Color in the interior – learning to create color palettes

Recommendation points

• Green: renewal, prosperity, rebirth
• Yellow: joy, optimism, energy
• Blue: calmness, coolness, nobility

Creating harmonious color schemes is the key to an interior that will make you feel comfortable. In this article we will tell you about the basic techniques of using color in interior design, consider successful combinations, and also show you where to get inspiration..

Harmonious in its simplicity, the black and white combination works well in the interior – you just need to use a proportionate and balanced combination of these colors. If you have the courage, you can use a dark tone for the walls, but at the same time the ceilings should be high, and the room should have a good level of natural light. A more traditional use of neutral harmony is white walls, black accents. To maintain a sense of spaciousness in the room, the wall planes are painted with absolutely white paint, rich black notes are introduced in the form of furniture and accessories.

The neutral interior in white and gray tones has become much more expressive thanks to the extraordinary combination of blue and red. The upholstered furniture in a deep shade of blue is supported by an artistic canvas, in which the color of the sea is intertwined with the color of passion

Some rules that it is advisable to adhere to when designing black&white interiors:

1. Do not use white and black in equal proportions – one of the colors should dominate. A larger number of dark shades will add comfort and warmth, while white tones will visually expand the space, fill it with light.
2. If you think the black and white combination is a little harsh, replace one of the colors with gray for a softer nuanced harmony. A “trio” of all monochrome tones is also acceptable.
3. Choose furniture with clear, predominantly straight lines. However, try not to overdo it, so as not to cause a ripple sensation in the perception of the room..
4. The presence of wood in monochrome interiors gives the design more expressiveness and warmth.
5. The more details and decorative elements in the black and white interior, the more the room will look lively and more elegant.

Green: renewal, prosperity, rebirth

No color is capable of pleasing the eye in an interior as much as green – a shade that gives a feeling of calm and serenity, restoring balance and inner harmony. Present in the color scheme of the room, herbaceous and light green tones seem to create an invisible enveloping cocoon, enhancing the feeling of confidence and security. In part, this effect can be explained by the dominant role of greenery in nature, which gives us natural harmonious combinations of green with brown (wood), blue (sky, water), yellow (sun).

What colors does green create the most successful combinations with? First of all, it is a classic pair with its own additional color – red, which can be taken in pink, orange, and purple. Adjacent red and green tones will look brighter than each individually – this is the property of combining the main color with its “partner”. It is worth remembering this when decorating the interior and using not open tones, but more complex and muted ones, so that the room does not turn into a gypsy wagon. A traditional union in modern design – white with small mint, olive, pistachio accents.

An extraordinary in its simplicity and laconicism bedroom, which combines a subtle interweaving of warm blue, pistachio and white. Seemingly inconsistent cage, stripe and jacquard pattern in this room quietly coexist side by side and create an exquisite harmony due to a single color scheme

The green palette can be successfully introduced into the design of transit zones – a corridor and a hall, a kitchen-dining room, a library or reading corner, a bedroom. When creating a coloristic composition in the interior, it is necessary to adhere to one important rule – the shades should belong to a single color group, that is, based on blue (cold) or yellow (warm) color.

A fresh and spring palette that combines olive and coral colors is a good solution for the bedroom. The classic pattern on the headboard looks a little unusual and extravagant in a similar coloristic key.

The more yellow there is in green, the more refreshing it is, symbolizing new beginnings and even, if you will, new life. However, it is better to refrain from interspersed shades of lime or lemon tones in the bedroom – such a color scheme does not contribute to relaxation, but, on the contrary, encourages hyperactivity. In sleeping areas, the green color scheme can be present in the form of strokes, for example, in the color of bedding. The inclusion of bluish green in rooms with a low level of natural light requires special care – at the level of sensations, it can make the living space cooler.

Yellow: joy, optimism, energy

Yellow is considered a color that lifts your spirits and can even make you feel better. The use of bright and warm sunny colors in the interior creates a cozy and comfortable environment. The traditional color scheme in interior decoration is a combination of yellow and green. Unlike herbaceous tones, which are soothing and relaxing, yellows stimulate mental work and encourage physical activity – so this palette is harmonious and balanced. Playful and light, light yellow or lemon shades are good with mint and lime due to the natural combination. The coloristic three also looks good: yellow, green, brown.

Yellow as an accent on a white background is always a winning move in interior design. The center of the composition of the room is a yellow painting, the palette of which echoes the colorful furniture in chocolate-lemon tones

The combination of golden notes with red, gray or white color brings elements of dynamism to the design, with blue, pink, purple – adds color and freshness. Bright yellow perfectly dilutes the monochrome black and white interiors, bringing expressiveness and color to them. An additional color to yellow is purple, it favorably emphasizes sunny shades, helps to balance and neutralize tonal congestion in the room, if present.

The monochrome interior, combining white, black and gray colors, is effectively enlivened by bright colors – turquoise, red, yellow. Light wood adds even more warmth and comfort to the color scheme. A fairly common technique in a black and white interior is a textured white surface – in this case, painted brickwork, which creates an excellent background for a complex composition of photographs

Surrounding yourself with a lot of yellow, chosen in the wrong tonal ratio or in the wrong proportions with other colors, can create a sense of irrationality and anxiety. Avoid the use of large masses of yellow in rooms with increased insolation, as this color can invisibly “raise the temperature” even more, and in bedrooms – it will provoke irritation in the morning. It is best to use yellow shades in hallways – they are usually poorly lit or in the dining area to add a little drive and dynamics to the day that starts..

Blue: calmness, coolness, nobility

It is not in vain that blue is considered the color of the world – like no other, it perfectly relaxes and soothes. Blue is ideal for decorating recreation areas – bedrooms and living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens – partly because of its “water” roots. We must not forget that shades of blue belong to a cold color palette, therefore, they need to be balanced with warm tones – yellow, orange, which most often act as chord notes.

Subtle and delicate interweaving of pastel blue and beige creates a romantic and pleasant atmosphere for the bedroom. Classic interiors with white furnishings and a sleek blue-brown color palette are a great choice for seating areas

Harmonious combination of blue forms with natural woody shades, as well as with beige, brown, chocolate. All variations of blue coexist perfectly with its related green and purple colors. In order not to create the impression of multicolor chaos, similar colors should have identical lightness – tonal saturation.

Cobalt walls with golden and brown furnishings add a touch of retro touch to the living room. A certain drama inherent in dark rooms, diluted with contrasting notes of yellow, which enlivens the rich blue

The sea always awakens pleasant associations – the aroma of salt water, silky sand, smooth pebbles. This is probably why the marine style with the predominance of aquamarine and other nuances of blue is so popular in interior design. An abundance of white combined with accent notes of blue – from light blue to rich ultramarine or cobalt – is the main feature of the nautica style. The classic blue and white stripe looks impressive – it can be narrow or wide, but white must always prevail. Light walls give the interior lightness and airiness, and blue, as it were, acts as a finishing touch..

When creating a coloristic composition for the interior of your home, listen to the innate sense of harmony inherent in all of us and draw inspiration from nature – it gives color combinations that are extraordinary in their sophistication and beauty

When forming a color scheme for interior decoration, dwell on those shades that appeal to you more – rely only on your feelings and never follow the principle “fashionable – not fashionable”. This is the key to creating an environment in which you will enjoy living..