Engel & Völkers
  • 3 min read

How to best combine colours in interiors?

Samples of paints on smooth surface: blue, orange, yellow and lilac. You can see 4 brushes with red, blue, white and green colour.

The most important aspect when decorating your home, to make it as personal and aligned with your goals as possible, is to stay true to your tastes. Although decorators and influencers may now be highly inspirational in providing ideas, you are the one who must reflect your own personality in every room. In this article, we will focus on how to combine the colours of the walls, furniture, bed linens, decorative objects, flooring, curtains, and more.

A proper combination of colours is one of the key components in achieving a perfect look and a stylish interior design.

Table of Content

  1. Complementary combination

  2. Triadic colour scheme

  3. Analogous colour scheme

  4. Tetradic colour scheme

Complementary combination

Complementary colours are those that are located opposite each other on the colour wheel. Their combination creates a very lively and energetic effect, especially when using saturated tones. This technique is ideal for creating strong contrasts, adding dynamism and vitality to any space.

The interior of an apartment with herringbone parquet flooring, a dark green sofa on the left, a black piano on the right, and in the centre, two open doors leading to the dining room with a dark wood table and two chairs.

Triadic colour scheme

A triadic colour scheme involves combining three colours that are equally spaced from one another on the colour wheel. This combination provides strong contrast without disrupting the overall harmony of the space. While triadic colours are typically associated with vibrant tones, even pale and unsaturated shades can create a vibrant and balanced atmosphere.

The interior of a modern apartment with an electric yellow sofa, two blue sofas on the left, a table on the right with 4 chairs, and a white bookshelf in the background.

Analogous colour scheme

Analogous colours are those that sit next to each other on the colour wheel. In other words, they are the neighbouring colours which share a common hue. This combination is also known as a monochromatic scheme. The analogous colour scheme creates a gentle and harmonious effect, making it ideal for spaces where you want to achieve a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere.

The interior of a modern apartment with a mural window overlooking a garden with trees. The interior features a green wall, a green sofa, and a modern brown leather armchair.

Tetradic colour scheme

The tetradic colour scheme involves one base colour, two additional colours, and one that serves as an accent. This combination allows you to play with a broad and balanced colour palette, generating interesting contrasts and adding depth to the space without losing cohesion.

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