9 Ways to Play With Contrast in Your Living Room
Let the colour block trend dazzle your home with bold hues and muted monotones
High-contrast hues or colour blocking have been often used by fashionistas to create dynamic ensembles – and now it is the turn of the interior designers. Bring in the joy of colour and contrast into your home; decorate your living room with both bold and subtle tones using opposite ends of the colour wheel. The results will surprise and delight you.
Celebrate textiles
Go for striped patterns, florals or other fabrics with motifs, and don’t shy away from bright colours. In this space, the dull grey monotones of the wall play against this multi-hued sectional couch. Another burst of colour is added with the open bookshelf that brings in dramatic substance to the space.
Go for striped patterns, florals or other fabrics with motifs, and don’t shy away from bright colours. In this space, the dull grey monotones of the wall play against this multi-hued sectional couch. Another burst of colour is added with the open bookshelf that brings in dramatic substance to the space.
A budget-friendly and easier way to experiment with contrast is through cushion covers. They instantly lift and transform a space. On a neutral sofa like this, you could build in layers of colour – from the very dark (blue) to its striking opposite (yellow), with a bit of passive white for balance thrown in between. Prints can be used to add a bit of depth to the palette.
Dot the space with accent lighting
Coloured LED lights can add drama to any area. As seen in this space, the open kitchen has been fitted with violet LEDs under the countertop and also in the see-through glass above the cabinetry to create different levels of depth and contrast.
Coloured LED lights can add drama to any area. As seen in this space, the open kitchen has been fitted with violet LEDs under the countertop and also in the see-through glass above the cabinetry to create different levels of depth and contrast.
Look up to the ceiling
Don’t restrict the pop of colours to just the floor and walls when there’s so much you can do with the ceilings too. Paint it in vibrant hues or embellish it with fabric. Take a cue from this home where Dipen Gada and Associates uses a blue and teal statement art piece that contrasts with the earthy tones of the walls. The attached metallic light fixture with studded stones adds sparkle to the space.
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Don’t restrict the pop of colours to just the floor and walls when there’s so much you can do with the ceilings too. Paint it in vibrant hues or embellish it with fabric. Take a cue from this home where Dipen Gada and Associates uses a blue and teal statement art piece that contrasts with the earthy tones of the walls. The attached metallic light fixture with studded stones adds sparkle to the space.
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Accent an element in the room
You can stay conservative yet can experiment with an accent element. Here, Space N Design Architects give the television unit character by dividing it into muted and bright areas, using shades of grey on one side and white and yellow on the other.
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You can stay conservative yet can experiment with an accent element. Here, Space N Design Architects give the television unit character by dividing it into muted and bright areas, using shades of grey on one side and white and yellow on the other.
10 Ways to Create an Unforgettable Accent Wall
Bring in wall treatments
Wall murals, wallpaper and stencils can introduce a touch of contrasting colours as well as patterns. You can dial it up or down according to the result you desire. In this image, the black and greys on the wall give way to a light and cheerful living space done up in pale powder-puff pink, orange, deeper pinks and browns.
Wall murals, wallpaper and stencils can introduce a touch of contrasting colours as well as patterns. You can dial it up or down according to the result you desire. In this image, the black and greys on the wall give way to a light and cheerful living space done up in pale powder-puff pink, orange, deeper pinks and browns.
Make pastels play against each other
For those who prefer a more subdued palette, pastel shades can do wonders by creating a gentler contrast. In this space, Fadd Studio uses different pastel shades to create subtle contradictions. The off-white and pink couches are counterpoised with blue and grey rustic barrels. Even the paintings of the wall are in subdued red and greens to complement the ambience.
For those who prefer a more subdued palette, pastel shades can do wonders by creating a gentler contrast. In this space, Fadd Studio uses different pastel shades to create subtle contradictions. The off-white and pink couches are counterpoised with blue and grey rustic barrels. Even the paintings of the wall are in subdued red and greens to complement the ambience.
Play it safe with monochromatic variations
An easy way to introduce contrast without being too bold is through monochromatic colour blocking. It basically makes use of a single colour in varying degrees of tone, shade, tint and value. In this image, the designer mostly uses varying shades of orange. The area is adorned with a patterned rug in bolder orange while the sofa and pouf are done in lighter tones of the same colour. The contrast quotient is upped with some red (adjacent to orange on the colour wheel) in the cushions, cabinetry and lamp.
An easy way to introduce contrast without being too bold is through monochromatic colour blocking. It basically makes use of a single colour in varying degrees of tone, shade, tint and value. In this image, the designer mostly uses varying shades of orange. The area is adorned with a patterned rug in bolder orange while the sofa and pouf are done in lighter tones of the same colour. The contrast quotient is upped with some red (adjacent to orange on the colour wheel) in the cushions, cabinetry and lamp.
Use nature
Open up those windows and the views and make your surrounding landscape an element that plays along with the colours in your home.
In this space, Cadence Architects takes you on a tropical tour with ocean blues and spring greens. Though most of this living room is done up in nude colours, the contrast element is ushered in with the sprightly aqua blue and light green colours of the carpet. This is further underlined with two modish chairs that embrace the colour block trend. The glass balustrades allow the lush greenery outside to bring another dimension of contrast into the room.
Read more:
Amazing Alternatives to Wall Paint
12 Ways Colour Can Energise Your Home
Tell us:
What colour contrasts have you used in your living room? Share your pictures in Comments below.
Open up those windows and the views and make your surrounding landscape an element that plays along with the colours in your home.
In this space, Cadence Architects takes you on a tropical tour with ocean blues and spring greens. Though most of this living room is done up in nude colours, the contrast element is ushered in with the sprightly aqua blue and light green colours of the carpet. This is further underlined with two modish chairs that embrace the colour block trend. The glass balustrades allow the lush greenery outside to bring another dimension of contrast into the room.
Read more:
Amazing Alternatives to Wall Paint
12 Ways Colour Can Energise Your Home
Tell us:
What colour contrasts have you used in your living room? Share your pictures in Comments below.
If you are not confident putting together multitudes of colour, a safe place to start would be black and white. Rev up this timeless combination by bringing in a dash of an electric colour. All three will complement each other beautifully and will take the contrast quotient up many notches.
Fadd Studios offsets the black-and-white graphic backdrop with a zany yellow cabinet (which is highlighted with a touch of black too). The entire look is tied together with a black artefact perched on the cabinet. Simple and yet striking.