How to use the colour scheme planner
- Pick a starting colour. It can come from a cushion, a rug, a painting or a photo; enter its hex code if you know it.
- Choose what you’d like that colour to be: the walls, the main colour for furniture and curtains, or a small accent.
- Choose a scheme type and a feel. “Light and airy” keeps walls pale and bright; “Cosy” uses deeper walls.
- Tell the planner how much sun the room gets, and pick a floor that’s close to yours.
- Fine-tune any colour, then print the palette and take it with you to compare against real paint charts and fabrics.
How the scheme is worked out
Colours are worked out in a perceptual colour space (OKLCH), where lightness, colourfulness and hue can be changed separately and the result looks the way you’d expect. Your starting colour sets the hue. Each scheme type places the other colours at set angles round the colour wheel: next to it, opposite it or evenly spaced. Each role then gets a lightness and strength to suit the feel you chose, so walls stay soft, the main colour has more depth and the accent is the most colourful.
The light reflectance value (LRV) is estimated from each screen colour’s relative luminance. A real paint’s LRV, measured by its maker, will differ.
Tips for a bright, fresh room
- Test real paint samples on more than one wall. The same colour looks different on the window wall and the wall facing it.
- A ceiling a shade lighter than the walls helps a room feel taller and brighter.
- Repeat the accent at least three times round the room, for example cushions, a print and a vase, so it looks planned.
- Warm bulbs (around 2700–3000 K) make colours warmer in the evening; cooler bulbs make them crisper.
Assumptions and limitations
- Colours are shown on your screen, which may not be calibrated. Paint, fabric and wood always look different in real light.
- Descriptions such as “pale warm grey” are generated from the colour. They are not paint names and don’t refer to any product.
- The daylight advice is general. It doesn’t account for trees, nearby buildings, window size or the colour of the floor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 60-30-10 rule?
A simple way to balance colour in a room: about 60% of what you see is one main colour (usually the walls), about 30% is a second colour (large furniture, curtains, bedding or a feature wall) and about 10% is an accent (cushions, art, lamps and small pieces). It’s a starting point, not a law. Many lovely rooms break it.
Can I take these colours to a paint shop?
The hex codes are screen colours, and screens vary. Use them to choose a direction, then compare real paint charts in daylight and buy sample pots. Paint a large patch, at least A4 or letter size, on two walls and look at it in the morning, afternoon and under lamps before you decide.
What is LRV?
Light reflectance value is how much light a colour reflects, from 0 (black) to 100 (white). Paint makers measure it from the paint itself and often print it on the chart. The figure shown here is an estimate from the screen colour; use the maker’s figure for the paint you choose. Colours above about 60 tend to keep a room feeling bright.
Which colours make a small or dark room feel brighter?
Light colours with a high LRV reflect more light, and a ceiling and trim a little lighter than the walls help the room feel taller. In a room with little direct sun, colours with a touch of warmth often look cleaner than cool greys, which can turn flat. Mirrors opposite a window and keeping the window area clear help too.
Why don’t the colours have paint names?
BrisHome isn’t linked to any paint brand and doesn’t recommend products. The plain descriptions, such as “pale warm grey”, are generated from the colour itself to help you search paint charts.
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