Picking color schemes to spruce up an old space

Friday, June 5, 2009

For the cost of a couple of can of paint and some elbow grease, any space can be dramatically changed using paint and the right colour scheme.

Some standard rules can help homeowners choose colors that work well together, creating a unifying theme, even if the colors themselves are far from uniform.

To start, one basic rule is that selecting too few decorative colors makes a room cold and uninteresting, while choose too many can make a room loud and hectic. However, even when selecting multiple colors, using the color wheel is a good way to make sure the multiple colors work together.

Monochromatic color schemes use varying shades of the same color. Many homeowners use this route as it closely relates to the natural harmony found all around us, such as the different shades of green on a tree, blues of the ocean, etc.

Analogous color schemes, usually considered to be more of a monotone color scheme, typically use three colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, for example green, complimented by a yellow-green and a pure yellow.

Complementary color schemes use any two colors that lay directly across from one another on the color wheel. Complementary color schemes tend to create a dramatic effect of contrast and visual balance. For example, red and green, commonly used for Christmas-themed decorations, would be considered a complementary color scheme.

Another factor to consider is color temperature. Warm colors and cool colors divide the color wheel into two sections. Cool colors tend to have a calming effect on people, while warmer colors are seen as being more energizing.

By using the color wheel and some simple theories and guidelines, picking a color scheme can be stress-free.