Paint color combinations have always been vital to Interior Decoration. Previously, color combinations were all about wall-paints. Now, however, the concept has changed. These days, painted walls are mostly seen as suitable backdrops and interior decorating paint color combinations incorporate colored scheme for accessories, furnishings, tapestries, etc. to introduce a rather personalized element in the home interiors.
Interior decorating paint color combinations are essentially rooted in some basic color principles. Principally, there are three categories of shades namely primary, secondary and tertiary. Going back to the basics, the first lesson you ever learnt about colors was that red, blue, and yellow are the primary colors; every other color, every hue is just the mix and match of these three primary colors.
The secondary colors – orange, violet and green – are derived from blending two primary colors. The third group of colors, the tertiary colors is a fusion of primary and secondary colors. Yet another group, the group of natural shades in obtained by mixing two secondary colors.
Gain the knowledge to make your home a better living space for your family and yourself, "Do It Yourself Tips" is a by-weekly newsletter loaded with valuable Home Improvement Tips & Tricks. Simply fill the form & click on "Sign Up!".
The secret to succeeding with interior decorating paint color combinations is to rightly interpret the colors and blend them to produce a continuous, flowing effect in the interiors. The use of various hues in different segments of a room via wall-paints and use of different colored furnishings and items can be a technique. You can use a color wheel to rightly make out the true essence of specific colors and use them suitably to improve the beauty of your home.
The color wheel gives you a complete idea of warm and cool colors and helps you choose ideal shades appropriate to the feel you want to impart to distinct areas of your house. Thus, half of the color wheel that is from colors red to yellow-green are considered warm.
These colors appear to be advancing toward you, creating the impression of nearness, warmth and coziness and are hence fit for larger rooms and open areas. Colors green to red-violet are considered cool. They cause the walls to retreat, making smaller areas appear bigger also affecting the temperature of a room.
When it comes to choosing the right colors for interior decorating paint color combinations, the color wheel helps you with such concepts as:
- Analogous Colors – colors appearing side by side on the wheel (they mix very well)
- Complementary Colors – colors appearing opposite each other on the wheel (pairing a color with its complementary color makes both the colors more vibrant)
- Monochromatic Colors – shades of a single color (can be used to create striking designs)
- Triad Colors – combination of three colors equally spaced on the color wheel (can give a balanced effect).
Yet, another outstanding color combination for your interiors happens to be the use of warm and cool colors side by side. Both the color ranges are essentially benefited by the introduction of the other color choice. Thus, a touch of warm color in an otherwise cool colored surrounding livens up the space. Similarly, choice of a cool shade for the ceiling and furnishings of a vividly painted room (use of warm shades on the wall) helps strike balance.
Of course, colors have their own introduction and help you establish the mood of a particular space. Thus, red stands for vibrancy, blue stands for calmness and harmony, green gives a natural touch, and so on and so forth. Neutral colors like shades of white and ivory (the timeless favorites) always create a sense of harmony while introducing features like simplicity and soberness.
Remember, interior decorating paint color combinations are very much dictated by personal tastes and preferences. However, there are a number of issues like basic color principles, room-sizes and light sources.
The surest way to go about settling on interior decorating paint color combinations is to go for a small-scale sampling with wall-paints, woodwork polishes, etc. Once you are satisfied with the sample space you can proceed with the painting and decorating job.
by Manuel Kupka
