Color Combinations That Are Appealing

Tranquil Neutrals

• Neutral color combinations fashion an unassuming look of understated elegance that's easy on the eyes. Incorporate pristine white along with gray, black, brown or beige to add a fresh feel to your room. By mixing several shades of a single neutral, such as gray or brown, you add dimensional depth and visual interest to the space. Furnish your home with assorted fabrics and textures to give neutral hues a more diverse look. Use a classic black-and-white color palette to generate a striking contrast with timeless appeal. Metallic gray decor -- wall paint, furniture trim, accessories, lighting -- produces a modern contemporary vibe.

Earthy Naturals

• Bring the feel of the outdoors inside with earthy color combinations. Muted hues, such as muddy browns, brick reds, olive greens and brassy yellows, give your home the warm, inviting feel of an old Tuscan villa. Produce an eco-friendly, spa-like environment when you combine grassy green with fluffy white and bamboo brown. Pumpkin orange, sage green, dirty brown and golden wheat form a down-to-earth color scheme to stimulate your back-to-nature decorating senses. Southwestern color combos are derived from the colors of nature and the surrounding landscape to include chili-pepper red, sky blue, cactus green, sunset orange and sunburst yellow.

Soft Pastels

• Use color combinations with soft pastels to design a subdued color scheme that conjures up a mood of timeworn elegance. Mix delicate lilac and yellow hues with a touch of creamy ivory for vintage appeal with a feminine touch. Pastel greens and yellows create a gentle backdrop for a baby's nursery. Or opt for soft pink hues to outfit a little girl's room in traditional style and light blue tones for a boy. Mix pastel aquamarine shades with crisp whites to enhance casual beachside cottage style.

Contemporary Bold

• When you're looking for an upbeat color combination with an edgy modern appeal, use a contemporary color combo. Bold colors opposite or adjacent to each other on the color wheel can fill a room with highly saturated hues. Electric green and eye-popping orange add a visual kick to any room. Ramp up the color intensity by adding a purple grape hue to the mix. Combine sunny yellow and lime green with pristine white for a clean, airy feel that makes a bold color statement. The mix of royal blue and bright orange or hot pink with coal black is sure to delight any teenager.