Colour Theory in Interior Design:

What you need to know to get the perfect colour combination every time.

Selecting a colour scheme can be incredibly daunting for a lot of people so I want to start by saying; you’re not alone in feeling like this. People fear putting colour on the wall in case they get it wrong, creating costly mistakes and to then have to spend the time or take on the added expense of getting it rectified. Now, I’m not saying neutrals and whites are the enemy as I certainly use them but what I will say is that going neutral ONLY because you’re underconfident to select something else will not result in the look and feel you hoped for. Plus, neutrals are the hardest to get right in my opinion! In this blog post I’m going to lay out some colour theory that Interior Designers use to hone in on that scheme and make it feel cohesive and “right.”

The Colour Wheel

Using a colour wheel as a guide when selecting a colour scheme for your home can be incredibly useful in working out colours that go together and there are tried and tested methods (yay!) to using it whether you want to create a bold look or something more harmonious.

How do I use a colour wheel?

The colour wheel is used differently based on the type of scheme you want to create. The image below shows some of the main combinations but keep reading for examples of each and how you can create them in your own home.

What is an Analogous colour scheme?

An analogous colour scheme is one where a colour on the wheel is chosen and it is put with it’s neighbours. It feels really harmonious, calm and balanced and is often a good place to start in design if you’re feeling underconfident in design. Start by choosing a colour you like then for other items in the room choose things in colours directly next to it in the colour wheel.

A calming blue and green living room in an analogous colour scheme. — The combination of blue and green here has made for a calming and restful room.

What is a complimentary colour scheme?

Complimentary colour schemes are colour schemes whereby the chosen colour is paired with a colour opposite it on the colour wheel. Popular pairings are reds and blues and pinks and greens and while this can certainly feel bolder it doesn’t have to as tone of colour plays a big part here. If you were to choose bright red and a very rich blue it will feel very vibrant and busy whereas if the colours were more muted it will soften the look considerably. There has definitley been a trend of blue and red in Interiors in 2024 particularly adding a pop of red in a vibrant shade to a more muted blue scheme, so a mix of saturation levels could be something to bear in mind when selecting your colour schemes.

A soft blue and vibrant red dining area with velvet banquet seating and round table. — Complimentary colour schemes certainly make for a more vibrant and busy scheme.

What is a rectangle (tetradic) colour schemes.

In this scheme you will end up with four colours to play with so this will make an extremely dynamic and fun colour scheme and is done by selecting a colour and it’s complimentary colour then selecting another colour 2 steps away and it’s complimentary colour. Proportion of colour use will play an important part in getting this right so it’s probably not one for a beginner.

An example of a rectangular (tetradic) colour scheme showing a living room decorated in orange, green, blue and red. — The orange, blue, green and the small pop of red in the rug make a layered and textured scheme that really pops.

Split Complimentary colour scheme.

This is when you choose a base colour and use the 2 colours that are adjacent to it’s complimentary colour on the wheel. Proving it doesn’t always have to be bright, the base colour pictured below is a dusky soft pink expertly paired with a deep forest green and blue in the art work. Not picking the colour directly opposite the base colour doesn’t feel quite so jarring in terms of colour scheme but still is different enough to create layers of interest.

A soft mid pink bedroom with forest green velvet bed and abstract art on the wall.

Triadic colour schemes.

This classic example of a triadic colour scheme belongs to Jess from @thehousethatcolourbuilt and shows a scheme of vibrant pinks, yellows and a pop of blue. If vibrant colour schemes are your thing then Jess is definitely one to follow, sharing colour inspiration and advice to bring out the colour lover in us all.

Monochromatic colour schemes

The secret is out, monochromatic colour schemes do NOT have to be black white and grey! The true definition of it is using the same colour in varying shades. So you could have a green room starting with a rich emerald fading out into mossy accessories and accents. It really does make for a calm space and if you’re underconfident it could be a good place to start as you could definitley add some complimentary colours later if the mood so takes you or you start to feel more comfortable with colour.

A monochromatic green bedroom with wooden bedside tables and velvet bed — This bedroom is full monochrome and feels extremely calm.

I hope you have learnt something and enjoyed this whistle stop tour of the colour wheel. If you’re still feeling daunted I’d suggest starting with the monochromatic, complimentary or analogous schemes as they are easiest to master and remember there’s no right or wrong but having a guide can really help put a stop to panic in the paint aisle.

If you would like to talk about a project you have in your home that you’d like my help with you can either book a call here or head to my contact page here to write me a message.

Speak soon,

Claire