Spoak Your Space: Last Day to Win $5,000 - Nominate Yourself or a Friend for Spoak Your Space and Design the Space of Your Dreams. Apply Now
menu
close menu icon

Designing With Color

Designing With Color

Color Schemes

Color Schemes

Color Schemes vs. Color Palettes

Color schemes, based on color theory, are used to describe how the colors are chosen and put together. You can think of a color scheme as your overarching color plan! There are many types of color schemes used in interior design, including monochromatic, analogous, complementary, and triadic, which we’ll dive into shortly. A color palette is the actual combination of colors (often six, but who’s counting?) that you’ve chosen based on the color scheme that will help you set the mood for a space. So let’s put it into perspective as if you were taking matters into your own hands! Because let’s be real: we know it’s bound to happen…

For example: If you were designing a room in your house (let’s say it’s an office), you’d start by choosing a color scheme to set the room's tone. Ask yourself, what colors energize you to do your best work? From there, you can pick a color palette that incorporates those colors in a functional and visually appealing way. This may involve choosing complementary or contrasting colors for walls, furniture, and accents and selecting fabrics, artwork, and accessories that work well together.

Color Schemes vs. Color Palettes

Color schemes, based on color theory, are used to describe how the colors are chosen and put together. You can think of a color scheme as your overarching color plan! There are many types of color schemes used in interior design, including monochromatic, analogous, complementary, and triadic, which we’ll dive into shortly. A color palette is the actual combination of colors (often six, but who’s counting?) that you’ve chosen based on the color scheme that will help you set the mood for a space. So let’s put it into perspective as if you were taking matters into your own hands! Because let’s be real: we know it’s bound to happen…

For example: If you were designing a room in your house (let’s say it’s an office), you’d start by choosing a color scheme to set the room's tone. Ask yourself, what colors energize you to do your best work? From there, you can pick a color palette that incorporates those colors in a functional and visually appealing way. This may involve choosing complementary or contrasting colors for walls, furniture, and accents and selecting fabrics, artwork, and accessories that work well together.

Color schemes, based on color theory, are used to describe how the colors are chosen and put together. You can think of a color scheme as your overarching color plan! There are many types of color schemes used in interior design, including monochromatic, analogous, complementary, and triadic, which we’ll dive into shortly. A color palette is the actual combination of colors (often six, but who’s counting?) that you’ve chosen based on the color scheme that will help you set the mood for a space. So let’s put it into perspective as if you were taking matters into your own hands! Because let’s be real: we know it’s bound to happen…

For example: If you were designing a room in your house (let’s say it’s an office), you’d start by choosing a color scheme to set the room's tone. Ask yourself, what colors energize you to do your best work? From there, you can pick a color palette that incorporates those colors in a functional and visually appealing way. This may involve choosing complementary or contrasting colors for walls, furniture, and accents and selecting fabrics, artwork, and accessories that work well together.

Color Schemes vs. Color Palettes

Color schemes, based on color theory, are used to describe how the colors are chosen and put together. You can think of a color scheme as your overarching color plan! There are many types of color schemes used in interior design, including monochromatic, analogous, complementary, and triadic, which we’ll dive into shortly. A color palette is the actual combination of colors (often six, but who’s counting?) that you’ve chosen based on the color scheme that will help you set the mood for a space. So let’s put it into perspective as if you were taking matters into your own hands! Because let’s be real: we know it’s bound to happen…

For example: If you were designing a room in your house (let’s say it’s an office), you’d start by choosing a color scheme to set the room's tone. Ask yourself, what colors energize you to do your best work? From there, you can pick a color palette that incorporates those colors in a functional and visually appealing way. This may involve choosing complementary or contrasting colors for walls, furniture, and accents and selecting fabrics, artwork, and accessories that work well together.

Color Schemes vs. Color Palettes

Color Schemes vs. Color Palettes

Color schemes, based on color theory, are used to describe how the colors are chosen and put together. You can think of a color scheme as your overarching color plan! There are many types of color schemes used in interior design, including monochromatic, analogous, complementary, and triadic, which we’ll dive into shortly. A color palette is the actual combination of colors (often six, but who’s counting?) that you’ve chosen based on the color scheme that will help you set the mood for a space. So let’s put it into perspective as if you were taking matters into your own hands! Because let’s be real: we know it’s bound to happen…

For example: If you were designing a room in your house (let’s say it’s an office), you’d start by choosing a color scheme to set the room's tone. Ask yourself, what colors energize you to do your best work? From there, you can pick a color palette that incorporates those colors in a functional and visually appealing way. This may involve choosing complementary or contrasting colors for walls, furniture, and accents and selecting fabrics, artwork, and accessories that work well together.

Color Schemes vs. Color Palettes

Color schemes, based on color theory, are used to describe how the colors are chosen and put together. You can think of a color scheme as your overarching color plan! There are many types of color schemes used in interior design, including monochromatic, analogous, complementary, and triadic, which we’ll dive into shortly. A color palette is the actual combination of colors (often six, but who’s counting?) that you’ve chosen based on the color scheme that will help you set the mood for a space. So let’s put it into perspective as if you were taking matters into your own hands! Because let’s be real: we know it’s bound to happen…

For example: If you were designing a room in your house (let’s say it’s an office), you’d start by choosing a color scheme to set the room's tone. Ask yourself, what colors energize you to do your best work? From there, you can pick a color palette that incorporates those colors in a functional and visually appealing way. This may involve choosing complementary or contrasting colors for walls, furniture, and accents and selecting fabrics, artwork, and accessories that work well together.

The 60-30-10 Rule in design states that when designing a room, you should pick three core colors and then distribute them in those three percentages to keep the palette balanced and harmonious. 60% will be the dominant color (likely a neutral, though certainly not always!), 30% will be something a bit bolder, and 10% will be the accent color (often the boldest color). Look at the example below to see what this could look like in a real space.
The 60-30-10 Rule in design states that when designing a room, you should pick three core colors and then distribute them in those three percentages to keep the palette balanced and harmonious. 60% will be the dominant color (likely a neutral, though certainly not always!), 30% will be something a bit bolder, and 10% will be the accent color (often the boldest color). Look at the example below to see what this could look like in a real space.
No items found.
No items found.

No items found.

No items found.

Let's define four different color scheme types.

plus icon

Warm-toned colors (think of a sunset: reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks) can make a space feel warm, inviting, and cozy. However, too many warm tones in one area can make a room feel closed off.

plus icon

Cool-toned colors (greens, blues, purples, and variations of the three colors like grays, blues, silver, and most whites) can make a room feel grounded, calming, and clean. Using too many cool tones in one room can make a space feel cold and unwelcoming (there’s a reason they’re called cool-toned!).

plus icon

Neutral colors (blacks, whites, and browns) are often paired with brighter accent colors to contrast a space. These colors add a sense of sophistication and professionalism to a space.

plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon

See a term missing you want to add? Let us know!
See a term missing you want to add? Let us know!
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Please fill out all fields before submitting.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
plus icon
arrow left/previous
Previous Lesson
Color Psychology
Next Lesson
Color Palettes
arrow right/next
arrow left/previous
Previous Lesson
Color Psychology
Next Lesson
Color Palettes
arrow right/next

Want an overview of this lesson to keep on hand? Download one here!

Oops! Please fill out email field.

Put your new design skills into practice.

Join Now