Decor & Renovation
How to boldly pair colour like a pro
Photography by Donna Griffith
Decor & Renovation
How to boldly pair colour like a pro
Colour defines a room, but choosing combinations that work together can be tricky. Whether you prefer a bold, dark or light palette, these spaces will inspire you to pair colours with confidence.
Bold and Beautiful
Homeowner and designer Barbara Milner’s living room combines panelled walls wrapped in a rich cool blue with a hot-pink sofa to make a dramatic statement. Milner wanted to create a space that was suitable for meeting clients and entertaining friends, and this contemporary yet formal palette fits the bill. The abstract mural (from wallpaper company Wallquest) provides another hit of colour, this time in a less saturated tone. Simple sketches framed in brass offer relief from the intense palette.
Photography by Donna Griffith
Why It Works
Because the pink and the blue are the same intensity, they function together, rather than compete for attention. Mixing a strong warm colour with a vibrant cool hue creates a sense of tension, which is pleasing to the eye. When selecting a vivid combination like this, look for shades that are opposite (or close to it) on the colour wheel.
GET THE LOOK
Kate Spade New York Rosa Terrace tablecloth, $50 to $65, bedbathandbeyond.ca. Leona coffee table, $659, potterybarn.com. City Spaces Park Avenue sofa, $2,563, wayfair.ca. Linden area rug, $132 to $576, wayfair.ca.
Light and Airy
Designer Trish Johnston combined fresh green wallpaper with grey cabinets and crisp white countertops in this family-friendly command centre. The calming colour pairing is the perfect backdrop for this space, which also doubles as a servery during dinner parties. The room has two large windows overlooking the backyard, and the verdant shade helps bring the outdoors in.
Why It Works
This cool colour combo gives the space a soothing, relaxed feel. The lacy emerald wallpaper visually expands the space, while the grey undertone blends with the cabinets.
Photography by Angus Fergusson
GET THE LOOK
Modern Monochromatic
Layered wood tones combine with black and copper accessories to give writer Kelly Oxford’s built-in bar a luxurious feel. Designer Orlando Soria balanced the home’s mid-century character with modern finishes in the Palm Springs–inspired space. Colour is added in small doses: palm leaves, flowers, book covers and art. The rich copper finish of the architectural stools lends a fun sculptural element to the room.
Photography by Tessa Neustadt
Why It Works
Decorating with shades of the same colour gives a room a unified look; the trick is to vary them to create depth. The great thing about decorating this way is you can mix and match styles and patterns easily—the colour ties it all together. When working in a room with textiles, like a living room or bedroom, vary the textures and patterns of fabrics to fashion a calm but interesting space.
GET THE LOOK
Dark Walnut 2716 andEbony 2718 stain, minwax.ca.
Copper Real Good bar stool, $519, urbanmode.com. Boho Stripe fabric, $34 per yard, tonicliving.com. Gramercy pull, $10, anthropologie.com. Benson three-drawer dresser in Dark Walnut,$1,286, westelm.com.
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