In the vibrant world of interior design, colour plays a pivotal role in defining the character and mood of a space. While some colour combinations come together seamlessly, others pose a challenge, demanding careful consideration and a keen eye for detail.
These more demanding palettes, often overlooked or outright avoided due to their complexity, hold the potential to create uniquely stunning environments when handled with skill and creativity.
This guide explores colour combinations that may initially appear challenging, but with our expert tips and insightful strategies, we'll show you how to seamlessly blend these complex hues.
From bright reds paired with greens to the deep blends of dark greys and blues, we’ll show you how to transform potential clashes into captivating symphonies of colour that enhance your home's aesthetics. Let's explore how to make these tricky combinations work to your advantage.
Sanderson Robins Wood Forrest Green Rug
Bright Red and Bright Green: A Festive Overload
Bright red and bright green are directly opposite each other on the colour wheel, which means they are highly contrasting colours. While this combo screams festive cheer during the holiday season, it's less welcome year-round. This pairing can be overly stimulating and visually jarring, making it unsuitable for most everyday living spaces.
If you're inclined towards these colours because of their cheerful and energetic vibe, try this:
- Use as Accents: Add these vibrant colours through small items like accent pillows, vases, or artwork to energise the room without overwhelming it.
- Pair with Neutrals: Balance the brightness by setting these colours against neutral backgrounds such as soft greys, warm whites, or earthy browns.
- Opt for Muted Shades: Choose muted or pastel versions of bright red and green to maintain their cheerfulness without the harsh visual impact, making them more adaptable for everyday use.
By moderating the use of bright red and green and focusing on strategic placement, you can enjoy their vivacity in a way that complements rather than clashes within your living spaces.
Image Credit: Studio VAE
In the dining room above, Studio VAE incorporate muted shades of red and green to enhance the visual appeal and increase the calming effect of the room. These less harsh tones create a more soothing and welcoming environment
Neon Overload: Too Much of a Bright Thing
Neon colours are unmistakably vibrant and have the power to infuse energy into any space. However, when multiple neon colours are used together, the effect can be too stimulating, often creating a visual noise that is hard to ignore.
This intensity can detract from the calming ambiance typically desired in home environments, turning what is meant to be a place of rest into a high-energy spectacle.
If your heart is set on using neon in your interior, it is best approached with moderation. When incorporated thoughtfully, neon can add a playful touch and serve as a focal point in otherwise muted spaces.
- Use as Accents: Consider neon colours for small decor items, trim, or in artwork.
- Pair with Neutrals: Allow neon colours to shine against backgrounds of white, black, or grey. This helps temper their intensity while still letting them stand out.
- Focus on Lighting: Neon can also work well in lighting fixtures where it can be both a source of light and a visual accent, contributing to the ambiance without dominating it.
By keeping these strategies in mind, neon colours can be a refreshing and modern addition to your decor, enhancing the space rather than overwhelming it with too much brightness.
Image Credit: Pinterest
This is a perfect example of how to use neon accents with neutrals rather than having a full neon room. The splashes of neon against the white furniture, walls and flooring add a touch of fun and visual interest without overwhelming the space.
Dark Brown and Black: A Gloomy Mix
Dark brown and black are both deep, sophisticated colours that can anchor a space with a sense of gravity and formality. Yet, when these two hues dominate a room together, they can lead to a heavy, sombre atmosphere. This is because both colours absorb a great deal of light, rather than reflecting it, which can make a room feel smaller, darker, and more enclosed.
In interiors where either dark brown or black is used extensively, the lack of contrast can blur the distinctions between different elements, causing architectural details to disappear and the room to lose its depth.
If you love deep, rich hues but don't want to overwhelm your space, consider these tips:
- Incorporate Lighter Shades: Break up the darkness with creams, beiges, or light greys to brighten the space and highlight the depth of darker tones.
- Use Textures: Add interest with contrasting textures; for example, a glossy black table against a matte dark brown wall can create visual depth.
- Strategic Lighting: Employ spotlights, lamps, or natural light to illuminate and accentuate key areas, enhancing the room's overall ambiance.
- Mix in Metallics: Introduce gold, silver, or bronze elements to reflect light and add a luxurious touch that lightens the visual weight of dark colours.
By balancing these darker colours with strategic design choices, you can enjoy their sophistication without sacrificing the warmth and openness of your living areas.
Image Credit: Adèle Dénis feautred in Decrodemon
Interior designer, Adèle Dénis, showcases her successful combination of black and brown in her French apartment. The lighter shades of brown help to brighten up the space while the wooden floor and alternating chairs add texture and depth.
Bright Orange and Purple: An Aggressive Contrast
Bright orange and purple are both bold and vibrant, but when placed together, they can clash dramatically. Their contrasting nature can be visually overwhelming, leading to a lack of harmony and balance in the space.
Bright orange is energetic and lively, often invoking feelings of excitement and enthusiasm, while purple is typically associated with luxury and creativity but can also be dominating when used in its brighter shades.
This colour combination can be particularly challenging because it combines warm and cool tones that are far apart on the colour wheel, creating a high-contrast look that can feel aggressive rather than cohesive.
To use these powerful colours without clashing:
- Use as Accents: Utilise these vibrant colours in smaller elements like accent pillows, vases, or artwork to add a lively splash without overwhelming the space.
- Pair with Neutrals: Set these bold colours against a backdrop of greys, off-whites, or soft browns to enhance their pop without creating a clash.
- Integrate Complementary Colours: Soften the bold contrast with complementary hues like soft lavenders or peach tones, creating a smoother colour transition.
- Balance with Textures: Employ soft textiles and smooth finishes to temper the intensity of bright orange and purple, ensuring they blend harmoniously into your space.
By thoughtfully integrating bright orange and purple into your design with these strategies, you can enjoy their vibrancy and depth without letting them overpower your space.
Image Credit: DFS via Pinterest
In this living room, the burnt orange sofa is the centre point, with small accents of purple in the cushions and art that add a touch of colour but don't overwhelm the room. By incorporating green into the space, it evokes a calming feel and acts as a natural neutral, allowing the orange and purple to pop without clashing with each other.
Dark Grey and Dark Blue: Subdued to a Fault
Dark grey and dark blue are often celebrated for their ability to bring depth and sophistication to a space. Individually, each can evoke a sense of calm and formality, suitable for creating serene, reflective environments. However, when these two dark shades are used together extensively without proper balance, they can lead to a sombre and oppressive atmosphere, especially in rooms lacking natural light.
This colour combination can make a space feel smaller and more enclosed as both colours tend to absorb rather than reflect light. The subtle differences between dark grey and dark blue might also be lost in low lighting, causing the room to appear almost monochromatic and flat.
To effectively use these colours together while maintaining a lively and inviting space, consider this advice:
- Incorporate Lighter Shades: Introduce lighter hues of blue, grey, or white to break up the dark tones, lighten the space, and define areas.
- Utilise Reflective Surfaces: Use mirrors, metallic fixtures, or glossy finishes to reflect light, brighten the room, and add textural interest.
- Add Warm Accents: Inject warmth with accents in mustard yellow, burnt orange, or rich red, using items like throw pillows or artwork.
- Play with Textures: Create visual interest and depth by mixing textures, such as pairing a plush dark blue velvet sofa with a matte dark grey wall.
By addressing the challenges of combining dark grey and dark blue with thoughtful design elements, you can enjoy the richness of these colours without compromising the comfort and appeal of your living space.
Image Credit: Charlie Birchmore via Houzz
This sophisticated interior, while only incorporating minimal grey, excellently shows how blue and grey can work by utilising many of the tips listed above. The lighter shade of grey lights up the space as does the reflective surface of the coffee table, while the mustard yellow chair adds warmth and depth to the room.
Conclusion: Harmonising Contrasts for a Cohesive Home Aesthetic
Mastering the art of challenging colour combinations in your home decor can transform potential design pitfalls into stunning visual statements. By thoughtfully incorporating accents, balancing with neutrals, and playing with textures and lighting, you can harmonise even the most difficult hues.
Embrace these strategies to elevate your interiors and make your space uniquely yours.
