Acheiving Successful Color Schemes in Our Homes

Sometimes coming up with a successful color scheme can elude the best of us. What starts out as a fun and energetic color scheme, can soon become too bright and too energetic, wearing us out day after day. Our brains, I believe, are designed to seek balance. Although I, unlike most of the design world, do not subscribe to "rules," there are guidelines that can be helpful in helping a homeowner create a more restful nest without compromising your tastes.

{photo credit: Stewart Shining / Domino Magazine}

Try the 60-30-10 "rule"....

60 percent of the room is one color (usually the wall color), 30 percent of another (the furniture, usually), and 10 percent is your accent color, seen in your accessories.  In a kitchen it would be 60 for wall color, 30 for cabinetry, and 10 for accessories. I think this works for the most part, but I think many designers break the 10 percent part of the rule, I know I do. I think it could be too safe (depending on the mood you are going for)  and very boring to only have 3 colors in your room. Yes, you can vary it up by imparting different shades, tints, or tones of the same color into the accessories, but even that is too safe for me at times. I agree with others who have said that you can bring in many complimentary colors in the 10 percent of your room, and this works, as long as it is part of the 10 percent.

Domino Magazine via Brides.com

Use The Color Wheel

When picking your dominant color, try complimenting it with your second color opposite of it in the color wheel to bring balance.  If you were to do a bold color scheme in your room you could use red and it's opposite, which is green. This brings balance to your poor eyes. You could vary it by picking different "shades" of those colors, instead. Notice in the above photos how pink and green are opposite on the color wheel. Well, red is it's opposite, but pink is a lighter "shade" of red, or more accurately, a tint of red. This theory still works when using different "shades."

Go Monochromatic

Choose one color and vary it in shade, tones, and tints. It creates a soothing room when paired with neutrals, but you can try any color you like.

Charles Allem Designs

Linking up with these lovely ladies: HERE