Have you ever flipped through a magazine and were blown away by the detailed and elegant choices the interior designer picked out? We’ve been there too–which is why we’re going to show you how to tap in to your inner decorator and use simple color combinations that will amplify the style in your Chicago or Indianapolis home.
Opposites actually do attract!
Opposites on the color wheel, that is. The idea here is pretty simple: colors opposite each other on the color wheel will complement each other. So, blue/yellow; purple/light green; red/dark green are all good beginner combos on your journey to become a color combination expert. Let’s take a look at some of these combinations in action to give more of a sense for why they work so well.
So, here we have the Chazy, a turquoise sectional with matching turquoise and yellow/chartreuse throw pillows. Part of the reason why this combination works so well is that they are both cool tones, meaning both the turquoise and the yellow have more blue in their hue than red. The brightness of the pillows matches the brightness of the couch but more subtly. Pairing light colors together can be tricky since you don’t want to overpower either color.
Pick one neutral and pair it with additional accent colors
Is it just us or do you think this room would be garish if all of the furniture was bright yellow? The reason the Macey’s rich espresso color with the reds, yellows and blues works so well is that brown is a distinct neutral color. Meaning, it’s the color that can fade into the background and let the other colors be the star of the show. Red, yellow and blue are primary colors—using just these three hues, you can create every color we can see! When they’re brought in as accent colors, they do a nice job of complementing each other without fighting for center stage.
Tap into gradients and create a spectrum from one color to a lighter color
As we can see, a gradient naturally grows from darkest to lightest with only the barest shifts visible to the eye as the color changes. You can use this concept to your advantage in your next Chicago bedroom set—like the Milano. Take into consideration the color of your furniture along with the color of your throw pillows and bedding to create a soft shift from darkest to light. If you were to place navy blankets or navy accents around the room, the look might come across as harsh since there’s a big gap between the soft turquoise and navy.
If you’re in the market for additional style advice, visit us at one of our 22 Chicago or Indianapolis locations and let us show you to put some winning combinations together.