Color Theory #3 - Successfully Using Bold Color in Home Design

Using bold color in home design can be tricky - even intimidating!

We probably all have a story about how a certain attempt at using color ended up with less-than-desirable results.

For some, bold color is too much stimulation. An all white or neutral environment is very calm and soothing.  Even in these environments, using neutrals complementary undertones helps keep the all-white or neutral room interesting and non-sterile feeling.

For those who like color, sometimes a simple pop of bold color is all that is needed. 

But for others, a roomful of bold color is just the ticket!

When used well, bold color is dramatic, opulent, elegant and unique. Have you ever wanted to use bold color to achieve such a look?  

Here are a few pointers. All the lovely photographic examples were found on Pinterest:

Note: This is my third post on color theory. The first post was an overview of color theory - terms used and primary colors. The second post was about secondary and tertiary colors. 


Primary, secondary and tertiary colors are all pure-saturated color. This means they are in their pure, brightest forms, like the colors below:

All the colors of the color wheel work together. See how the wide array of color below works? It is pure, saturated, color-wheel color for the most part, with no pastels or grayed colors to spoil the effect:

ANALOGOUS COLORS - Colors located on either side of each other on the color wheel. (Example - red violet, red, red orange.)


COMPLEMENTARY COLORS - Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. 


The color wheel below shows colors in order, but separated by their complementary color. See how dramatic and energetic the contrast is between complementary colors? They actually seem to "vibrate" with energy. 

BOLD ANALOGOUS COLOR SCHEMES:


The safest way to introduce bold color is to use close-value, analogous colors. 


Below is a room using red violet walls, red carpet and sofa with red orange pops of pattern in the pillows. Notice how this room is "grounded" by using black and white. 

In a similar analogous scheme, the photo below uses violet & red-violet patterned wallpaper with red-violet chairs, red pillows and red-orange ottoman. Black and white again offer a bit of calm in this highly-patterned and boldly colored room.

Below is a similar use of analogous color, though the color is used to punctuate a mostly-white room.

The photo below uses close-value blue chairs, blue violet structure and violet flowers.

In an indoor analogous color palette, the room has a blue-green chest, blue walls, with blue-green, blue and blue violet  in the painting. Notice the use of white as a "grounding" neutral again.

Below, see the use of yellows and greens, with white and wood tones to ground the space:

BOLD COMPLEMENTARY COLOR SCHEMES:


While using your favorite analogous colors is a fairly safe way to go bold, using complementary colors offers an even bolder, more dramatic look!


The photo below shows blue-green and red-orange on the stairway. Yellow-green is an accent to them. Again, black and white are used in this ultra-bold scheme.

Below are some good examples of successful red/green color schemes:

Blue and orange complementary color pictured below shows how dramatic the color scheme is:

Below is an example of a complementary violet and yellow scheme - the most difficult color scheme of all:

The room below uses strong violet, but the yellow is grayed down to a deep rich gold tone. While the dramatic effect of using complements is still present, it is much less jarring to the eye. 

Which brings us to the subject of CHROMATIC GRAYS.  


Chromatic grays are saturated colors that are mixed with some amount of their complement or a close complementary color to gray them down. 


Yellow with a touch of purple is deeper and more golden. Keep adding more purple and it gets deeper and olive-greenish. Chromatic grays are beautiful. They are non-jarring to our eyes/brains, so they are used most often in home design. 


Upcoming information to watch for:

• Using Chromatic grays
• Using lighter and darker values of color

Word for the Day:

Acts 16:14
One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

May our hearts be open and our responses be quick today and every day!

-Revi

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