Colour Theory for Your Home

• Colour theory offers guidance on how to combine colours to stimulate a certain mood
• Combine different hues to make varying colour schemes like monochromatic, analogous, complementary and triadic
• We recommend four eye-catching palettes for home design

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Have you ever wondered why you feel more at ease when you’re in a certain room? It may have to do with the colour palette of the interiors, as different hues can evoke different emotions. So, if you’re looking to give your home a little makeover, colour theory may come in handy to help you create colour combinations that please the eye and the mind.

What is colour theory?

It stems from the idea that each colour has its own psychological meaning. For example, red conveys passion, excitement and energy, while green feels fresh and calm. When you combine multiple hues to decorate your home, you’re essentially using a colour scheme to create a specific vibe.

What colour schemes are there?

There are many ways you can mix and match colours, but some of the more common schemes are: monochromatic, analogous, complementary, and triadic.

A monochromatic scheme includes variations of a particular colour – for instance, pink, crimson, scarlet and mahogany are all shades of red. It helps create a cohesive and clean look.

Just as harmonious is the analogous scheme, which contains hues that sit next to each other on the colour wheel. Yellow and orange, and blue and green, are both examples of analogous combinations.

Complementary colours are those that sit opposite each other on the colour wheel to create strong contrast, such as orange and blue.

Finally, a triadic scheme has three colours that form a triangle on the wheel, like orange, green and purple. Since these are all high-contrast shades, usually one of them acts as the base colour and the other two work as accents. The result is vibrant and full of character.

How can you apply colour theory to your home?

You don’t have to repaint your walls – well, you can – but adding accessories in shades from a consciously selected scheme will do the trick too. Can’t decide on a palette for your rooms? The following combinations will help you feel at home, at home.

For Energy: Shades of Yellow
- This vibrant monochromatic scheme exudes a positive, energising vibe.
- Yellow signifies happiness, friendliness and warmth.
- Perfect for rooms with a lot of daytime activities, such as the living room, kitchen and kids’ room.

For Creativity: Coral Pink and Purple
- These analogous hues offer a good balance of calm and liveliness.
- Pink is at once warm and stimulating, while purple has a mysterious quality to it that sparks imagination.
- Use them in your living room and workspace to activate your creative brain.

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Looking for inspiration?
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For Relaxation: Light Green and Brown
- These earthy, complementary colours pair well together to create a relaxing atmosphere.
- Light green is soothing and restorative, while brown feels warm and comforting.
- Try this for your bedroom or bathroom where you want to rest and refresh.

For Clarity: Blue, Red and Yellow
- This triadic scheme uses blue as the dominant colour for a contemplative mood.
- Blue is associated with introspection and wisdom, but can also feel depressing –adding splashes of red and yellow can brighten the room while maintaining harmony.
- Ideal for the home office as this combination can help you focus and stay productive.

Need more home decorating ideas? Revisit our Feng Shui guide for the Year of Ox, here.