Creating a look in the living room that is coordinated and balanced can easily be done by selecting two different colors to work with in the room. Any two colors will work, whether they are analogous or complementary. By choosing two colors for a living room’s color scheme, it is impossible to go wrong.

Complements

To add a little drama and contrast to a room, decorate it in complementary colors. On a color wheel, complementary colors are opposite from each other, so there will be a lot of contrast between the two colors. An example of complementary colors would be purple and yellow or orange and blue. One of the more popular pairings of complementary colors are found in classic Christmas colors, which are red and green. Generally it is best to choose one of the colors as the room’s primary color, and then introduce the other color throughout the room as an accent color. Since complementary colors present such a strong contrast, representing them in the room in equal amounts can feel chaotic. However, using a complementary color as an accent is a great way to highlight something in the room, like a piece of furniture or an architectural element.

Analogous Colors

When decorating with analogous colors, the room will blend harmoniously creating an easy and natural flow. Analogous colors are next to each other on the color wheel, so they blend together effortlessly giving the room a calm feeling and flow. This color combination allows the eye to travel uninterrupted through the room making the space feel visually very smooth and soothing. An example of analogous colors would be blue and green-blue or yellow and orange-yellow.

As Simple as Black and White

For a classic color combination choose black and white as the colors for a living room design. This color combination can look old fashioned, classic or modern depending on the combinations and placement of colors. While each color can grab the eye, juxtaposing these two colors against each other really enhances this effect. In a contemporary room these colors work especially well, and when used in relatively equal amounts throughout a room, they each serve as the others’ accent color. Consider combining black furnishings with white walls and a black and white carpet for a look that is modern and balanced.

Black and White Accents

Another option is to choose black or white and then combine it with another color to create and equally clean designs with a completely different vibe. For example, introduce darker colored walls, like plum, and then add white molding to really make them stand out. The same technique works with black. For example, by adding black accents to a teal colored room it creates a very sophisticated design. Whereas adding a bolder color, like yellow, to black creates visual energy and excitement. Couple this stark contrast with a glossy finish, and the space becomes even more energetic. Since black or white pair well with virtually any color, it is really impossible to get into trouble with this color combination.

By choosing just two colors to decorate a living room, especially when a homeowner is not confident in their ability to combine colors, the room’s design will turn out perfectly every time.

Author Bio: Targeting “do it yourselfers,” Jessica Ackerman writes regularly for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, offering simple illustrations of palm tree metal wall art and restaurant metal wall art.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: home, decor, design, wall art, improvement, remodel, budget, repair, organize, feng shui, clean