Wall Colour Combinations for Stunning Home decor

Colour Combinations Made Easy

by Asian Paints on 04th May 2023

1. Warm and Cool Colours

Warm Colours

These colours are found abundantly in nature, and their warmth gives a cosy feel to a room. Dominant warm colours don’t work well in bedrooms but are best suited for rooms where people socialise, for instance:

Living rooms
Dining rooms
Entertainment areas
Kitchens
Restaurant
Theatres

Lighting for Warm Colours

It’s essential that the correct lights are used to enhance the warmness of the colour.

Yellow lights go best with darker shades of warm colours
White lights go best with lighter shades of warm colours

Cool Colours

Cool colours are inspired by the sea, grass and sky, and lend serenity to any room. They are best suited for:

Bedrooms
Living rooms
Hospitals and clinics

Lighting for Cool Colours

The right lighting can enhance the soothing effect that cool colours have. Keep these tips in mind when choosing your lights.

Abundant natural light retains the freshness of cool colours
White lights, especially in the evening, bring out the different shades of cool colours

The correct blend of warm and cool colours can make a room very beautiful. Here are some examples:

2. Adding White, Grey and Black

Hues are pure colours to which no white, grey or black are added. This means that all primary, secondary and tertiary colours are hues. You get a tint of the colour by adding white to it, adding grey to a colour gives you its tone, and you get a shade of the colour when black is added to it.

When white is added to hues, the resulting tints are soft, youthful, and soothing. They make a small and compact room look spacious. They give a relaxing feel to a room, and can make it look brighter even when there’s little natural light.

If you plan to combine a light shade with another colour, make sure you:

Combine it with a lighter shade of another colour
Combine it with a darker shade of the same family
Don’t combine light shades with colours that have grey and black in them

When grey is added to hues, the resulting tones are subtle and sophisticated. They can make a space look formal when used sparingly, especially in industrial or professional environments. These tones are sober and soothing – ideal for large rooms with lots of natural light.

If you plan to combine a mid-tone shade with another colour, make sure you:

Combine it with a mid-tone of another colour
Combine it with a mid-tone shade of the same colour family
Don’t use colours with white and black in combination with mid-tone colours

When we add black to hues, the resulting shades are deep, powerful and mysterious. They look vibrant and are perfect for rooms that are spacious and have plenty of natural or artificial light, like restaurants, lounges, retail spaces, and even entertainment dens at home. But remember, they can look a bit flashy if over-used.

3. Bold, Sober and Soft Colours

Colour combinations are normally categorised as:

Bold
Sober
Soft

Bold or Complementary Combinations

Colours opposite to each other on the colour wheel form bold combinations. Here’s how you know you’re dealing with a bold combination:

They are a blend of one warm and one cool colour

They produce the highest contrast when used together, thus creating a vibrant feel, especially when used at full saturation

They make big spaces look even more impressive and are best suited for open kitchens, living rooms, kids’ rooms, and play schools

Here are some examples of bold combinations:

Sober Combinations (Analogous Combinations)

Sober combinations are formed by combining colours next to each other on the colour wheel. They require one colour to be dominant and the other to complement it in order to look harmonious.

Sober combinations need a distinct contrast between colours to be effective and are perfect for kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms for the serene look they give to a room.

Here are some examples of sober combinations:

Soft Combinations (Monochromatic Combinations)

Soft combinations are formed by combining dark and light colours of the same colour family. These are the best choice if you’re looking to create a soothing ambience in your room.

They provide a feeling of simplicity, elegance, and neatness – ideal for kitchens and bedrooms.