Choosing Interior Design Color Combinations
By Alexandra Heep, 27th Jul 2010 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutFamilyDaily Life
Whether you are decorating a condo, townhouse, apartment, loft, your new house, or even work space; the choice of color combinations in interior design can be one of the biggest ways of self-expression.
Colors, Coordination, and Contrast
There are several ways to go about using color choices in interior design:
* Coordination throughout the whole living space
* Different themes in different areas
* Contrast
Coordination throughout the whole living space probably takes the most time and effort. However, coordination does not necessarily mean having your house all in one color. It means that the colors used are usually in the same spectrum or color range. It can also reflect you and what you want to feel like when you come home.
Consider also what you want to portray to visitors. Interior design is not just about painting the walls, nor does it mean you even have to be able to paint them at all. Perhaps you live in a place that has to have the obligatory "apartment-white" walls. Fear not, there are many ways to enhance a living space that has white (or neutral) walls. In those cases, the good news is that just about anything can coordinate.
If you are in a situation that allows you to paint walls, or perhaps you are re-decorating, how would you start? Think back to elementary school. All colors can come either in a warm or cool shade. For example: Green is mostly thought of as warm color. However, if you want to coordinate cool colors with it, choose a green that has more blue tone (as opposed to yellow tint) in it, as blue is the cool tone and yellow is warm.
Now you may ask: what about primary colors? For example, primary blue is cool and primary yellow is warm. You can still coordinate these colors however. For a warmer shade of blue just choose one that has a greenish hue to it - for example turquoise or aquatic blue. A yellow color, while it is very bright and warm, can still be toned down by adding white (in essence lightening or subduing it).
These concepts apply to any color of the rainbow. Just think back to what you learned about color spectrums. Remember the two base colors that make a color, and the more of the cooler shade you use, the cooler the end result; and vice versa.
Choosing a Color Scheme
With the technical stuff out of the way, how would you choose a color scheme? If you are an outgoing person, you would probably like warm, inviting colors. Introverted people seem to like cooler, calmer shades. However, if you are active and have a busy life and would like to make your home a retreat, cooler shades may work really well for you.
If you are coordinating your whole home, you will want to stay within a color range. For example tans, beiges, and browns go well together. If you like a bolder color like red, you may want to think twice before painting all the walls in your home that way, as that could be quite overwhelming! An alternative could be to incorporate different shades of it in your rooms by using accents in those colors like art and window treatments.
Don't ignore the furniture. Not everyone can afford to throw out the furniture they have and start anew. You can still work with what you have. For example, if you have really come to hate your sofa, you can get a slipcover in a new color. You can accent and/or cover it with pillows and other coverings as well.
Existing furniture like tables can be refinished and stained, if you don't like the look of them anymore. This is also a friendlier option for the environment, as you are re-purposing existing items, instead of adding trash to landfills.
If you have a family, creating different themes in different areas might be the way to go. Each individual's bedroom could be done in the color scheme that they want, and that matches their unique personality.
The common areas like the family room could reflect what everyone has in common, or be done in neutrals. The dining area could be done in a color scheme that would be attractive for entertaining. Burgundy seems to be a very popular color for creating a hospitable environment for socializing. It is very warm and inviting and seems to stimulate appetite.
People with artistic tendencies, or unique personalities, would probably enjoy their home in contrasting colors. Blue and yellow make for a popular contrast (think beach and sunny sky), as well as black and gold (think sophistication). In the case of contrasting colors, what works well is if walls are painted in one color, while the trim is done in the bolder, contrasting color.
Using contrasting colors in a tasteful manner can be achieved by using accessories in bold colors. For example, in a bedroom the window treatments and bedding can contrast with the wall color.
Final Thought
Choosing interior design color combinations can be so much fun. So go ahead and play, and let the colors in your environment reflect who you are!
Comments
27th Jul 2010 (#)
Nice great ideas
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27th Jul 2010 (#)
Good advice on using color. Now I just have to figure out what coordinates well with burgundy (as in wine spills) on white carpet... Maybe a green house plant...
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22nd Dec 2010 (#)
Great Article! Thanks for taking out time to compile this article.
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