With the home buying and selling process comes a lot of paperwork. It can be overwhelming, but there are ways to make it easier. Northern Lights Home Staging and Design has compiled some tips and tricks to take the stress out of this process.

Find the Best Rates

Before you start looking for homes, it is important to know what budget you can work within. Carefully estimate what you can afford to buy and research mortgages that will fit your needs and budget. Knowing your budget will help narrow down your options and save time when looking for homes.

Use Tools to Make Collaboration Easy

Digitizing documents into PDF forms helps you keep them organized and easy to find in one place. A PDF merger saves time by quickly merging multiple documents together, eliminating the risk of losing track due to clutter. Conversely, you can use a tool to streamline documents—you may consider this option to delete pages from a PDF for free, so you don’t have to handle massive file sizes.

Track Timeline and Deadlines

A timeline document is an essential tool for tracking key dates and deadlines in the home buying or selling process. The Balance notes that these dates can be used to keep track of important events, such as closing day, as well as any tasks that need to be done before a given deadline. Crosschecking these timelines ensures all steps are completed on time, which is critical for a successful transaction.

Plotting key dates in advance is an important part of the home buying and selling process. This will ensure that documents are properly retrieved from storage or sent to other parties to be completed on time. Setting reminders ahead of time is a good idea.

Gather All Your Documents

When selling your home, it’s important to be prepared. Realtor.com suggests collecting necessary documents such as title deeds, mortgage details, and tax information beforehand so that the process is smooth and you get paid promptly once closing day arrives. Not only will this save time, but it can protect you from any potential issues during the sale.

Consider Online Banking

Online banking can help keep track of closing costs, taxes, and legal fees associated with any transaction. It also makes it easier to file taxes at the end of the year since all transactions are documented. Additionally, tracking expenses online eliminates worry over paper receipts getting lost due to clutter or forgetfulness which could lead to unexpected fees in the future.

Color-Code Your Physical Files

Color coding files is a great way to simplify organization during a hectic time. Different colors can represent different categories so that documents are easily identifiable at a glance. This eliminates the hassle of searching through tons of files just to find one document, thus taking away the stress from an already difficult situation.

Stay on Top of Your Budget

Moving to a new home can be an exciting time, setting your sights on a new life ahead, but it is expensive. To make sure you keep track of your budget, create a document listing all your expenses. On the list should be major payments from both parties, as well as estimated costs and what you actually spend. This can identify where potential savings might have been made.

Buying or selling your next home can be a daunting process with the long list of paperwork you have to handle, but by digitizing and organizing documents, color coding physical files, listing expenses, and researching mortgages beforehand, you can make sure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Taking the time to prepare ahead of time will make the home buying or selling process much more straightforward for you.

This article was written by Suzie Wilson of  Happier Home for Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

Tips for Before and After You Buy

Before you buy, you are probably trying to sell your current home as fast and profitably as possible. Home staging is the best way to make that happen and keep your stress levels low while looking for your new home. I can help you sell fast and for more, wherever you live.

Once you buy your new house, if you are like most folks, you move in quickly and everything remains where it is initially placed.  Why not get your colors and design right from the start! Let me help you with an Aligned Design consultation which combines color and design advice and can even create some custom art and decor for you and your new home.

Learn more about Global style design in my article, Tell Your Story with Global Style Interior Design.  Curious about what Global Style might be right for you? Take the quiz below. Ready to try to get the look in your own home? Try one of my Edesign packages.

Examples may contain affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission for sharing them with you if you buy something, at no additional cost to you.

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There are 10 great reasons to love global style design.

One of my favorite reasons is that Global style design is great at bringing the outside in to your designs, to help you feel connected and relaxed by surrounding yourself with the beauty of nature.

What is Global Style?

Global style tells the story of your life and adventures with things you have collected in your travels and local adventures. Highlighting unique, colorful, and beautiful art and crafts is a wonderful way to create your perfect space.

Each piece tells part of your story while creating a rich tapestry of color, texture, art, and history.  And you get the added benefit of supporting local and international artists and their communities.

How Global Style Brings the Outside In

Global styles are very connected to their natural environments.  They often take their color palettes and design elements from the landscape, plants, and animals of the area.

Art, accessories, and rugs highlight colors and motifs based on natural and unique features of the culture.

This has the effect of creating the feeling o bringing the outside in, or making your interior space feel connected to the outdoors.

For example, I wrote a series of articles showing how the colors and patterns of different global styles were related to their culture and landscapes.

Here are a few examples. They contain affiliate links which means I may make a small commission for sharing with you at no additional cost to you.

Indian Style

Indian style design creates inviting, informal, relaxed spaces filled with bright colored hand spun fabrics with paisley patterns, floor cushions around colorful rugs, intricate mandala motifs and nature-inspired themes with flowers, birds, animals

See an example of the natural landscape that inspired the design and some of the design elements I used below.

Mexican Style

Mexican interiors are full of color, are welcoming, warm and there is often a sense of playfulness and whimsy. A mix of colorful, exotic Spanish and Indian handcrafted items and practical things add old-world charm. The colors are bright. Red is common and Yellow is also used heavily in shades ranging from bright lemon yellow to deep earthy golds. Terracotta is common. Blues are commonly used in art and accessories.

See the landscape that inspired the design and some of the design elements I used below.

Moroccan Style

Moroccan homes use bright colors, such as red, blue, orange, turquoise, pale ocean blues and green mixed with gold.

See the art of the landscape that inspired the design and some of the design elements I used below.

Turkish Style

Turkish style is warm and inviting, earthy and exotic. There is an abundance of warm earth tones with pops of beautiful color. The colors and textures of the land have inspired much of the art, colors, and culture.

See how the colors in the landscape inspired the design and some of the design elements I used below.

Greek Style

Greek Interior Design is simple and elegant, inspired by nature, and looks light, bright, airy, and clean.  Imagine lots of white with beautiful vivid blue, green, fuchsia, and gold accents, and a clean, de-cluttered, rustic look,

See how the colors in the landscape inspired the design and some of the design elements I used below.

Bohemian Style

Bohemian style tends to be more general, selecting elements from many places and mixing and matching them into one glorious, colorful but harmonious whole. In other words, make it your own!

Bohemian style celebrates warm earthy colors, metals and jewel tones. Bohemian decor often uses deep browns, greens, grays or other neutral colors for base colors, then accessorizes with saturated purple, fiery orange, and electric blue and other jewel tones

Here are some examples of pieces I used for this design. Elements of the outdoors are incorporated in my fractal art inspired by bioluminescence in the ocean, pillows with plant motifs, bird accessories, lotus plant light fixture, and more. Learn more about this design in my article, Get the Look- Global Style- Bohemian.

What Story Does Your Landscape Tell?

Look around. What are the colors, shapes and inspiring things about your landscape that you can connect to your indoor spaces?

What are the main things you see from the windows into your main living areas?

Consider your surroundings. Do you live in the mountains, a forest, on the ocean or in a city?

What is your view?

What are the prominent colors and how do they change with the seasons?

Some of my Landscape Stories

Here are some of the colors, shapes, and inspiration from my landscape here in Seward Alaska that shape what I try to bring indoors into my space and my designs.

How Can You Bring the Outside In?

It is easy to get started by picking art or accessories that have nature-inspired designs.  Look for things that reflect the area you live in or a place you love to go. Maybe you are inspired by the scenery, water, plants or animals. You can also use your selection as an inspiration piece to build your color palette.

Art and Accessories Inspired by Water

Live near water? Here are some pieces of art inspired by the ocean or other water bodies you might like. Try a watery color scheme of greens and blues.

Art and Accesories Inspired by Plants

Live near a forest or have trees and shrubs in your yard? Try lighting, art, or accessories based on plant motifs.

Art and Accessories Inspired by Animals

Abstract Art Inspored by Nature

Before I became a designer, I was a wildlife biologist in Alaska for 20 years and 10 years before that in Arizona. I was always fascinated by the beauty of nature, the colors, the patterns of the landscapes, plants, and animals. Whether it was the amazing patterns I could see of the section of a plant under a microscope to the big picture view of doing wildlife surveys in a plane, those experiences influence the fractal art I create today. It is all related to nature in some way. Check out some of my fractal art below and visit my stores on Society 6 and Vida to see more.

Why Connecting with Nature Matters

As humans, we want to be connected with nature and other living things such as people, animals and plants.  This longing for “connection” with other life forms is called “biophilia”.

As humans, we have always been connected to nature, for survival, sustenance, spiritual renewal, and inspiration. Mother nature is the best designer there is, with her endless abundance of beautiful color palettes, shapes, patterns, and textures. Spending time in nature is good for our health and wellbeing.

Learn more in my article, Healthy Home- Feel Good with Biophilia.

Look at your surroundings and find the colors and inspiration from the outdoors that it meaningful to you, and bring some into your space.

Ready to Connect to Nature in Your Home?

Learn more about Global style design in my article, Tell Your Story with Global Style Interior Design.  Curious about what Global Style might be right for you? Take the quiz below. Ready to try to get the look in your own home? Try one of my Edesign packages.

Check out My Fractal Art Studios

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Download my Brochure

Terms of Service  |  Privacy Policy  |  Disclaimer

Prices subject to change without notice.

Examples may contain affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission for sharing them with you if you buy something, at no additional cost to you.

There are 10 great reasons to love global style design. 

One of my favorite reasons is that Global style design celebrates unique art and the artists that create it while telling your story. 

Tell Your Story

Global style tells the story of your life and adventures with things you have collected in your travels and local adventures. Highlighting unique, colorful, and beautiful art and crafts is a wonderful way to create your perfect space.

Each piece tells part of your story while creating a rich tapestry of color, texture, art, and history.  And you get the added benefit of supporting local and international artists and their communities.

Show the World What Moves You

Art is very personal. The art you select to show the world reflects who you are and what moves you.

If nature is what inspires you, select art that brings the outside in and represents nature in its theme or materials. Consider purchasing eco-friendly art that will be healthy in your home.

For example, in the Edesign I did for this Bohemian style living room I was inspired by nature and used art to inspire the design. I created my own fractal art called Bioluminescence which was inspired by the beauty of that in the ocean. The pillows have nature-inspired prints and colors. The decor on the table highlights plants and birds. Here are some of those products to get the look in your own home. These and others below contain affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission for sharing if your purchase, at no additional cost to you. 

Buy Handmade

Global style art is often handmade by local craftspeople in areas that you travel to. These items are beautiful and tell a great story not only about your travels but about the artists who created them.

Buy Eco-Friendly Art

Global style art is often eco-friendly and made from natural and sustainable materials. So buy art you love, it’s good for you!

Support Artists

The artists you select to support by purchasing their work make a statement about who you are as well. Do you support local artists rather than buying art from a big box store? Do you purchase from local artists while traveling to support those communities? Every community usually has some extremely talented artists inspired by the place they live.

Ready to Celebrate Art in Your Home?

Learn more about Global style design in my article, Tell Your Story with Global Style Interior Design.  Curious about what Global Style might be right for you? Take the quiz below. Ready to try to get the look in your own home? Try one of my Edesign packages.

Check out My Fractal Art Studios

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Download my Brochure

Terms of Service  |  Privacy Policy  |  Disclaimer

Prices subject to change without notice.

Examples may contain affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission for sharing them with you if you buy something, at no additional cost to you.

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There are a lot of reasons to love Global Style Interior Design. One is that it is all about you, and telling the story of your life, adventures, the things you love in your space. It is a total expression and celebration of you. Does that sound selfish? It’s OK, it is your house. Of course, it is about you!

Each piece tells your story. Celebrate your treasures, old and new. modern and vintage, from various parts of the world.

Create a rich tapestry of color, texture, art, and history. 

In a previous article, I talked about 10 reasons to love global style design.  Let’s talk about my favorite reasons in more detail, which is the magical lighting!

I love the lighting in global style designs. Much of it is handmade with intricate cutouts in metal that create magical patterns of light in a room. See examples from different global styles below, and learn more how to create magical effects with lighting by layering in my article How to Make Magic Happen in Your Home with Lighting.

Bohemian Lighting

Bohemian style combines many of the specific styles from different cultures noted below, and often includes modern colorful and artistic lighting options. Go wild!

Moroccan Style Lighting

The magical lace-like quality of traditional hand-sawn brass allows many Moroccan lights to cast captivating patterns of shadow and light across the room.

Indian Style Lighting

Indian style lighting can have traditional Indian design prints as some of the lamps below, or try something fun like the lotus-shaped chandelier.

Greek Style Lighting

Greek-style lighting can be simple and often uses the color of the sea, the Greek key pattern, or labyrinth pattern that comes from Greek mythology.

Mexican Style Lighting

Mexican style lighting often looks more rustic and folkloric, and uses wood, iron. pierced metal or ceramics.

Turkish Style Lighting

Turkish style lighting often has pierced metal or beautiful colored glass.

Ready to Add Colorful and Exotic Design to Your Space?

Learn more about Global style design in my article, Tell Your Story with Global Style Interior Design.  Curious about what Global Style might be right for you? Take the quiz below. Ready to try to get the look in your own home? Try one of my Edesign packages.

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Download my Brochure

Terms of Service  |  Privacy Policy  |  Disclaimer

Prices subject to change without notice.

Examples may contain affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission for sharing them with you if you buy something, at no additional cost to you.

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Looking for some great holiday gifts online so you don’t have to go shopping in the stores and can socially distance?

Interested in giving the gift of something beautiful with one of a kind art or some design help to someone you care about?

You’ve come to the right place!

At my store on Society 6 I have some great Cyber Week Deals going on with 50% off my wall art, 40% Bed, Bath and Home Decor and 30% off everything else!

50% Off Wall Art

My wall art is available in framed prints, canvas, metal art, wood and wall hangings.

40% Off Bed, Bath and Home Decor

My Bed and Bath department has a variety of bedding, shower curtains, pillows, towels, rugs and more. For Home Decor, check out my curtains, pillows, wallpaper, clocks tapestries and more.

30% off Everything Else

What is everything else? One of my favorites are face masks. How often can you give a gift that can save someone’s life? 

Also, there is furniture, office, tech , outdoor and lifestyle , apparel and bags and more!

Save 15% on Eco-Friendly Art You Can Wear!

Check out my eco-friendly fashions at my store on Vida. Get 15% off everything with the code JOYOFSMALL.

What is Fractal Art Anyway?

You may be wondering what the heck fractal art is? It is a captivating art form with the brilliant colors, intricate designs and perfect symmetry that I create on my computer! 

Creating fractal art is like traveling through a kaleidoscope that has no beginning or end.  When traveling, you find a place you want to stop and stay a while. While there,  you can manipulate the color, texture, light, shine, spectrum, hue and other elements around you until you have created the perfect place, and then you save it as an image.  It is impossible to ever find that place again if I did want to replicate it…it would be like finding a single drop of water within the ocean. That is why each piece is one of a kind.

Here is an example of what I mean. Let’s go on a little journey together through the “kaleidoscope”.

https://northernlightsstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/IXBK3704.mov

Save $125 on my Aligned Design Consultation

Ready to create your perfect space and do something amazing with your new art and home decor? For Cyber week get 1 extra hour of design time for free, worth $125 on this 5 hour consultation that includes an online wholistic Interior Design and Color Consultation for your whole house. Receive this extra 1 hour when you order by 12pm Alaska time, December 5.  Learn More.

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

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PIn These

People often struggle with creating a great color scheme.   In my recent series of blog articles we discussed how you could take your favorite color, blue for example, and create different color schemes. We explored monochromatic, analogous, Complimentary, Diad, Triad, Tetrad, Split-Complimentary and Double Complimentary.

Today, lets talk about using black, white and shades of gray.  

To catch up on these other color schemes see my articles Celebrate Your Favorite Color- Go Monochromatic and Create a Harmonious Color Scheme- Go Analogous,  Opposite Colors Attract, Go Complimentary and Great Paint Color Schemes- Do a Diad, Great Paint Color Schemes- Try a Triad ,  Great Color Schemes- Try a Tetrad and Great Color Schemes- Try a Split Complimentary and Great Color Schemes- Try a Double-Complimentary.  See examples of those color schemes below.

Technically, using black, white or grays  is really a monochromatic color scheme and could be done with any color. If you take the color and adjust it’s chroma or saturation level to the lowest you can go, you get white. If you adjust it a little higher, you get shades of gray. If you adjust it to the maximum it becomes black.

Most people do not think of black, white and gray as actually being a color. Many people like to work with these colors as they think it is a very neutral color palette.

Let’s play around with a design I created that uses mainly black, white and gray home decor items where I mainly changed the wall color or treatment to create drama or highlight different things.

Design

 In this design I created maximum drama by using black walls which a striking due to the color, but I also used shiny wall tiles which also add texture and reflect light. The dark walls recede, giving a feeling of being cocooned and enveloped within the color. The color also highlights the black design in the area rug, making it pop.

In the design below, I used wall paper in white with a gray diamond pattern. The wall, although it still has texture and interest due to the pattern, disappears with the light color, putting more emphasis on the view outside.

In the design below, the gray paint color feels cool and elegant, and creates more of a connection with the furnishings and decor of the gray sofas and the accent pillows.

Shop the Look

Check out  the pieces I selected for this design. Some include affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission for sharing at no additional cost to you.

My design also incorporates some of my unique fractal art from my “Spring” Collection. 

Design Ideas to Highlight More Gray

Here are some additional ideas to highlight more grays in your design.

Design Ideas to Highlight More White

Here are some other ideas to highlight more whites in your design.

Benefits of A Black, White and Gray Color Scheme

• A black, white and gray scheme is fairly easy to put together. It is best if you keep you black, white and grays all within the same color family so they are harmonious.  
• A black, white and gray scheme can be really dramatic or relaxing based on the saturation and placement of the colors you choose. Dark gray and black walls are more dramatic than white walls.
• A black, white and gray scheme really highlights any other colors that are used, or the colors of the views outside.
• Very nice for living rooms, dining rooms and areas that you like to entertain.  

Create Beauty with Color in Your Space

Each moment in life is YOUR choice. surround yourself with BEAUTY, color and positive energy now.

Or not, it’s up to you.

Everything in life is easier when you love your space.When your space is better, you are better. When you are better, the world is better. 

What is Your Global Design Style? Take the Quiz

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Click on the picture to find out more about the best training class on color available, the Four Pillars of Color!.

Subscribe to Seasonal Living Magazine

Check out this free bi-monthly online Seasonal Living Magazine, full of inspirational images, videos and articles for you about seasonal home decor, travel, food and entertaining!  

People often struggle with creating a great color scheme.   In my last few blog articles we discussed how you could take your favorite color, blue for example, and create different color schemes. We explored monochromatic, analogous, complimentary, diad, triad and tetrad color schemes. Today, lets look at a Split-Complimentary!

A tetrad uses four colors  which include two complimentary color pairings. It can be difficult to balance  if you use all four colors in equal amounts it may feel like too much. You can use one to three colors as dominant colors and and let the rest be more subdued. By subdued, I mean you can use less of the colors proportionally.  Or you could use less saturated versions of the colors so they don’t stand out as much, but color schemes tend to look more harmonious if you are using similar saturation or chroma levels. Here are some examples.

Let’s create a split-complimentary color scheme with the blue we have been working with in the last several articles. You can see this blue in the sofas. 

To catch up on these other color schemes see my articles Celebrate Your Favorite Color- Go Monochromatic and Create a Harmonious Color Scheme- Go Analogous,  Opposite Colors Attract, Go Complimentary and Great Paint Color Schemes- Do a Diad , Great Paint Color Schemes- Try a Triad ,  Great Color Schemes- Try a Tetrad and Great Color Schemes- Try a Split Complimentary.  See examples of those color schemes below.

In a double complementary color scheme, you use a primary color such as our blue, its compliment yellow, and then the pair of complimentary colors of one of its neighbors on either side such as blue/purple and yellow/green or blue/green and orange.

Double Complimentary Color Schemes Illustrations by Camp Chroma, the Best Color Training Ever!

Design 1

With a Double-Complimentary scheme we are working with 4 colors, or two sets of compliments. We have a large variety of tints, tones and shades to play with within those colors, but it is always most harmonious if you work with colors with similar chroma (saturation).  In other words it looks best if you are not mixing rich, bright colors with pastels. You can get dramatic or keep it more neutral based on the colors you choose.  I find adding rich color to the walls creates drama, while using a more neutral wall color feels more relaxing.

In this design I used the blue/yellow compliment pair in the sofas and the beautiful area rug.  I used the green/yellow of the neighboring compliment pair in the area rug, pillows and my fractal art.  I decided to bring in purple in small amounts as an accent, and used plants with purple flowers to highlight that color.  

In the examples above, I created drama by using a more saturated shade of  blue for the wall color. To create a more neutral look, I created a second version below where I used the same color but with very low saturation so it is almost gray.

Shop the Look- Design 1

Check out  the pieces I selected for this design. Some include affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission for sharing at no additional cost to you.

My design also incorporates some of my unique fractal art from my “Spring” Collection. 

Design #2

In this second design I used the blue/yellow complimentary pair again but this time worked with blue/green and orange. I found a beautiful area rug as an inspiration piece that has the blue, blue green, orange and a touch of yellow to tie everything together. I highlighted the orange in the 3 poufs. I used the blue/green in the pillows, the wall color and in my “Jenna” fractal art collection. The yellow I used as a small accent with flowers or flower vases.

Shop the Look Design #2

Here is a closer view of my fractal art collection called “Jenna” which I created in honor of Jenna Gaidusek of the Edesign Tribe when creating something for her office with her favorite colors. In my design, the art is on canvas prints, but they are available framed or on a variety of materials as well as on other home decor in my store at Society 6.

Benefits of A Double Complimentary Color Scheme

• A double complimentary color scheme is easy to put together using 4 colors.  You can give all colors equal weight in the design for more drama, or make one or two colors more dominant based on the mood you want to create. The challenge will be trying not allow too many strong colors to compete with each other. Vary the saturation or better yet, the amount of the colors showing by making 1-2 colors as accents.
• A double complimentary color scheme can be really dramatic or relaxing based on the saturation and placement of the colors you choose. Very nice for living rooms, dining rooms and areas that you like to entertain. You could try the more relaxing color combinations in a bedroom or office.

Create Beauty with Color in Your Space

EACH MOMENT IN LIFE IS YOUR CHOICE.

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH beautiful color RIGHT NOW.

OR NOT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

EVERYTHING IS EASIER WHEN YOU LOVE YOUR SPACE.

What is Your Global Design Style? Take the Quiz

Pin These

Click on the picture to find out more about the best training class on color available, the Four Pillars of Color!.

People often struggle with creating a great color scheme.   In my last few blog articles we discussed how you could take your favorite color, blue for example, and create different color schemes. We explored monochromatic, analogous, complimentary, diad, triad and tetrad color schemes. Today, lets look at a Split-Complimentary!

A double-complimentary scheme uses four colors  which include two complimentary color pairings. It can be difficult to balance  if you use all four colors in equal amounts it may feel like too much. You can use one to three colors as dominant colors and and let the rest be more subdued. By subdued, I mean you can use less of the colors proportionally.  Or you could use less saturated versions of the colors so they don’t stand out as much, but color schemes tend to look more harmonious if you are using similar saturation or chroma levels. Here are some examples.

Let’s create a split-complimentary color scheme with the blue we have been working with in the last several articles. You can see this blue in the sofas. 

To catch up on these other color schemes see my articles Celebrate Your Favorite Color- Go Monochromatic and Create a Harmonious Color Scheme- Go Analogous,  Opposite Colors Attract, Go Complimentary and Great Paint Color Schemes- Do a Diad , Great Paint Color Schemes- Try a Triad and Great Color Schemes- Try a Tetrad. See examples of those color schemes below.

In a split complementary color scheme, you use a primary color such as our blue, and then the two analogous colors to its complement. In this case it’s compliment is yellow and yellow/red and green/yellow are next to yellow or analogous colors to yellow.  

Split Complimentary Color Scheme Illustrations by Camp Chroma, the Best Color Training Ever!

The Design

With a split-Complimentary scheme we are working with 3 colors. We have a large variety of tints, tones and shades to play with within those colors, but it is always most harmonious if you work with colors with similar chroma (saturation).  In other words it looks best if you are not mixing rich, bright colors with pastels. You can get dramatic or keep it more neutral based on the colors you choose.  I find adding rich color to the walls creates drama, while using a more neutral wall color feels more relaxing.

For example, below I created a split complimentary  scheme with our blue sofas as the base color.  I used red/orange in the rug, pillows and in the wall color where I used a very unsaturated, neutral tint of orange/red.

My design also incorporates some of my unique fractal art from my “Spring” Collection. 

The design, although using 3 colors still feels fairly neutral and calm with some pops of color for excitement.

Shop the Look

Check out  the pieces I selected for this design. Some include affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission for sharing at no additional cost to you.

I selected pieces of various materials with different textures and patterns within the 3 hue families. 

Design 2

 In this second version of the design, all I changed was the wall color, which is a more saturated or has higher chroma than the color I used in design 1. As you can see, it looks much more dramatic with the rich wall color.

Benefits of A Split Complimentary Color Scheme

• A split complimentary color scheme is easy to put together using 3 colors.  You can give all three colors equal weight in the design for more drama, or make one or two colors more dominant based on the mood you want to create.
• A split complimentary color scheme can be really dramatic or relaxing based on the saturation and placement of the colors you choose. Very nice for living rooms, dining rooms and areas that you like to entertain. You could try the more relaxing color combinations in a bedroom or office.

Create Beauty with Color in Your Space

EACH MOMENT IN LIFE IS YOUR CHOICE.

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH beautiful color RIGHT NOW.

OR NOT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

EVERYTHING IS EASIER WHEN YOU LOVE YOUR SPACE.

What is Your Global Design Style? Take the Quiz

Pin These

Click on the picture to find out more about the best training class on color available, the Four Pillars of Color!.

People often struggle with creating a great color scheme.   In my last few blog articles we discussed how you could take your favorite color, blue for example, and create different color schemes. We explored monochromatic, analogous, complimentary, diad and triad color schemes. Today, lets look at a Tetrad!

A tetrad uses four colors  which include two complimentary color pairings. It can be difficult to balance  if you use all four colors in equal amounts it may feel like too much. You can use one to three colors as dominant colors and and let the rest be more subdued. By subdued, I mean you can use less of the colors proportionally.  Or you could use less saturated versions of the colors so they don’t stand out as much, but color schemes tend to look more harmonious if you are using similar saturation or chroma levels. Here are some examples.

Let’s create a tetrad color scheme with the blue we have been working with in the last several articles. You can see this blue in the sofas. 

To catch up on these other color schemes see my articles Celebrate Your Favorite Color- Go Monochromatic and Create a Harmonious Color Scheme- Go Analogous,  Opposite Colors Attract, Go Complimentary and Great Paint Color Schemes- Do a Diad and Great Paint Color Schemes- Try a Triad. See examples of those color schemes below.

There are three different Tetrads we could choose from that use our blue (which is a blue/purple). For this article, lets work with the first two.

Tetrad Color Scheme Illustrations by Camp Chroma, the Best Color Training Ever!

The Design

With a tetrad you are using 4 colors and have a large variety of tints, tones and shades to play with within those colors. You can get dramatic or keep it mpre neutral based on the colors you choose. 

For example, below I created a tetrad with our blue as in the sofas as the base color. It’s compliment is yellow. I chose to use yellow in the wall color, in a  a less saturated and lighter yellow than in it’s blue compliment to keep it more neutral. I also used yellow in the buff colored leather ottomans and an accent in the flowers on the coffee table.

The other pair of compliments are the red/purple and green. I used the red/purple in the area rug, and the green in the pillows, pouf and plants and the art.

The rest of the design I kept neutral with the white chairs, accent tables and lamps and plant stands.

Overall in this design the blue and red-purple are most dominant, followed by the green and with yellow mainly as an accent. 

My design also incorporates some of my unique fractal art from my “Spring” Collection. 

The design, although using 4 colors still feels fairly neutral and calm with some pops of color for excitement.

Shop the Look

Check out  the pieces I selected for this design. Some include affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission for sharing at no additional cost to you.

I selected pieces of various materials with different textures and patterns within the 3 hue families. 

Design 2

In this second version of a tetrad design, I once again used blue in the sofas and a soft neutral yellow paint color as it’s complement as in the first design.

 I added the blue green from the second pair of complements into a new area rug (which also ties in the deep blue, yellow and greens). I maintained the green pillows and pouf and added the red in with the two ottomans and the flower centerpiece on the coffee table. As you can see, this time the red is just an accent, where as the blue, blue green and yellow are more dominant.

The design, although using 4 colors still also feels fairly neutral and calm with some pops of color for excitement.

If you wanted to get more dramatic, you could pull in one of the 4 colors with greater saturation or chroma in the wall color as I did below. In this case, I used the blue-green and it changes the whole look and feel, even though everything else is the same.

Shop the Look- Design #2

Benefits of A Tetrad Color Scheme

• A tetrad color scheme is relatively easy to put together using two sets of complimentary colors.  The tricky part is determining which colors you want to be more dominant, and balancing the rest so it is not overwhelming.
• Tetrad color schemes can be really dramatic or relaxing based on the saturation and placement of the colors you choose. Very nice for living rooms, dining rooms and areas that you like to entertain. You could try the more relaxing color combinations in a bedroom, especially if you are using blues and greens.
•  You can play with this color scheme for different effects by how many colors you allow to be more dominant, and how much weight each carries in the design. Each color brings it’s own feeling to the space so highlight one over the others to get the mood you want.

Create Beauty with Color in Your Space

EACH MOMENT IN LIFE IS YOUR CHOICE.

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH BEAUTY RIGHT NOW.

OR NOT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

EVERYTHING IS EASIER WHEN YOU LOVE YOUR SPACE.

What is Your Global Design Style? Take the Quiz

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Click on the picture to find out more about the best training class on color available, the Four Pillars of Color!.

People often struggle with creating a great color scheme.   In my last few blog articles we have discussed how you could take your favorite color, blue for example and create different color schemes. We explored monochromatic, analogous, complimentary and diad color schemes. Today, lets look at a Triad!

A triad uses three colors with the equal distance between all colors on the color wheel, causing no clear dominance of one color.

So, let’s create a triad color scheme with the blue we have been working with in the last several articles. You can see the blue in the sofas. To catch up on these other color schemes see my articles Celebrate Your Favorite Color- Go Monochromatic and Create a Harmonious Color Scheme- Go Analogous,  Opposite Colors Attract, Go Complimentary and Great Paint Color Schemes- Do a Diad. See examples of those color schemes below.

To create a triad with our blue (which is a blue/purple), we will add  reds and greens. 

The Design

With a triad, you are using 3 colors and have a large variety of tints, tones and shades to play with within those colors. You can get dramatic or keep it simple based on the colors you choose. For example, below I created a triad with our blue as in the sofas as the base color and incorporating reds in the rug and pillows and greens in the pouf, lamps, art, plants and wall color.  I used saturated colors from each of the hue families. The deep rich wall color creates a more dramatic look.

If drama is not your thing, you can tone it down by changing the saturation of the wall color. Below, the only thing I changed was the wall color, which is still green, but with such low saturation levels it is approaching a gray. This more neutral colored wall creates a more serene atmosphere.

My design also incorporates some of my unique fractal art from my “Spring” Collection. 

Shop the Look

Check out  the pieces I selected for this design. Some include affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission for sharing at no additional cost to you.

I selected pieces of various materials with different textures and patterns within the 3 hue families. 

Benefits of A Triad Color Scheme

• A triad color scheme is relatively easy to put together. Pick your favorite color and find 2 neighbors, equal distant apart on the color wheel.
• Triad color schemes can be really dramatic or relaxing based on the saturation and placement of the colors you choose. Very nice for living rooms, dining rooms and areas that you like to entertain. You could try the more relaxing color combinations in a bedroom, especially if you are using blues and greens.
•  You can play with this color scheme for different effects by having one color as the dominant color and the other 2 as accents, or give all colors equal weights. Each color brings it’s own feeling to the space so highlight one over the others to get the mood you want.

Create Beauty with Color in Your Space

EACH MOMENT IN LIFE IS YOUR CHOICE.

YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH BEAUTY RIGHT NOW.

OR NOT, IT’S UP TO YOU.

EVERYTHING IS EASIER WHEN YOU LOVE YOUR SPACE.

What is Your Global Design Style? Take the Quiz

Pin These

Click on the picture to find out more about the best training class on color available, the Four Pillars of Color!.