Decorating your home doesn’t require a degree in interior design, but there is a reason why people turn to experts when they want their space to look its best. While many everyday homeowners don’t have the budget to hire a pro, there are some essential lessons we can glean from their expert advice. Understanding complementary colors is a basic design lesson straight from the pros that will elevate your decor and make you confident as you curate your space.
Understanding the Color Wheel
The color wheel is a circular diagram that depicts how colors relate to each other. A color wheel has 12 sections, each one representing a color. There are three primary colors, three secondary colors and six tertiary colors. This is often taught first-thing in beginning art or design classes, and this illustrative tool can help distinguish primary colors and the corresponding colors that are formed through mixing:
- Primary colors: Red, Blue, Yellow
- Secondary colors (formed from two primary colors): Orange, Green, Purple
- Tertiary colors (formed from primary color mixed with secondary color): Red-orange, Yellow-orange, Yellow-green, Blue-green, Blue-violet, Red-violet
Understanding Complementary Colors
At its core, complementary colors are easy to understand once you have an understanding of the color wheel. Simply put, complementary colors are hues directly opposite each other on the color wheel. You likely know these combinations already. These are striking color combinations like orange and blue, red and green, or purple and yellow.
Putting Complementary Colors to Work in Your Home
Complimentary colors work well together because they balance each other visually, the key to working with them is just to ensure they are not competing with one another. It can be helpful to keep your color palette in balance by choosing hues with similar undertones and intensity. Unless you are a true maximalist, remember that complementary colors tend to be very striking when paired together, it can be beneficial to opt for neutral tones in other areas throughout the room.
Opt for Color Variants
Remember that complimentary color schemes don’t have to be paired with your standard expected hues and undertones. For instance, instead of your traditional complements of purple and yellow, consider opting for lilac and mustard for a cheerful and relaxing living space. Avoid a Christmas motif by swapping red and green for rose and sage, or opt for turquoise and peach, which can be a beautiful and energizing slant on the traditional blue and orange pairing.
