Choosing paint colors for open plan spaces

These homeowners envisioned a space filled with drama, glamour, and sophisticated luxury. To create that bold, high-end aesthetic, we embraced striking contrast through the timeless pairing of Benjamin Moore White Dove and Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black (SW 6258). The result is a custom interior design that feels elegant, inviting, and effortlessly memorable.

One of the most common questions we receive during our residential interior design projects is how to choose paint colors for an entire home. Our answer is always the same: paint color is only one piece of a much larger design story. Wall colors establish the backdrop, set the mood, and influence how every other finish within the home is experienced.

When designing large, open-concept living spaces, we often treat wall and ceiling colors as foundational elements. Rather than demanding attention, these colors create a cohesive canvas that allows custom cabinetry, luxury lighting, architectural details, furnishings, artwork, and statement materials to shine. While paint colors do not need to match from room to room, they should always feel intentional and connected to the overall design vision.

In this project, we introduced additional color, texture, and personality through carefully selected materials and finishes, including the custom bar, banquette seating area, and coffee nook. By maintaining a consistent paint palette throughout the main living spaces, these unique design features become focal points rather than competing elements. This approach creates a more sophisticated and curated interior.

Color can also be used strategically to define individual spaces within a home. Similar to a flooring transition or architectural detail, a paint color change can visually establish boundaries between rooms. For example, a hallway painted in the kitchen color naturally feels like an extension of the kitchen. Paint that same hallway in the mudroom color, and it immediately becomes part of the mudroom. Thoughtful color placement helps create flow while reinforcing the purpose of each space.

One of our most important principles when developing a whole-home color palette is paying close attention to undertones. Successful interior color schemes depend on selecting finishes that work harmoniously together. In this home, the warm undertones of Benjamin Moore White Dove complement the warmth found in the Anne Sacks tile, custom cabinetry, and natural materials throughout the space. Mixing warm and cool undertones without intention can make a room feel disconnected, even when homeowners cannot immediately identify why.

When selecting paint colors for a custom home or renovation, we often begin with the fixed elements, particularly wood finishes, cabinetry, flooring, and stone selections. These materials provide valuable clues that guide the development of a cohesive color palette and help ensure a polished, professionally designed result.

Warm color palettes continue to be one of the strongest trends in luxury interior design, especially in larger homes. Expansive spaces can sometimes feel overwhelming or impersonal, but warm neutrals help create a sense of comfort, intimacy, and everyday elegance. They soften open floor plans while maintaining a refined and sophisticated aesthetic.

Whether we are selecting paint colors, furnishings, textiles, or architectural finishes, successful interior design always comes down to intentionality. We typically create a hierarchy of color consisting of a dominant color, a secondary supporting color, and a carefully chosen accent color. This layered approach creates balance, visual interest, and the cohesive, custom-designed look that distinguishes truly exceptional interiors.

The best interiors are never accidental. Every color, finish, texture, and material should work together to create a home that is beautiful, functional, and uniquely tailored to the people who live there.