Using colour becomes much easier when you understand how different colours work together.

To make sure that colours work together when designing a room, most professionals base their scheme on a colour wheel which is divided into cool and warm shades. With the three primary colours red, blue and yellow as its basis, the colour wheel is made up of twelve segments, which contain the colours from which all other shades and tints are derived.

You can improve colour schemes in your home by understanding the relationship of colours to each other. Combinations used in successful interior design are achieved by using three basic schemes - Toning, Harmonious or Contrasting. Remember these three schemes and you’ll discover a way of decorating and furnishing with colour guaranteed to give you desired results.

Toning Colour Schemes
A TONING scheme uses different shades of the same colour. Decide on your main colour, find its segment in the colour wheel, and use all the toning shades within that segment. Adding white to a colour reduces its intensity and produces a lighter more subdued shade. Adding black to a colour deepens and strengthens its tone for more dramatic or masculine look.

Harmonious Colour Schemes
A HARMONIOUS scheme uses colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel. To determine the colours that will work together, pick your main colour then use the segments either side of it. Colours that are closely linked on the wheel merge pleasingly with their neighbours and used together create an agreeable effect.

Contrasting Schemes
A CONTRASTING scheme uses two shades that are opposite each other on the colour wheel. To discover what colour to use, choose the segment positioned opposite your main colour. An airing of opposite colours can create a sense of drama in a room but, to avoid violet clashes use the opposite ‘accent’ colour sparingly.