Top 10 Tips for Adding Color to Your Space

Afraid of using color in your own home? Don't be. It all comes down to 10 color basics.

Previous Previous
Next Next
Photo 2 of 10

Hide CaptionShow CaptionAn analogous color scheme of green, yellow and orange creates a striking citrus display in this living room. Design by Linda Applewhite.

- Think About Local or Seasonal Color
- Live With Color Before You Buy

Product Ideas

More Product Ideas

By Mark McCauley, ASID

Trying to decide on the right color scheme for a room or an entire home can be difficult. You can simplify the process by using your color wheel and narrowing down your choices to two color schemes. There are more, of course, but these are the most effective and provide a great place to start.

Complementary Color Scheme
Complementary colors are across from each other on the color wheel, such as red and green, blue and yellow, or purple and orange. Rooms decorated with a complementary color scheme tend to provide a clear separation of colors and often are more formal and more visually challenging. Complementary color schemes should be used in the more formal areas of the home — for example, the living room or dining room.

Analogous Color Scheme
Analogous colors are next to each other on the color wheel, such as yellow and green, blue and violet, or red and orange. Rooms using an analogous color scheme typically are more causal, restful and muted in terms of coloration. This color scheme is best used in the more informal areas of the home. Family rooms, dens and bedrooms — places where you’re searching for rest and recovery from the day — look and "feel" great in analogous colors.