GET THE COMBINATIONS RIGHT FOR HOW YOU WANT THE ROOM TO FEEL
The first step to creating this scheme is to pick the right colors. Picking two colors from the opposite side of the wheel sounds simple, but there's slightly more to it because in interior design it's not as easy as picking a blue and pairing it with an orange, because there are so many variations of blue and so many variations of orange.
PICK A DOMINANT COLOR
No color scheme should ever be a 50/50 split. For a space to feel easy on the eye, you need to pick a shade that will dominate and a shade that will be the accent. You don't want your colors to be competing for attention.
GO FOR A MORE TONAL LAYERED APPROACH
A complementary color scheme doesn't have to be about paring the boldest versions of the colors possible. You can create a soft, subtle complementary color scheme by using tints of that main hue – say instead of red and blue, switch to pink and a pastel blue.
BALANCE A BOLD CONTRAST WITH CALMING NEAUTRALS
For a more liveable approach to the scheme, introducing a heavy dose of neutrals will break up those bolder hues and create some softer contrasts. In this two-tone kitchen designed by deVOL the intensity of these two dramatic shades is toned down the the warm cream accents in the ceiling, woodwork, and the alcove. You still get the impact of a complementary scheme, but the space doesn't feel overwhelmed by dark colors.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF COLORS ARE COMPLEMENTARY?
Easy. Pick your color, look to the opposite side of the color wheel and that is the complementary palette. You can look at either side too, for example, the opposite color to blue, is orange but yellow or red or any tone of orange also works in a complementary scheme. The best way to know if colors work together is to always order swatches and samples. Test out complementary color combinations in your space before you commit.
Complementary schemes are one of the core color theories. These combinations are tried and tested and in terms of being pleasing to look at, they always work. Things perhaps aren't that straightforward in interior design, and working with contrasting colors does have its challenges. But get these pairings right, and you create rooms that feel brave and beautiful.