It is important to match the right paint colors when decorating, so that your home can reflect your taste. When painting a single room or even the entire interior of a home, the colors should flow together smoothly. Colors can flow together smoothly either by complementing each other or by contrasting each other in a visually aesthetic manner. You can accomplish this by using a color scheme.
You can choose a color scheme using an interior design color wheel. There are three main color scheme theories: complementary, analogous and monochromatic. A complementary color scheme, uses paint from colors on the direct opposite side of the color wheel. For example, yellow and purple are complementary colors. An analogous color scheme, uses colors next to one another on the color wheel. A monochromatic color scheme, takes one color from the color wheel and uses that same color in different gradations.
1 Analyze your surroundings and look at items in your home that you find appealing. Find a photo frame, window dressing, rug or furniture pattern that you currently own and admire. Use the lightest color in the pattern, or palest solid, as your dominant base wall color.
2 Create a decorating budget. This will greatly influence your color scheme decision. For example, if you currently do not own many accessories in various hues of one color, avoid a monochromatic color scheme if your budget does not allow for it.
3 Use an interior design color wheel to help choose a color scheme.
Using a color wheel, look again at the furnishings and accessories that you currently own. See if their colors fall directly across from your dominant color on the color wheel. If so choose the complementary color scheme. For a bold look, paint the ceiling, borders, molding or an accent wall in the complementary color.
If you have accessory and furnishing colors that fall next to each other on the color wheel, paint moldings and borders white or off white and use your furniture and accessories to complete the analogous look.
If many of your furnishings and accessories are neutral or tend to be various shades of one particular color, then choose the monochromatic color scheme. Paint moldings, borders and an accent wall in a shade either deeper or lighter within the same color. Accent in the same way.
