Where HGTV's Emily Henderson Looks Before Selecting A Paint Color

Paint has the tremendous power to transform a room.But because of that power, choosing the right color for your walls can feel overwhelming. Choosing between the subtle differences of similar shades can be hard enough, but deciding between a vast selection of colors can be just as difficult. Don't fret; interior designer and HGTV personality Emily Henderson has a tip for how to find a hue you'll resonate with. If you're having trouble deciding on a color family, she suggests looking at your wardrobe for clues.

The designer calls them "comfort colors" (via her website), and determining what those are for you can help guide your paint color choices. Your "favorite, everyday clothes" are hints of the kind of shades and patterns you're drawn to. "How much color and pattern can you really handle?" Henderson asks. After looking in your wardrobe, you may find that it's predominantly one color. Maybe you prefer brighter shades over earth tones. Your clothes may be solid, or they may have a variety of prints, from polka dots to stripes. If you're willing to wear certain colors and patterns out in public, there's a good chance similar shades are what you'd want to be surrounded with while at home. It's a good starting point if you're completely stuck on what colors to test out first.

Emily Henderson's method of considering paint colors can be used to create color palettes for your home. To build a color scheme you like, she suggests starting with the color you love most. "The easiest way to choose this color is to think about what you want to wear the most (if you wear black solely because it's flattering, then disregard that)," Henderson wrote on her website. "Clearly, if you want to put green constantly on your body, then you probably really like green." The color you love the most should become the main hue in your palette, slathered predominately across your walls.

When it comes to trends, Henderson suggests "sparingly" using them as accessories. When going through your wardrobe, is there a color that you love because it's the popular color at the moment rather than one that has prevailed through your wardrobe over the years? You can use these shades as temporary elements or smaller details, like the trim. "Unless ... [you] want to do something crazy on your walls," Henderson noted, "which is great as long as you know you'll change it in three years — and there is nothing wrong with that." There may be current trends you love and want to incorporate; however, there is a chance of them going out of style over time. Luckily, paint is an easily changeable feature of a room's design.

Although Henderson believes the clues to what colors you love most lie inside your wardrobe, this is only the start of the selection process. There are other factors to consider before finalizing a paint color for a room. Considering how hues can affect your mood and feelings will help ensure you're creating a harmonious space, creating the exact kind of home you want.

Bedrooms and bathrooms, for example, tend to be areas where people want to relax. Using shades of green and blue can help you unwind during a long bath or ease you to sleep. So although yellow may be your favorite wardrobe color, it may be too overstimulating for this type of space. However, rooms you want to feel energized in, like the kitchen, yellow and red, can be good options. Similarly, red can help increase your appetite, so it can flow from the kitchen to the dining room. However, blue tends to decrease appetites, so you may want to avoid this shade in areas where you enjoy meals. But, in home offices, blue can foster efficiency, while yellow sparks creativity. Considering the mood and what a color evokes can go a long way in creating your ideal space.