Although the kitchen, is often considered the heart of the home, the living room is a close second. Not only is it a space where you and your loved ones can join together, but it’s also a place to share stories, laughter, and memories as well. A key factor that contributes to the overall ambiance of your living room is its color scheme. Choosing the right color palette for your living room can truly take it to new heights, helping to create balance and visual appeal.

Whether you plan to redecorate or simply want to refresh the look of your living room, having the right color scheme can certainly get you there. To help you get started, here are six tips to help you find the right color scheme for your living room.

1. Understand your style and preferences.

Before you pick out a color, you need to hone in on your personal style and preferences. For example, do you prefer a modern and contemporary design style? Perhaps you enjoy a rustic, farmhouse vibe? Or maybe an industrial design aesthetic is more your style?

Whatever your personal preference is, your living room should reflect that. Identifying your style is the first step in selecting the perfect color scheme for your space.

2. Begin with a neutral base.

Starting with a neutral color base can make selecting a color scheme a lot easier. Neutrals such as white, gray, or cream provide a blank slate that you can build upon. This enables you to experiment with bolder colors through furniture, accessories, and accent pieces. Plus, having a neutral backdrop is ideal for providing a classic appeal that stands the test of time, ensuring your living room is always on trend, no matter the season.

3. Incorporate a dominant color.

After you’ve decided on a neutral base color, you can more easily pick out a dominant color. Because dominant colors determine the tone of your living room, they’re typically the main focus and stand to dictate the rest of your design choices.

Dominant colors play a pretty big role in the living room, so be sure to use colors that reflect your personal style and evoke the desired mood. For example, a tranquil blue shade is perfect for promoting tranquility, whereas a deep yellow shade can invite a cheerful ambiance to your space.

4. Add complementary colors for harmony.

For a harmonious color scheme, try to incorporate complementary colors that play nicely together. Despite their name, complementary colors are exact opposites on the color wheel — i.e. blue and orange or purple and yellow.

But even though they would appear to clash, using complementary colors in moderation can create serious depth and dimension, which adds more visual appeal to your space. To try it, consider incorporating complementary colors via throw pillows, artwork, or furniture.

5. Introduce accents for personality.

An easy way to inject a burst of color into your space is through accent pieces. From accent chairs to lamps to decorative vases, the world is your oyster when it comes to adding color to a neutral or subdued space.

But before you dive in, be mindful of the balance. Having too many accents in varying colors can have a chaotic appearance. So to avoid that, always stick to a cohesive color palette to maintain the proper balance.

6. Consider the lighting.

The lighting in your living room plays a significant role in the perception of color there. With this in mind, make a note of how the lighting in your space interacts with various colors. A color that appears soft and inviting in natural light can become stark or cold under artificial lighting.

You can test paint samples and fabric swatches under various lighting conditions to ensure your chosen color scheme remains appealing in all scenarios.