The Colour Wheel

In this topic we look at decorating with colour and the role colour plays in interior design. We show you what colours work well together to create certain moods in your room.

We also explain a little about how you can use the colour wheel when planning a colour scheme to create rooms with dramatically different results, all of which work harmoniously.

Take a minute to look at the colour wheel (pictured here) and notice where the colours are in relationship to each other. The colour wheel shows colours that work together and the affect colours have in relation to each other.

To understand more about how the colour wheel can help to decorate read the following about colour relationships;

Monochromatic colours.

Most colours look great with shades from the same family as themselves—reds go with other reds, greens with greens. These are the popular monochromatic schemes, all drawn from a single colour.

Several shades of the same colour can be used to avoid the room looking too flat.

TIP: Darker shades will advance walls closer, potentially making the room appear smaller and lighter shades will retreat walls away hopefully making the room appear larger.

Single complementary colours.

Single complementary schemes are vibrant, lively and use two colours directly opposite each other on the colour wheel. A contrasting mood can be created using a dark warm colour and a light cool colour together. This scheme work best when one colour is used as a dominant colour.

TIP: Darker colours are often more dominant.

Split complementary colours

Split complementary schemes are those that look like a “Y” on the colour wheel. Any one colour is matched with the two colours directly either side of the colour opposite the original colour.

TIP: It's possible lighter shades can be overpowered using this method, think carefuly about your space and design.

Triadic/Related.

Three colours are selected equal distance apart on the colour wheel. This scheme works best with one dominant colour and the other two being used as accents. Care must be taken as using triadic colours not to make a room look too “busy” and tiring.