Lighting, Colour & Materials ·
Colour coordination is one of the main factors shaping the look and effect of the interior of any home, office or shop. Well-chosen, harmonious colours bring comfort, elegance and beauty to a place, while colours that do not work together create visual noise and spoil the overall view. Coordinating colour in décor can therefore be demanding, and it calls for a grasp of colour basics and of the rules of colour matching. This article explains why colour coordination matters and how to achieve a harmonious result with the right colours.
Why colour coordination matters in décor
Colour coordination is decisive in giving a place beauty and presence. It helps bring all the elements in a space into harmony, and it brings out the key elements, making them clearer and more appealing.
Colours are coordinated by working with the different shades available, and the right ones are chosen according to the purpose you want to achieve, the type of space, the furniture used and other factors.
Colour coordination also supports users' psychological and visual comfort. Colours stir feelings and emotions and connect people more closely to a place, and they can stimulate creativity and positive thinking and lift mood and energy.
It can also improve how a space works. For example, calm, restful colours in bedrooms can help you relax and sleep better, while bright, lively colours in kitchens can stimulate the appetite and positive thinking.
How to coordinate colours in décor
Coordinating colours can be difficult, but a few methods and tips make it easier and help you achieve a pleasing harmony between different colours:
Use the colour wheel
The colour wheel is a tool for identifying colours that go well together. With it you can choose colours that sit next to each other on the wheel, or colours that contrast with one another, both of which give an attractive, harmonious result.
Use primary colours
Primary colours such as red, yellow and blue combine easily with each other and with other colours. You can choose the main colours of the décor, such as the floor or wall colour, and use other colours to coordinate with them.
Use calm and bright colours
Calm colours such as white, grey and beige give a quiet, refined look and combine easily with other colours. You can also use and build on bright colours, such as red, yellow and bright blue, which give a lively, bold look and can be combined with other colours in different ways, for example by using colour boldly or by keeping the other colours neutral.
Set the proportion of each colour
You can decide the share of each colour in the space, for example 60% of one colour, 30% of a second and 10% of a third. This helps create a pleasing harmony between the colours. It is also recommended to try different colours side by side and choose the ones that look harmonious together.
Draw on nature
Take your cue entirely from natural scenery and use colours inspired by it, such as greens, blues and browns, which give a place a natural, warm look.
Distribute colours
Spread colours in a balanced way through the space and avoid concentrating too heavily on a single colour. Light and dark, glossy and matt colours can be combined harmoniously for an attractive effect.
Rely on personality and personal taste
Let personality and personal taste guide your colour choices: choose colours that reflect the user's character and suit their taste.
See also: Coordinating home furniture with colour
The 60-30-10 rule in interior décor
The 60-30-10 rule is used in interior décor to achieve an aesthetic balance between the different colours in a space. It divides colour as 60% for a main colour, 30% for a secondary colour and 10% for a detail or accessory colour.
Under this rule, the main colour goes on walls, floors and the main furniture; the secondary colour on curtains, cushions and some other furniture pieces; and the third colour on accessories and small decorative items such as ornamental pieces, artworks and glass décor.
The rule aims to balance the colours in a space and create visual harmony between them, avoiding a random or clashing use of colour, for a beautiful, refined result. It can be applied to any type of interior, whether bedrooms, living halls, kitchens or others, and different colours can be used to suit mood, décor style and personal taste.
Read also: The art of choosing lighting
What are the best colours for a bedroom?
The bedroom is an important room in the home, where we spend more than a third of our lives, so choosing the right colours matters for creating a sense of comfort, calm and relaxation. Calm, restful colours such as blue, green, grey, brown and white are recommended for bedrooms. They can be combined harmoniously with other colours for an effect that is easy on the eye.
What are the best colours for kitchens?
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the home, and because it is used in so many ways, the right colours vary with the type of kitchen and the users' taste. In general, though, certain colours give a comfortable, elegant effect: white, grey, blue and green can be used in kitchens, on walls, floors, furniture and accessories.
See also: Landscape design
The best colours to pair
Colours that go together depend on their different tones, shades and surfaces. In general, the following pairings give a harmonious effect:
- White and black: simple and elegant, with an attractive contrast.
- Blue and white: an atmosphere of calm, cleanliness and freshness.
- Grey and white: an atmosphere of elegance, comfort and balance.
- Green and white: an atmosphere of nature and freshness.
- Purple and yellow: an atmosphere of energy, optimism and boldness.
- Blue and green: an atmosphere of calm, nature and balance.
Experts hold that the best colour combinations on the colour wheel are:
- Complementary colours.
- Analogous colours.
- Triadic colours.
- Split-complementary colours.
- Double-complementary (tetradic) colours.