Decorating Guides
Do You Have a Signature Color? Here's How to Find and Use It
You don't need a TV show or legendary brand to play style maven at home — you just need a color of your own
From Tiffany blue and Hermès orange to Chanel's black and white, a long history of storied brands with signature colors exists. A signature hue can make a brand more memorable, but marketing aside, there are plenty of compelling reasons to home in on your own personal color.
Here we'll explore what defines a signature color, how to find yours and what to do with it once you've got it.
Here we'll explore what defines a signature color, how to find yours and what to do with it once you've got it.
Consistent. Tiffany blue is not just any blue. It is instantly recognizable because it is always precisely the same blue-green shade. If you already have a favorite color, take a moment to consider exactly how to describe the color you love — it's not just "pink" but "magenta" or "bubblegum." Not just "blue" but the color of the sky in a Maxfield Parrish painting.
Repeated (with care). There is something reassuring about knowing what your signature color is. You can repeat the color in your home or wardrobe, meaning that some decorating decisions become easier. One caveat to keep in mind: You don't want to let your signature hue become watered down through overuse. Keep it special; a touch here and there (or one big statement) should suffice.
How to Find a Signature Color
Look back. Your signature color might be something that resonates deeply with you, so it makes sense to think back to your formative years. Which crayon did you search through the box to find? Which colors did you paint with at school? Do you have any positive memories associated with a certain color?
Visit this Newfoundland vacation cottage
Look back. Your signature color might be something that resonates deeply with you, so it makes sense to think back to your formative years. Which crayon did you search through the box to find? Which colors did you paint with at school? Do you have any positive memories associated with a certain color?
Visit this Newfoundland vacation cottage
Look around. If you need further inspiration, keep a small color notebook or (even better) take snapshots of anything that catches your eye. You never know where you might spy a color that calls your name: flowers in the garden, a film poster, a shop display or your own wardrobe.
How to Use Your Color
Gather inspiration. Have some fun figuring out how to apply it in your life. Start by creating a Houzz ideabook devoted to your color and filling it with inspirational pictures. Or if you want something more hands-on, use tear sheets from magazines to create an inspiration board.
Gather inspiration. Have some fun figuring out how to apply it in your life. Start by creating a Houzz ideabook devoted to your color and filling it with inspirational pictures. Or if you want something more hands-on, use tear sheets from magazines to create an inspiration board.
Find your signature paint color. Take an object in your signature color to a hardware store that does color matching and find the paint shade that matches your color. Paint a whole wall if you feel inspired to, but at least pick up a sample pot to take home and commit to painting something small — a flea market chair or set of picture frames. And don't forget to write down the name of the paint color for future reference!
Seek out inspiring color combinations. Enhance your color by surrounding it with other colors that complement it. The Houzz color guides are a great resource.
Think up ways to use your hue. Have personalized stationery made, stock up on gift wrap, start a collection of pottery, curate an art wall or regularly stock your house with flowers in your signature color.
Tell us: Do you have a signature color? How do you use it around your house?
Tell us: Do you have a signature color? How do you use it around your house?
Personal. A signature color at its heart is a hue that is associated with you. Friends are reminded of you when they see "your" color, and a home feels more authentically you when it is woven in. Sometimes it happens accidentally, but you can also intentionally cultivate a signature hue.