Dramatic Colors for Bedrooms & Living Rooms

Complementary

• One of the boldest ways to introduce dramatic color into a room is to pair complementary colors. Complementary colors are found directly across from one another on the color wheel. These colors have nothing in common, don't share a base color, but somehow manage to bring out the best in one another. Red and green are complementary shades, as are blue and orange and yellow and purple. These are the kind of loud combinations you might see at a circus or carnival. They're the kinds of color pairings that scream for attention and work well in funky, modern rooms.

Split-complementary

• Split-complementary pairings work well in the same bold way as complementary combinations. The first step is to choose the primary color of your bedroom or living room. The shade located on either side of the complementary color on the color wheel. For example, if blue is your primary color, orange would be the complementary color. On either side of orange you will find your split-complementary colors of red and yellow. This is the kind of color combination works well in a bohemian-style room. Once you've chosen the primary color, you can select shades of those colors, rather than true red or true yellow.

Analogous Combinations

• If you're looking for a dramatic color scheme in a traditional room, you can find it in analogous colors. Analogous colors are shades found directly next to one another on the color wheel. They work well because they share a base color in common. Green and yellow are analogous; found next to each other on the color wheel and sharing the color yellow. A traditional bedroom might have pale yellow walls and mint green bedding. Another example of an analogous combination is maroon and rust. Maroon walls and a rust colored sofa would make for a dramatic living room.

Monochromatic Sophistication

• There is a simplicity to a monochromatic room that creates a calm and sophisticated space. You create a monochromatic color scheme by choosing one color and layering different shades of the same color into the room. For example, a living room with sky blue walls, royal blue area rug and drapes, and navy blue furniture would be monochromatic. A bedroom with pink walls and red bedding and window treatments would be a foundation for a monochromatic room. Finish it off with maroon accents like throw pillows, lampshades and area rug.