Muster your color courage

Don’t try to use every color  “Pick a painting you like, and make that palette your palette,” Clements advises. Carry your colors with you (Clements keeps her paint chips in a Moleskine notebook) so that you can take advantage of unexpected finds.

Choose one dynamic base color  “Look for a color that functions in different ways under different light, and use it liberally,” Clements says. Her blue-green-gray wall color (Russian Olive by C2) is used throughout the house but looks distinct in every room.

Use bold color in small splashes  “I love Pratt & Lambert Castilian Gold,” Clements says. “But it would be too much to use everywhere. I used it on the kitchen island. It’s like the saffron in a rice dish―it adds a little spice.” She also likes a little red in every room.