Great Paint Color Schemes- Try a Split-Complementary

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, complementary, diad, triad and tetrad color schemes. Today, lets look at a Split-Complementary!

A double-complementary scheme uses four colors  which include two complementary 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 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 Complementary 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 Complementary Color Scheme Illustrations by Camp Chroma, the Best Color Training Ever!

The Design

With a split-Complementary 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 complementary 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.

Benefits of A Split Complementary Color Scheme

• A split complementary 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 complementary 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.

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