Hi Everyone,
Did you see the post the other day about monochromatic color schemes? If you missed it, you can check it out by clicking the link.
This post is about analogous color schemes in interiors. They are some of my favorite, but they can be tricky.
What are analogous colors?
Analogous colors are two or three colors that are right next to each other on the color wheel.
Below is a standard color wheel.
P = Primary colour : S = Secondary colour : T = Tertiary colour (which is a mix of the 2 colours on either side)
- There are three primary colors – red, blue and yellow
- Three secondary colors which are red + blue = violet, red + yellow = orange, yellow + blue = green
- Then, there are six tertiary colors which are a mix of two secondary colors.
An analogous color scheme is basically one of the following.
Color is all around us. Right?
Maybe some of us don’t really notice this stuff. But, it’s never too late to change that, We can find inspiration in nature, gardens, art, fabrics, etc. So, I’m going to be interspersing room inspiration with art, flowers and fabrics to demonstrate that.
Above is an artist’s color wheel courtesy of artist Tina Wasselkeck.
So, I’ll just jump in here and we can start from left to right with the violet, indigo and blue. (I’ll be ending with those too.)
The unmistakable enigmatic work of Mark Rothko.
I imagine that Mark was a really clumsy kid and was always spilling his paints. One day he went upstairs and his mom shouted. “Mark get down here this instant and clean up this mess!” Afterward, she liked it so much, she hung it up on the wall.
Just being silly.
Analogous color schemes can also be pale and muted.
Blues and greens are probably the most frequently used in interiors. And, two prolific masters are James T. Farmer and Mark D. Sikes. They also happen to be two of my favorite interior designers.
blues, teal and green
James T Farmer photo Jeff Herr
In the room above Mark D. Sikes mixes pale blues and greens with pale taupe. He rounds out his composition with a hit of chocolate brown, a black lampshade and a large white matted piece of art. His rooms are like a textbook in how to decorate.
blue, green, chartreuse and yellow
Above and below, from my living room.
One more beauty by Mark D Sikes featuring an analogous color scheme of blues and greens
Barbara’s use of color is legendary. For more of her beautiful rooms and philosophy, click here and here.
A photo I took a few years ago during a trip to the D & D building in New York City.
This was in the Lee Jofa showroom
Love this quick analogous study by Sofia K. Wang
I included this in the monochromatic color scheme, but it is really an analogous color scheme.
yellow, orange and red
Mark Rothko
Mark D. Sikes – His use of color and pattern is always extraordinary!
Strictly speaking this is a triadic color scheme.
But, overall, it has a great blend of warm and cool which is always desirable.
A room I did in 2013 in Pound Ridge, New York
Mark Rothko
Interior design by Miles Redd and architecture by Gil Schafer
Mark D Sikes and one of my favorite bedrooms of his.
orange, red and violet
Analogous red, orange and gold in this striking room by Mark D. Sikes
@jamestfarmer on instagram analogous color scheme vignette
red, violet, purple, indigo
via @cakeatelieramsterdam on instagram – floral analogous color scheme
I took this lovely at the High Point Market in 2015. Mary McDonald’s room for Chaddock Furniture. See??? She’s so talented. Does she study the master artists? I bet that she does!
Francois Boucher Madame De Pompadour
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post about analogous color schemes
Colin Cowie-wedding hydrangeas
If you need more help and inspiration with paint colors and color schemes, please take a look at the Laurel Home Paint and Palette two-volume collection.
Hope you’re having a beautiful (balmy) weekend!
I am flying to San Diego tomorrow for a two-day intensive with supremo website guru NEIL PATEL!
But, you should be hearing from me on Tuesday or Wednesday, as usual.
xo,
PS: Please check out the newly updated hot sales.
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