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. 

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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

Download my Brochure

Terms of Service  |  Privacy Policy  |  Disclaimer

Prices subject to change without notice.

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Pin These

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