Color is one of the easiest design projects you can undertake. Paint and home furnishing fabrics are within reach of nearly everyone. For a color palette to work in your home, it has to meet some criteria, from scientific to emotional. Answering the following questions can help get you started.

1. What is the room used for? In rooms that are not used as frequently, you can consider a chenille, linen or cotton fabric and don't be shy about selecting color or a pattern. For more frequently used rooms, you can still add color but choose a WearSmart fabric - an exclusive collection of fabrics from Rowe which are stain-resistant, durable and yet soft to the touch. Click the WearSmart logo to see the selection of fabrics.

We also have a collection of microfibers known as SmartSuede. Microfibers offer great durability and peace of mind. Click here to see the selection of fabrics.

2. How big is the room? Lighter colors create a more open feel which most big rooms need where dark colors create an intimate mood that may be appropriate for smaller spaces.

3. What colors do you like/dislike? Use your instinct. Use your instinct. If you love yellow and hate blue clothing, you would most likely love a butter color in your living space. Also consider the wood finish that best suits your room. For instance, do you have wood floors or carpeting? Click here to see images of our wood finish options.

4. Are there pictures or places that inspire you? Use pictures or places you love to pull color from. You don't have to be totally original when choosing combinations. There's so much beautiful color in the world and you're free to copy it.

If you're still not sure of what colors to use, there's another method to finding out how a color will look in your room. Ask for a cutting of the fabric you're considering and keep it in the room for 24 hours. Same goes for paint. Buy a quart and paint a small section of your wall and see if you still love it the next day. If you do, go with your intuition and you can start building a beautiful color palette.