Color Theory 101: Understand Color and How To Use It In the Home

Living room with mustard walls decorated with a collection of prints and paintings, a large dark blue sectional sofa with patterned pillows scattered around it, and a striped ottoman at the centre. — (Image credit: Astrid Templier)

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What Is Color Theory?
Why Does Color Theory Matter In Interior Design?
The Main Color Schemes
How To Choose a Color Palette For your Home
Color Theory Mistakes To Avoid
Can You Break Color Theory Rules?

Color theory is a simplified term to explain how colors interact with one another. While we're all familiar with hues that pair well together, paying attention to the exact science of color and how they connect might help you feel more certain of your home's color palette before you bring out the paintbrush.

While the term 'color wheel' might ring a distant bell from your school days, those savvy with design are using the theory to inform every part of their room color ideas, from paint to furniture. We all know what the color wheel is, but are we utilizing it when decorating?

What Is Color Theory?

Living room with pale blue painted walls, large painting of houses in orange and red, a striped blue and white sofa, a glass and stone coffee table with decor on top and red curtains

'In essence, color theory and more intrinsically, the color wheel, is a way to understand the complexities of color and how to interplay relationships between colors when decorating,' says Paddy O’Donnell, international brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball. 'It helps us make a more informed decision when choosing color, and if you follow the three main principles of the color wheel, you should be able to achieve energetic combinations, tonal combinations, etc.'

'Color theory provides a framework for color,' explains Arianna Barone, Color Marketing Manager at Benjamin Moore. 'Color is both subjective and reactive, as it is dependent on the user’s individual experience. Color theory gives measurable qualities to colors like hue, chroma and value. It also creates fundamentals for the relationships between colors to provide an understanding of how they mix, blend and interact.'

'By providing measurable qualities to color, color theory gives people the language to describe the color they are looking for,' adds Arianna. 'Color lives in a three-dimensional space – hue refers to the color family; chroma is the saturation or brightness and darkness of a color; value is the lightness and darkness of a color. Once you can describe what type of color you are looking for, it is also important for you to understand how that color will interact with other colors in the space. Color theory utilizes tools like the color wheel and color harmony to not only help you select a color, but also create pairings as well.'

Why Does Color Theory Matter In Interior Design?

A vibrant room with peach-colored walls and ceiling, featuring an ornate grey fireplace, a modern red lounge chair, and a black textured armchair under a glass chandelier.

Color is fundamental to interior design. By understanding how colors react, in turn, you will understand which shades pair best beside each other. A well-balanced scheme is one that uses color cleverly and demonstrates an understanding of the color wheel and how hues translate.

Not only does color theory make a room feel accomplished and balanced, it also plays a part in our well-being and how we feel when entering a space. There are colors to decorate with depending on the mood you want to create. 'Color Psychology also comes into play, too,' says Paddy. 'How do you want to feel in a room, what atmosphere are you trying to create? The classic example is the perennial favourite color family of greens: Greens can soothe and bring calm to a space so often considered great for bedrooms – each color family has connotations, so consider this when a ‘sense of feeling’ is paramount!'

'We are all more aware of how color effects our relationship with a space,' says Helen Shaw, Director of Marketing (International) at Benjamin Moore. 'A carefully chosen shade will dramatically change how we feel about a room and the way in which we interact with it.'

Color can drastically change not only the feel of a room, but the perceived size of it, too. While white paints can make a small room feel larger, darker, moodier tones can make a space feel snug and cozy.

The Main Color Schemes

Determining the placement of hues on the color wheel will steer you towards colors that clash versus tones that harmonise and sit well together. From analogous schemes that layer varying hues of one color, to complementary schemes composed of colors directly opposite one another on the color wheel, these are the four main color schemes.

Monochromatic

glossy brown painted entryway with a view to a muddy brown seating area

It's easy to think 'What are monochromatic color schemes?' So, think of them as rooms that make use of solely one color. While monochromatic color schemes may appear one-note, using just one shade as their main palette, they typically layer a variety of hues that come under one color family, making them feel surprisingly complex.

From decorating with neutrals to decorating with pink, a monochromatic scheme is perfect if you're looking to create a sense of calm cohesion or bold vibrancy, depending on what hue you land on. The recent hue drenching demonstrates the surprising versatility of choosing just one color and embracing it in full force.

'You can create a color palette using a monochromatic color scheme which uses tints and shades from the same color family,' explains Arianna. 'For example, if you had Winter Lake 2129-50 on the walls, layer in off-whites with a blue undertone like Silver Cloud 2129-70 and deeper blues like Blue Note 2129-30.'

Analogous

Bedroom with pale pink wallpapered walls, a mahogany desk and bobbin chair, and built-in wardrobes painted deep orange, with wooden floors and a blue, cream and orange Persian style rug

'Analogous schemes are colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel,' says Paddy. Although classic combinations like blues and greens, greens and yellows, and pinks and oranges might sound bold, designers rely on these trusty analogous combinations to create visual vibrancy and contrast in their designs.

'Create slightly more contrast with analogous color schemes that use color families that sit adjacent to one another on the color wheel,' says Arianna. While it's easy to think anagalous colors stray into the more striking, opting for gentler variations (e.g. a pale blue with a sage green) and creating a muted color scheme will ensure your room doesn't feel overwhelming. 'Thinking of that same space with Winter Lake 2129-50 on the walls, bring in soft greens like Silken Pine 2144-50 and grounding violets like Tropical Dusk 2117-40. For more dynamic contrast and an energetic space, pair Winter Lake on the walls with pops of orange like Bronze Tone 2166-30 for a confident rush of color.'

Complementary

Green and pink bed nook with floral blind and curtain, chevron quilt and built-in drawers

While it's easy to think complementary colors are those that feel most similar, they're actually the opposite. 'Complementary colors are those that oppose each other on the color wheel (warm and cool),' says Paddy. So, typically, rooms with a complementary palette are usually pretty visually striking.

Think red and green (a classic Christmas color scheme), a warm-meets-cool combination of blue and orange, and the ever-bold pair of yellow and purple. Even pink and green are a fail-safe complementary pairing, proven with the striking bed nook pictured above, which makes the two hues the star of the show.

However, the shades you choose depend on the overall look you want to achieve. If you are braving a bold look, then going for the brightest variations of those hues will create impact and intention. For a safer approach, choose one bold shade (let's say a bright blue like Farrow & Ball's Yonder) and pair it with a more muted orange like terracotta or peach.

Triadic

neutral living room with a red marble fireplace surround, neutral sofa with blue and red cushions, blue accent chair, and red and white checkerboard rug with a wooden coffee table

The clue's in the name with triadic. 'Tri' means three, so with Triadic color schemes, think three colors. 'Perception and understanding of this is to draw a triangle on the color wheel and the three end points of each triangle are your ‘triadic’ colors', explains Paddy.

Picture a color wheel, and then place a triangle on top of it. Wherever the corners hit are what your three colors are. There are primary triads (red, yellow, and blue), followed by secondary triads (orange, green, and purple), and then tertiary triads (red-orange, blue-purple, yellow-green, yellow-orange, blue-green, and red-purple). They are evenly spaced from each other in the color wheel, so although they may seem different, they share a visual language.

How To Choose a Color Palette For your Home

A side-on view of a bright red bedroom, with a large bed with floral-patterned bed with white and red bedding, two matching lamps on either side, a black bedside table with red flowers.

Whether you're choosing a paint color or trying to land on the perfect living room color scheme, the best way to choose a palette for the home is to think of each color and its associated 'feelings'.

'An easy way to break down your paint choice is by thinking broadly about how certain shades feel,' explains Helen. 'Pale colors offer light, airy qualities so will feel uplifting. Earthy, nuanced neutrals are grounding and reassuring. Pure and pristine whites are timeless and offer a blank canvas to express your style, whilst deep tones create a sense of drama, offering a rich, opulent luxury.'

'Therefore, taking the time to consider how a space will be used is important, especially if you are attempting to promote a certain mood,' adds Helen.

'If you don’t have a color family in mind, think about the look and feeling you are trying to convey in the space,' says Arianna. 'If you look at the color wheel in its simplest form, it breaks down to warm and cool colors. Warm colors – reds, oranges and yellows – are known to have more comforting, optimistic, energetic qualities while cooler colors – greens, blues, violets – often exude tranquility, relaxation and calmness.'

It's not just the emotive side of color you should consider when decorating. Light has an integral role, too. Whether you're deciding what color to paint your living room to make it brighter or the best warm color scheme for a light-filled space, understanding the relationship between light and color will also ensure you choose a palette that works for your home depending on where it faces.

green living room, with matching painted ceiling, lime wash chest of drawers, art work, large lamp, rug, wooden floor, radiator

Formulas can help you choose a palette for your home if you can't decide on colours based purely on emotion. 'Another rule (rules are there to be broken) is the 60-30-10 rule,' says Paddy, 'and this can be very useful when balancing a mix of colors.'

If you're considering color combinations, consider this ratio. '60% represents the largest surface area, so wall color (or paper), 30% is the upholstery in a room, and 10% is your accessories, such as lampshades, cushions, and pictures,' explains Paddy.

'For people who like formulas and rules, I always recommend starting with the basics of color theory as it can make the whole process feel more tangible,' continues Arianna. 'First, think about the properties of the color you want. What color family are you considering? Do you want a brighter hue or something more muted and grayer? Do you want a lighter color or a darker color?'

'Most of the time, people are choosing paint colors for spaces that have existing elements like rugs, artwork and furniture, that they don’t plan on changing. This is what I find stumps a lot of people because they want the space to feel cohesive but don’t know where to start. That is where the color wheel can be very useful. Look to the colors in your space and take inventory of what will be staying.'

Color Theory Mistakes To Avoid

how to paint a radiator with yellow room in Babouche by Farrow &amp; Ball

Whether it's bedroom or living room color ideas, it's worth knowing that there are some color theory mistakes to avoid if you want a scheme that feels balanced, uplifting, and timeless.

First, never ignore undertones. You might be set on a blue paint for your entryway walls, but if you choose a colour without acknowledging its undertones, it's likely to feel incongruous with your setting. For example, a mid-blue paint woven with gray undertones might make the back rooms in a north-facing home feel cold and dull.

Always consider the positioning of your home (north-facing rooms typically receive ample daylight in the morning but less so come evening), and how that paint color could shift alongside it. And remember, always consider tonal variations of a hue to avoid your scheme feeling overly bright or saturated. Opt for muted hues as well as those eye-catching, vivid ones.

Similarly, pay attention to the pieces you already have. It's all well and good falling in love with a trendy paint color in the store, but if you bring it home and it doesn't work with your sofa or headboard, you might want to give it a rethink. This connects to another common mistake when using color. It's tempting to rely on the latest color trends, but a scheme that only takes into account current fads will date quickly and feel like a time capsule in a few years time.

Can You Break Color Theory Rules?

All rules are made to be broken. Sometimes, purposeful clashes actually work and can be pulled off when all the decorative elements align. Take maximalist rooms as proof. 'The above becomes irrelevant if you’re of the maximalist tendency, but a useful guide for beginners,' adds Paddy. 'Some of us just have a gut instinct or feeling and never consider any of the above, and there is a lovely freedom in that, so if you are confident, just go with it and trust your heart.'

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