Color Harmonies

Color schemes look best, when one color dominates. Your dominant color should cover about two thirds of the room area. An equal split between areas of dominant and subordinate is far less pleasing.

Subordinate colors are not as lively as dominant colors and are generally used for large furniture pieces, to blend them into the background.

Accent colors add flair to the decor. Often bright focal points of color are drawn from the opposite side of the color wheel.

Bold, warm, and dark colors appear to advance. Use them to lower ceilings or create a feeling of closeness in a room. Dark values and warm hues make rooms appear smaller.

Cool, dull, and light colors recede. Use them to heighten low ceilings or to widen a room. Light values and cool hues make a room appear larger.

Neutrals enhance and strengthen the other colors around them. Large areas look best when covered with low intensity colors. Large areas of space tend to enhance a colors intensity.

Contrasting colors are emphasized when used together. For example, light colors appear lighter beside dark colors, and vise versa.

Surfaces with rough textures make colors appear darker then surfaces with flat, smooth textures.

E xposure of a room affects color harmony choice. Rooms that face north or east and receive little sun can feel warmer with reds and oranges. Rooms that face south or west and receive sun will appear cooler with blues and greens.

Colors appear different under different lighting conditions. Artificial light softens colors. Colors that appear attractive under artificial light may be too harsh in full daylight. Incandescent lighting normally adds a warm glow to colors. Fluorescent lighting changes the hue of colors in a variety of ways, depending on the type of tube used.