How to Combine Colours When Decorating Your Home

How to Combine Colours When Decorating Your Home

Not everyone is naturally gifted in the art of pulling together a palette of complementary colours. Sometimes, we feel we have achieved a pleasing look, but the results are in fact far from enchanting. 


Thinking of adding a few more touches of colour to your home, but you don’t know how to go about it. Here is some advice on how to pull this off like a pro.

Similar Colours (Colour Wheel)

Opting for shades positioned near each other on the colour wheel—which shows three primary, three secondary and six tertiary colours—is a good method for achieving an artful balance. Colour wheels are available online or for sale in art supply shops.

This instrument will help you explore the many facets of your selected shades by playing around with differing levels of white, grey and black, varying from the paler to the darker end of the chosen colours’ spectrum. With such a reference tool at your disposal, you are less likely to make an unfortunate mistake!

 

Complementary Colours

Do you like bold, beautiful rooms full of contrast? Then, instead of choosing colours that are grouped together on the colour wheel, do the reverse, and select colours that are opposite each other. Take a chance on yellow and purple, for example. But avoid using them in equal proportion in one room. Pick a dominant shade with which to pain the largest wall and reserve the other for the smaller sections or for the decor accessories. This will create a balanced look that is pleasing to the eye. 

Tone on Tone

What we mean by tone on tone is in fact the use of a monochrome colour scheme, i.e., one colour, but in varying nuances. The best wait of achieving a harmonious combination is to choose a base colour and employ its many hues. For example, you could paint the walls in emerald green and decorate with accessories in forest and lime green. Then, enliven the space with the addition of neutral but contrasting colours, such as black, grey or white. 

 

Compare Your Favourite with Related Colours 

It doesn’t matter which kind of contrast most appeals to you, you should never set your heart on the first colour that caught your eye. Before deciding on a final choice, compare it with similar hues by juxtaposing them with each other to find the best fit. Likewise, see how it looks next to the other colours you will be using in the same room or in adjacent rooms. Taking a little care before committing will avoid regrets latter!

 

The Light Conditions Can Change Everything

Before you settle on your living space’s final colour scheme, consider the fact that natural light from the windows will surely impact the chosen paint colour’s shade and intensity. You will notice, for example, that the colours on a wall with a window appear darker. Conversely, the colours on a wall facing a window are lighter and brighter. If you keep this in mind, you can’t go wrong!

Trendy Colour Combinations

Selecting colours you like is all well and good, but here are some ideas if following the most current trends is important to you: 

  • Matte black with gold
  • Mustard yellow with ochre
  • Earth tone with cream white
  • Sage green with woody browns
  • Lavender with pure white 

 

One last bit of advice for when you think you’ve come up with the right combination. That’s great! However, before you start painting, ensure the colours you have selected create a pleasing atmosphere not only when you are in the room, but when you move from one room to the other as well, especially if your residence has an open concept floor plan. Good luck with your decorating!

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

A leader in the real estate industry since 1982, the RE/MAX network brings together the most efficient brokers.