A color scheme is basically an arrangement of colors. Throughout history the decorative style of certain times and places have become a standard. Think English manor, or country French. When you use the colors associated with these styles in your own home, you create a space which reflects the ambiance of those specific period.

Below you will find descriptions of several color styles which have developed throughout history. By understanding the way certain colors create these types of spaces, you can gain a deeper and more meaningful understanding of how color affects your life.

You can also copy the color styles below to create a novel decorative theme, which captures the spirit of a specific time and place.

Coastal / Beach Life Color Schemes

This color style invites the spirit of coastal life into your home. Blue, white, and tan, the colors of beach and bay are the predominant tones in this space. The ocean often meets the shore across the ceiling and walls of such a space. Furnishings tend to be rustic wood, unfinished or treated, to simulate outdoor beach chairs. Touches of actual coastal life, sea shell ashtrays, nautical décor, and brightly patterned blankets add a depth to the colors which gives the theme an added dimension.

Rustic Cabin Color Schemes

This color style is dominated by rustic earth tones, with deep reds, and blues or greens acting as accents to the color. Wood is a predominant tone, as well as a good texture for a cabin décor. Southwestern tones such as adobe pottery can give the room more of a dessert theme. Color patterns often include Native American styles, with deep maroon or brown, interlaced with dark navy interplays.

English Manor

This style is dominated by vibrant reds, yellows, blues, greens, purples and oranges, melded together in an explosion of color. The tones often resembled gemstones, which collude in a chintz style that is almost gaudy. These powerful colors are generally arranged in floral patterns, which give the overwhelming colors of the space an anchor in reality.

Country French

Vibrant earth tones abound in interplay of the dazzling and the subdued. White plaster is the traditional backdrop, against which colors such as mustard, rust, and indigo are placed. A calico pattern tends to dominate fabrics and upholstery in this style.

Country Cottage

A sweet and feminine style, the colors are generally pastels, in both warm and cool tones. Light blue, white, and pink, tend to form in floral patterns throughout the space. Accent colors are generally used in decorative frills such as bed skirts, trim, and ribbons.

Shabby Chic

This style is dominated by the color white. Think an old and distinguished southern manor. Most of the interest lent to this style is done by using texture, on walls, ceilings, and especially in trim, pieces and molding. Paint chips, and faded colors also add to the details of the space. Accent colors should be used sparingly, in strategic and clever locations.

City Chic

This style uses neutral colors throughout a space. White, black, beige, or anything which is unassuming can work in a shabby chic color scheme. Interest is added to the space through the use of texture and materials such as copper, chrome, steal, and shimmering hardwoods. The effect is a room which balances soft and hard elements to create a powerful space.

Color has long fascinated man. The English art critic John Ruskin quoted it beautifully Of all God’s gifts to the sighted man, color is holiest, the most divine, the most solemn. We all are mesmerized by color combinations occurring in nature. The sight of the rainbow after the rain, a bee hovering on a purple rose flower or the sight of lush green mountains with white clouds hovering on the peak are sure to elicit strong emotions in us.

Choosing color is one of the most difficult decisions to make when decorating a room or an entire home. Many times we walk into someone’s house and observe the surrounding and get a feel: Warm, bright, dull or eerie. An important part of how we feel our surroundings, is how we perceive the colors used.

Interior and landscape designers have long known the importance of using harmonious color combinations and much research and thought has been put into the subject. One of the most important tools used by designers throughout the world in choosing colors is the Color Wheel theory. It is a simple concept and can be used by anyone.
With a little practice and some creativity you too can create the same effect as that of professional home designers.

Understanding the Color Wheel Theory

To understand the theory you have to know what the color wheel is. Remember how the colors are arranged in a rainbow ? The color wheel is simply those colors arranged in a circular fashion. Looking at the wheel you would find 6 basic colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Also included are “in-between” colors that are mixes of the basic colors.

As per the theory there are certain color combination patterns which can be identified on the wheel which when used together give a harmonious feeling to the human eye.

Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing? Can one really explain this? no. Just as one can never learn how to paint Quote by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Spanish painter.

Identifying Harmonious Color Combinations on the Color Wheel

According to color theory, harmonious color combinations use any two colors opposite to each other on the color wheel, any three colors equally spaced around the color wheel forming a triangle, or any four colors forming a rectangle. The harmonious color combinations are also called color schemes.

The following four schemes are the most commonly used

Monochromatic Color Scheme: The monochromatic color scheme uses variations in lightness and saturation of a single color. This scheme looks clean and elegant. The colors go well together, producing a soothing effect : example dark brown oak beds on beige brown flooring.

Analogous Color Scheme uses colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel. Some examples are green, light green, and yellow or red, orange and yellow.

Complementary Color Scheme are colors which are opposite to each other on the color wheel, such as blue and orange, red and green, purple and yellow. These colors, when used side by side, make each other appear brighter.

Triadic color scheme makes use of three colors that are equal distance apart on the color wheel, such as red, yellow and blue or using secondary colors yellow-green, blue-violet, and red-orange.

Using the Color Theory practically to design your home

To make practical use of the color wheel all you need is to a picture of it. Alternatively specialized software is also available which shows you possible multiple color combinations. Now, if you have white painted walls and are confused which color curtains and sofa set would best complement each other, simply make use of any of the four above color schemes discussed above. You may have to use your creativity a bit. The color wheel can be broken down into many sub colors. So if you think brown curtains would do fine, you will have to fine tune which sub shade of brown would do best.

I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colors. “I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns” – Quote by Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British politician.

Though this theory is simple it’s a very powerful concept. It is used in web design, product design (Yes even Apple Ipod’s have been designed this way!) and even in landscape design. Make use of this theory in everyday life, from choosing the wall paint color to choosing the color of the table cloth. You would be surprised with what you will create!