Interior Colour Schemes 

Interior colour schemes play a very important part of our everyday lives. Colour influences how we feel, hence create certain moods. The effects that colours have on our lives are often underestimated.

Interior colour schemes also influence the way we see things. Warm colours such as red and orange can make a large room look cosier, while cool colours such as blue and greens will make a small room look larger.

Some people are naturally talented in mixing and matching colours in their homes. They know how to balance tones and where to introduce contrasting colours for stylish living. Unfortunately for majority of us it seems to be trial and error to get the right interior colour scheme in a room.

However, with the help of a colour wheel you are able to analyse colour relationships and find out why some colours work together while other colour arrangements let you down.

In a colour wheel there are:

• Three primary colours: red, yellow and blue.
• Colours with a harmonious relationship - this are the colours that fall between two primary colours.
• Complementary colours - these are the colours that are on opposite sides of the wheel.
• Less harmonious colours - these are the colours on either side of a primary colour and they become less harmonious the further they are apart. 

Harmonious colours 

Harmonious colour schemes are easy to put together and most people find them comfortable to live with.  There is also little risk involved by choosing harmonious colours as an interior colour scheme.

Single colour schemes 

A single colour scheme is a colour arrangement that is based on one single colour. This colour scheme is restful, the colours blend well and it works in just about any style of house.

If you choose a colour scheme based on a single colour select a colour from an existing piece of furniture, ornament or curtains that really appeals to you. Within on single colour you will be able to find a variety of similar colours with subtle differences. These nuances of a single colour are called shades or tones, which can range from paler to darker tones.

Related harmony schemes 

Another harmonious colour scheme is made up from groups between the primary colours. For example between the two primary colours red and blue you will be able to find the beautiful berry colours. Again work in gentle tones and leave the extreme contrasts to emphasize a certain object in a room.

Complimentary colours 

Some people like more zesty colours particularly in their living rooms, playrooms and kitchen. They still may like the calmness of the harmonious colours in the bedrooms, but need the more energetic colour around them in the living spaces.

Complimentary colours are the colours on the opposite side of the wheel. The relationship of these colours when used together they bring out the best in each other.

Daring colour schemes 

If you are after a dramatic effect select the complementary colours from the opposite sides of the colour wheel. The brighter the colours the more daring the colour scheme. These vivid colour schemes can be tricky and need to be handled with care, but can work well with neutral colours such as grey, white, beige or brown.

Nature/earth colour schemes 

Colours such as brown, terracotta, lilac, pale blue, peach, primrose are nature and earth colours. These colour schemes are easy most enjoyable and easy to live with. For example terracotta looks great with bright blue, yellow ochre is complimented with pale blue. These colours are often called Tuscan colours. They are created around the less harsh complementary colours on the colour wheel.

If you are intending to re-decorate your home or even a room the colour wheel will help you put your colour arrangements together. Select colours with your intuition first, then analyse the selected colours for your interior colour schemes with the colour wheel.

. . . And if you’re still in doubt there are various paint shops available who offer professional advice.