Color schemes for interiors

by Ed Biado

Choosing the right color for walls is one of the most crucial decisions you can make in decorating a room. It is the most emotional element of interior design, thus, a very important element. And it all comes down to the perfect shade that should complement your design preference and really capture your personality and mood that you?re trying to get across. Here are some ideas:

1. Tropical ? Warm brown tones with sky blue and deep olive accents provide for a very islander room. The scheme brings light in and makes the room look airier and almost humid. If you?re into the whole beach vibe, this is for you. Add some tropical plants and it?s like a bright sunny day every day.

2. European ? Deep, dramatic hues, coupled with soft lighting, makes for a very European room. Blackened gold and red are the main colors to work around. You can expand on that using rich fabrics for upholstery and drapes in deep blues and violets.

3. Asian ? Contrasting black and white are very Oriental to look at. The thing to make sure of is that the difference must be so stark, almost as if they?re fighting for space. It?s all because of the yin and the yang seemingly overlapping each other, but in reality, occupy the same amount of space. Accents can come in blue, red or green.

4. Neutral ? Beige, tan and everything in the lighter shades of brown are in the neutral category. So are grey and white. If you want to keep the backdrop simple and maintain it being the sideshow, subdued tones are recommended. It?s also an advantage when there isn?t a specific theme you?re going for.

5. Masculine ? Red (as in the primary color) is actually a very masculine color. It?s complementary to dark shades of blue and brown. Another common masculine scheme is nautical. It has white, sandy tan and navy blue and sea green.

6. Feminine ? Pastel is the most feminine color scheme?baby pink, teal, powder blue, yellow. It also connects the indoor to the outdoors, making a smooth transition from your room to your garden.

7. Seaside ? Aqua, seaweed, peach and off-white create a beach-y feel to any room. But to really get the effect, you must have some elements of the shore incorporated, like seashell curtains, palms and really big windows. Light wood floors are also recommended.

8. Contemporary ? Turquoise, relentless olive, pale aqua and rusty orange are all contemporary colors. Use one of them as the base color and work around what looks best with them. Since these are all bright, ?pop out? shades, don?t use them all in one room. In fact, don?t use any two together unless one of them is the accent. It?s only going to make your room color-busy. Go for similar shades for blending and contrasting shades for complementing.

9. Art Deco ? Still a very popular interior style, Art Deco rooms use the colors black, silver, chrome and hints of yellow and red. Cream is mostly used as the base color. It works well with geometric furniture and solid-colored fabrics.

10. Mood-centric ? If you don?t have a style in mind but want a dramatic feel, go for the emotion you want. Red can be for romance, passion and heat. Orange or yellow for warmth, being sunny and generally a positive feeling. Use green for nature. For a cooler feel, blue does the trick. It also evokes the feeling of safety. Purple signifies wealth, creativity and exclusivity.