Principles of Color Combination and How to Choose Colors in Interior Design

Color is a characteristic of visual perception described through names such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue…In interior design, color has the ability to influence human psychology and emotions, shape design style and impact the perception of space size. This is proven through the following studies:

  • Research from the University of Wisconsin (2018) found: Regular exposure to yellow light can improve memory by up to 10%.
  • Research by the US National Institute of General Environmental Health (2019) shows that: Office workers working in green environments reduce stress 25% more effectively than those working in other color environments..

When coordinating interior colors, the color wheel is a powerful tool that helps designers easily choose and coordinate harmonious colors for the space. The color wheel consists of 12 basic colors, divided into 3 main groups: 3 primary colors, 3 secondary colors and 2 tertiary colors.

You can use the principles of similar color schemes, contrasting color schemes, triangular color schemes, and rectangular color schemes in the color wheel to create beautiful, impressive interior spaces.

The 60-30-10 rule is also widely used when coordinating interior colors. Based on the rule, designers can combine colors in the following proportions: Main color (60%), secondary color (30%), accent color (10%).

In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the room function (living room, bedroom, kitchen, worship room, toilet, bathroom) and design style (modern, Scandinavian, classic, tropical, contemporary...) when choosing colors for the interior.

To better understand the principles of color coordination and how to choose colors in beautiful, impressive designs, don't miss the following article!

Why Is Color Important In Interior Design?

Color has a strong impact on human psychology and emotions, helps shape interior design style and affects the perception of space size, so it plays an important role in interior design.

The Importance of Color in Interior Design
The Importance of Color in Interior Design

Impact on human psychology and emotions:

Color has a powerful impact on human psychology and emotions. According to research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology (2010): “Color directly affects the autonomic nervous system, which controls heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and even brain activity.”

  • Warm colors (red, orange, yellow): Stimulates excitement, energy and creativity. Research from the University of Wisconsin (2018) shows: “Regular exposure to yellow light can improve memory by up to 10%”.
  • Cool colors (blue, green): Provides a feeling of relaxation, stress reduction and peace. Research conducted by the Institute of Environmental Health The National Comprehensive Assessment (2019) indicates: “Office workers working in green environments reduce stress 25% more effectively than those working in other color environments.".
  • Neutral colors (white, gray, beige): Brings a sense of sophistication, luxury and is easy to coordinate with other colors.

Defining interior design style

Each design style often has its own characteristic color palette, contributing to the uniqueness and impression of the space. For example:

  • Modern style: Usually use neutral colors such as white, black, gray, combined with yellow or orange accents to create sophistication and elegance.
  • Classic style: Prefer luxurious colors such as gold, brown, wine red, dark green, beige, bringing a sense of nobility and elegance.

Affects the perception of spatial size

Color can also affect the perception of space size. Light colors such as white, beige, and light blue can help open up a space, creating a more spacious and airy feeling.

On the contrary, dark colors such as black, brown, and purple can shrink the space, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere.

Color Wheel: An Effective Color Matching Tool in Interior Design

The color wheel is a circular diagram that describes the relationships between colors, helping you easily visualize and choose harmonious and attractive color palettes for your interior space.

How is the color wheel structured?

The color wheel consists of 12 basic colors, divided into 3 main groups: 3 primary colors, 3 secondary colors and 2 tertiary colors. Color groups in the wheel.

  • Three primary colors (Primary colors – level 1): Red, yellow, blue are placed evenly on the circle. According to color theory, when these three colors are mixed together in the right proportions, the remaining colors on the color wheel will be produced. Mixing the three primary colors will produce black.
  • Three secondary colors (Secondary colors): Purple (blue + red), orange (red + yellow), green (yellow + blue) are in between the primary colors. Secondary colors are created by mixing two primary colors together in the appropriate proportions.
  • Six Tertiary Colors (Complementary Colors): Mixing primary colors with secondary colors will create tertiary colors, including 2 colors: Yellow-green, Blue-green, Blue-violet, Red-violet, Red-orange and Yellow-orange.

The light and dark tones of the 12 colors above will form a complete color wheel.

The color wheel consists of 12 basic colors.
The color wheel consists of 12 basic colors.

What are the principles of interior color coordination when using the color wheel?

There are 4 basic color matching principles in interior design when using the color wheel: Similar color matching, contrasting color matching, triangular color matching, rectangular color matching.

  • Analogous color scheme: Use colors that are close together on the color wheel to create a peaceful and relaxing feeling. For example: Blue, green, turquoise.
  • Contrast color scheme: Use colors opposite each other on the color wheel to create a dramatic accent and attract attention. For example: Red and blue, yellow and purple.
  • Triangle color scheme: Use three colors that are evenly spaced on the color wheel to create balance and harmony. For example: Red, yellow, blue.
  • Rectangular color scheme: Use four colors including one primary color, one analogous color and two complementary colors to create variety and richness.

Example: Dominant color – Blue (60%), complementary color – orange (30%) and yellow (30%), analogous color – green (10%)

Color matching principles
Color matching principles

60 – 30 – 10 Color Matching Principle in Interior Design

The 60-30-10 color scheme is a simple yet effective formula for creating harmonious and balanced color palettes for interior spaces. This principle is used by many professional interior designers and is highly appreciated for its ease of application and aesthetic effectiveness.

The basis of the 60-30-10 color scheme principle

The 60-30-10 rule is based on the proportion of colors used in a space. According to this rule, we divide the color palette into three parts: Main color (60%), secondary color (30%), accent color (10%).

  • Main color (60%): Occupies the largest area in space, often used for large walls, ceilings, floors or furniture.
  • Secondary color (30%): Supports the main color, creates accents and enriches the color palette. Secondary colors are often used for furniture, curtains, carpets or decorative items.
  • Accent color (10%): Creates a focal point that draws attention and makes the color palette stand out. Accent colors are often used for small details like throw pillows, vases, pictures, or decorative lighting.

How to apply the 60 – 30 – 10 principle?

When applying the 60-30-10 rule, you need to choose the main color, choose the secondary color, choose the accent color and then apply the 60-30-10 ratio to divide the colors in the space reasonably.

  • Choose main color: Start by choosing the color you want to be the centerpiece of your color scheme. The dominant color should match the design style and function of the space.
  • Select secondary color: Find two complementary or similar colors to the dominant color. These two colors will support the dominant color and create balance in the color scheme.
  • Choose an accent color: Choose a prominent color to create a focal point in your color scheme. The accent color should contrast with the dominant and secondary colors.
  • Apply the ratio: Use the 60 – 30 – 10 ratio to divide the colors in the space. The main color takes up 60%, the two secondary colors each take up 30%, and the accent color takes up 10%.
60 - 30 - 10 color matching principle
60 – 30 – 10 color matching principle

Guide to Choosing Colors According to Room Function

Each functional area will have its own color selection, specifically:

  • Living room: Choose colors that create a spacious, airy feeling such as white, beige, gray...
  • Bedroom: Use gentle, peaceful colors such as blue, light pink, light purple...
  • Kitchen: Prioritize colors that stimulate appetite and create a cozy feeling such as yellow, orange, red, green, brown...
  • Worship room: Choose warm, solemn colors such as brown, reddish brown, gold...
  • Toilet, bathroom: Use bright, clean colors like white, blue, green...

What color should I choose for my living room interior?

The living room should use neutral colors such as white, beige, light gray to create a spacious, airy feeling. Because this is the common living space of the family and to welcome guests.

You can add a few bold colors like blue, green or yellow to create highlights and express your own personality.

Living room interior color scheme
Living room interior color scheme

What color should I choose for my bedroom interior?

You should prioritize using light colors that create a peaceful and sleep-inducing feeling for the bedroom (blue, light pink, light purple) to create a comfortable space for rest and relaxation.

Psychologists recommend using blue for bedrooms because it reduces heart rate, blood pressure and stimulates alpha waves in the brain, helping you fall into deep sleep. In addition, other colors such as light pink and light purple are also good choices for bedrooms.

What color to choose for bedroom interior
What color to choose for bedroom interior

What color should I choose for my kitchen interior?

You should choose warm colors to stimulate appetite and create a cozy feeling for the kitchen area. Some suggestions for you:

  • Yellow: Yellow symbolizes luck, prosperity and stimulates appetite.
  • Orange: Orange creates a feeling of warmth, joy and energy.
  • Red: Red represents luck, prosperity and stimulates appetite. However, red should be used sparingly to avoid creating a feeling of suffocation.
  • Green: Green symbolizes nature, creating a feeling of freshness and purification.
  • Brown: Brown creates a feeling of warmth, rusticity and closeness to nature.

In addition, you can also combine different colors to create a unique and personal kitchen space.

Wood color kitchen
Wood color kitchen

What color should I choose for the interior of the worship room?

You should choose warm colors such as brown, reddish brown, and gold for the interior of the worship room because this is a sacred place that needs to show solemnity and respect. Avoid using bright or flashy colors because they can destroy the solemnity of the worship room.

Some colors commonly used for the worship room include:

  • Brown: Brown symbolizes rusticity, simplicity and closeness to nature.
  • Reddish brown: Reddish brown symbolizes luck, abundance and prosperity.
  • Golden color: Gold symbolizes luxury, nobility and power.
What color to choose for the interior of the worship room?
What color to choose for the interior of the worship room?

What color should I choose for my bathroom interior?

You should choose bright colors such as white, blue, green for the toilet and bathroom. Avoid using dark colors because they can create a feeling of suffocation and confinement. Because the toilet is an area that needs to be clean and airy.

Some common colors used for bathrooms:

  • White: White color gives the image of cleanliness, purity and spaciousness.
  • Blue: Blue creates a cool, relaxing and spacious space.
  • Green: Green symbolizes nature, creating a feeling of freshness and purification.
Choose colors for bathroom interiors.
Choose colors for bathroom interiors.

Guide to Choosing Colors According to Interior Design Style

To choose the right color for your design style, you need to understand the characteristics of that style. From there, choose colors based on the properties you have learned and coordinate colors according to the color wheel or the 60:30:10 rule.

Here are some examples of colors that go well with typical interior design styles:

Modern style

Modern style often focuses on minimalism and sophistication. Therefore, the main colors are often white, gray and black.

White highlights the cleanliness and sophistication of the space. Gray and black are often used to create contrast and accent. You can use contrasting colors like red, blue or yellow to create a striking focal point in the space.

Modern interior colors.
Modern interior colors.

Scandinavian style

Scandinavian style brings warmth, brightness and closeness to nature. The main colors are usually white, light gray and beige.

White creates a sense of cleanliness and spaciousness. Light grey creates a peaceful and relaxing space. Beige brings elegance and intimacy. You can use green details to create balance and connection with nature.

Scandinavian interior colors.
Scandinavian interior colors.

Classic style

Classic style exudes luxury, elegance and nobility through the main colors of gold, brown, wine red and dark green.

Gold gives a warm and luxurious image. Brown gives a noble and cozy feeling. Wine red and dark green create contrast and highlight. You can use pastel colors like light pink or light blue as a soft contrasting background color.

Classic interior colors.
Classic interior colors.

Tropical style

Tropical style brings bright, cheerful and vibrant images with main colors of green, yellow, orange...Green creates a feeling of closeness to nature and freshness. Yellow and orange create joy and dynamism. You can combine bright colors such as blue, pink or light brown to create contrast and harmony.

Tropical style interior color scheme
Tropical style interior color scheme

Contemporary style

Contemporary style is often flexible and uses colors according to personal preferences. You are free to combine different colors, from neutral to bright, to create creative and unique spaces.

Contemporary interior colors.
Contemporary interior colors.

Questions About Color in Interior Design

How does light affect interior color?

Light directly affects the color level and human perception of space. Cool white light (high color temperature) makes colors appear brighter and clearer, but can make warm colors appear washed out.Warm yellow light (low color temperature) makes colors appear warmer and more vibrant, but can make cool colors appear dull.

Interior lighting is divided into two main groups: Natural light and artificial light. Natural light can change over the course of the day, affecting the brightness and hue of interior colors. Artificial light can also affect interior colors, depending on the color temperature of the bulbs.

What color should you choose when designing interior for people with Kim destiny?

When designing interiors for people with the Metal element, choose white, yellow, brown, silver gray, green, etc. because these are colors that are compatible with this element.

What color should be chosen when designing interior for people of Wood element?

when the Interior design for people of the Wood element, prioritize using colors that belong to your destiny or are compatible with your destiny such as green, blue-green, jade green, moss green... to attract positive energy for wealth, career and health.

What color should be chosen when designing interior for people of Water element?

when the Interior design for people of the Water element, you can use the main color blue or compatible colors such as white, black, gray, metallic, silver... to bring positive energy to the family.

What color should you choose when designing interior for people of the Fire element?

when the interior design for people of the Fire element, should use green (the main color) or compatible colors such as red, orange, pink, purple to bring good luck, fortune and health.

What color should be chosen when designing interior for people of the Earth element?

When designing interiors for people with the Earth element, prioritize using brown - the native color, combined with orange yellow, lemon yellow, and earth yellow - compatible colors to bring a harmonious space with lots of good energy.

Which unit should I choose to design and construct beautiful interiors in Ho Chi Minh City?

With many years of experience in the profession, SmartDecor is proud to be the leading interior design and construction unit in Ho Chi Minh City. We have a team of professional, experienced designers and constructors who understand all interior styles and are capable of meeting all customer requirements for interiors from the simplest to the most complex.

Reasons to choose SmartDecor for interior design and construction:

  • Having our own furniture factory, we can easily meet customers' requirements on design, quality and interior processing time.
  • Using high quality raw materials, ensuring long lasting durability and aesthetics.
  • Ability to combine many colors, materials, styles and types of furniture when designing. Bringing beautiful interior space, with its own color and fulfilling the customer's wishes.
  • Flexible payment by many methods such as bank transfer, cash...
  • Reasonable and competitive prices compared to the general market level.
  • Thoughtful warranty, support editing until customer is satisfied.

Contact SmartDecor for more specific advice if you have interior design and construction needs!

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