Colour Rules in Interior Design

TIFT Blog: Colour Rules in Interior Design can make interiors look expansive or small, bright or dull as needed for the purpose.

Colour Rules in Interior Design to add the Appeal

Interior designing is mainly focused on designs that can give a sense of more space than what is actually there and colours also contribute to this element. The colour wheel consists of so many colours and each colour reflects a different vibe, energy and meaning. Over the years, experts from the industry have formulated some Colour Rules in Interior Design to make interiors look expansive or small, bright or dull as needed for the purpose. Some of those pointers can be found below:

• 60-30-10 Rule
The tested and proven rule used by almost all interior designers to ensure a balanced colour palette is, the 60-30-10 rule. This rule can be used for all kinds of designs, locations and people. According to this rule, a space is generally occupied with mainly three colours in the proportion of 60, 30 and 10. The dominant colour present in the space occupies 60% of the area and is usually a neutral or subdued hue, to limit the feelings of overwhelming or suffocation. The second colour is a bit bolder to the previous shade and is used in the ratio of 30%. At the end, the boldest colour is used for the remaining 10% of the space. This would easily lead to a balanced look with the help of décor items, windows, furniture, etc.


• Warm Vs. Cool
An interior designer has to always keep in mind the purpose of the space and the expected functions to be conducted in order to create the perfect design. Colours are one of the elements of interior designing that can easily influence the energy or atmosphere being established in a room. Warm colours like red, orange, yellow, brown, tan, and its various shades present on the colour wheel are considered “bright” colours. These colours are usually used to establish a welcoming and upbeat vibes in a space with lots of joy and cosiness. On the other hand, the colours present on the other side of the colour wheel like blue, green, purple, white, grey, etc. are known as cool colours. Cool colours are usually used to establish a relaxing atmosphere and is usually used in bedrooms, offices etc.


• Complementary Colour Scheme
One of the most popular colour rules in interior designing is the use of complementary colour scheme. This rule involves two colours that are present exactly opposite to each other on the colour wheel like blue and orange, red and green, yellow and purple etc. It adds contrast to the space and establishes an energetic vibe. This colour scheme is usually executed in small portions accompanied with neutral colours in order to balance the colour palette without making it an eyesore.


• Analogous Colour Scheme
Another rule followed by interior designers are the analogous colour scheme. For this, a central colour is chosen as per the meaning and energy it denotes. It is then used with its two adjacent colours from the colour wheel in the ratio of 60-30-10 (usually). This scheme can be followed with vibrant hues as well as neutrals, as per the demands and needs of the space. When used with vibrant colours like red, blue, green, it can add variety to the space, while with neutrals it can add harmony.

Using the above rules, interior designers can easily create houses and workplaces to serve all the needs. To get more of such design insights, follow the Trendz Institute of Fashion Technology, one of the leading interior designing institutes in Hyderabad.

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