Interior Color Schemes

Relaxing greens, energizing reds, and soothing blues are a few choices which we opt for when selecting color schemes for interiors of our homes and/or office spaces. Choosing the right color for the interiors can be fraught with a number of confusing factors like too many colors to choose from or selecting your favorite color scheme but not knowing if it will work for the room.

It is essential that when you go out there to select the interior color schemes, you keep certain things in mind. This includes choosing a color that enhances the feelings of well-being, transforms the perceived space to make it look larger or cozier, and illuminates and energizes the dark, static areas of your interior space.

There are a number of things you need to consider before choosing the color scheme for a room. These interior decorating guidelines include:

• Placement of the room.
• The use of the room, whether it is private or a community space.
• The landscaping outside.
• Your likes and dislikes in terms of color and style.
• Lighting of the room, artificial as well as natural sources like windows.
• The furniture, furnishings, and accessories.

Using Neutral Colors: Neutral colors like grays, beiges, tans, creams, and taupe are excellent for background spaces like walls and ceilings. It imparts a perception of space to the room and can be paired with vibrant pieces of furniture and draperies.

For example, deep wooden flooring with medium tone beige walls and white ceiling adds a traditional touch to your living room.

Look for Patterns: Look for a pattern or a color that you find dominant in the furniture, fabrics, and the artwork. For example, the pattern of an oriental rug can provide you with some clues about the interior color scheme. Using a tone on the color wheel which matches these pieces allows you to add a cohesive structure to the space.

Selecting from Different Color Schemes: Use the color wheel to select the different color schemes. You can use monochromatic color scheme for the whole room. However, in general, analogous or complimentary interior color scheme combinations work quite well.

Complementary colors, which are next to each other on the color wheel, such as yellow and violet, are dramatic and bold. However, they work best in private spaces such as a bedroom.

Analogous interior paint schemes, use three colors placed next to each other in the color wheel, either in a combination of the warmer tones or cool colors like blue and green.

Triadic color schemes use three hues placed consecutively or at equal distances from each other. Ideally, when decorating a space, divide the colors into 60 percent of a dominant color, 30 percent of a secondary color, and 10 percent of an accent color. This allows a sense of balance and interest to permeate into the space.

Understand the Influence of Colors: The colors help us in determining our perceived notions of space and design, for example, with a red color scheme, one can have an atmosphere that spells dark and moody atmosphere.

On the other hand, a cool and restful room is achieved using muted blues, grays, and browns. Creams and pink tones in the room make it warm and inviting and add a cozy touch to the space, while deep purple suggests grandeur and opulence.

While this guide for choosing interior color schemes may help you in making the right choice for your room, it is important to decorate your room based on your personal style and favored colors.