Go With The Flo: Complementary Colour Scheme

A complementary colour scheme is the use of two colours that are directly opposite each other in the colour wheel.

For this Sofa-On-A-Wall inspiration photo, the two colours are blue and orange. The presence of the reddish pink flowers somewhat muddles up the equation but since the minimal use of this third colour is subject to change depending on the colour of the flowers on display, I would say that this lounge uses a Complementary Colour scheme.

A complementary colour scheme will always have a warm colour (orange) and a cool colour (blue). Depending on how these colours are used (shade/tint/tone/hue) in the large areas, such as walls, this scheme can either have a soothing

or a stimulating outcome in an interior space.

The first step in deciding which colour scheme to use is to determine the "feel" you want to accomplish in the space. Our inspiration room has a cool, soothing, calming and relaxing feel to it using primarily the blue colour palette with just a touch of orange.

To get this look and feel, here is a step by step guide.

Using the Resene Colour match tool on their website, upload a photo of the blue wall used in the example photo. My search yielded this almost exact match:

Resene Hammerhead paint color

This particular blue is leaning towards the blue violet shade. (Shade means adding black to a hue (pure colour) while tint means adding white.) This muted tone of blue has a calming effect on the eye. The room has vertical lines, emphasizing its height but this is nicely tempered by the wall's dark shade of blue. The emphasis on blue throughout the space creates a rhythm of colour.

The second step would be to get the main piece of furniture in the same style and colour as in the inspiration photo. If the item is not available in your local shops, a good option would be to have one custom made. The neutral colour of this sofa helps in achieving the calming effect we are after.

Chesterfield corner sofa custom made from here

Next, search for the other big pieces that adds to the look of the room you're trying to achieve, like the rug. If you cannot find an exact item in your country, search for one in a similar design and in the colour that closely matches the original one. Our inspiration room has a rug with a lattice pattern in blue and beige. This one here has a bit more pattern and texture but does not distract from the overall effect. This tactile element adds even more interest to the space. Note that the blue in this rug is toned down which further adds to the soothing feel we are going for.

Textured rug from Design Depot

Don't forget your lighting! This capiz shell chandelier adds height to the space, as the size and shape moves your eyes upwards yet its neutral colour is in harmony with the main colour neutralising the big expanse of the blue wall.

You can get the this capiz shell chandelier from here

Next, search for cushions that are like the ones from the inspiration photo. It does not have to be an exact match but make sure you use very similar ones in terms of colours, design/pattern and tone.

Cushion from Design Depot

Finding exact matches or even similar ones for ready made cushions can be quite challenging so a good option would be to look for fabrics and have them custom made instead. Again, make sure that you are closely matching the colours and patterns of the original ones.

Blue & white fabric for cushion from here

The same principle applies when accessorising with collectibles. Look for a close match keeping in mind the shade/tint/tone of the colours in the original. This blue and white porcelain jar uses the same muted hues as the rest of the blue in the room achieving harmony through colours and repetition.

Blue & white porcelain jar from Le Monde

To complement all that blue, a touch of orange was introduced through a painted floating shelf attached to the wall in our "Get the Look" room.

DIY floating shelf painted in orange

Finish off with framed landscape prints in different shades of blue, symmetrically arranged on the wall. The white matting on the frame border helps break up the blue-ness of the wall and the vertical lines of the space.