive.

9. Save and Label Your Palette

Once you’ve finalized your color choices, save everything in one place. This helps later for touch-ups or when adding decor.

You can:

• Create a folder on your phone with screenshots of your colors and photos of where they’ll go.
• Write down paint brands and exact color codes.
• Keep a physical folder with paint chips and material samples.

Having your palette organized ensures you can match colors accurately down the road if you repaint or redecorate.

Interior Painting in Omaha, NE

If you’ve ever felt stuck choosing paint colors, building an inspiration palette is your way out. It helps you move from uncertainty to confidence, making sure every color in your home connects naturally.

You now know how to:

• Pick a main color and supporting tones
• Use online photos and palette tools for ideas
• Test your colors in real lighting
• Get professional advice when needed

At Brush & Roll Painting, we’ve helped Omaha homeowners since 1996 choose color palettes that fit their homes perfectly—without pressure or confusion. If you’re ready to take the next step, click the button below to get a quote for your upcoming painting project.

If you’re still exploring colors, download our free Color and Design Guide to see expert tips and examples that make creating your palette even easier.