color in interior space

In the last post I had talked about the basic theory of colors. Now I will discus about how this classification of color helps in creating beautiful interior spaces. There are some basic thumb rules which one should fallow while selecting color for any interior space. With this thumb rules you will never go wrong with the color scheme in the interior space.

When we say interior space it does not only mean the architectural elements like walls, roofs, openings, flooring etc. But it also includes every small little thing which is a part of that space, it may be for ex. Crockery in the kitchen or may it be microwave. So when we decide color for any interior space it includes every small thing in it.

Thumb rules for colors in interior space:

Use light colors for smaller spaces. Light color makes the smaller space looks bigger than its actual size.

Use dark color for bigger spaces. Dark color makes the bigger space looks smaller than its actual size.

black color furniture , red and black furnishings and medial tone sab green color wall makes the space look bit smaller than its actual size.

In passage which is generally the main circulation area of residential space, as far as possible try to use lighter shades. Lighter shades will make the circulation easier during the night too.


To show the continuity of space from one space to another always use same color for ceiling, walls and flooring. This is generally fallow to show the over all space interior space look bigger than its actual size. Using different color make the whole space in fragment form, which gives the space smaller look.

In the side image we see the beautiful continuity of space is created by using the same off white color in the passage, flooring, ceiling and furniture of one space to another by making the space looks bigger than its actual size.

To brake the continuity from one room to another (may be when privacy is concern) use different color in the connecting areas. These will restrict the eye moment which in terms helps in keeping the privacy of the other space.

Harmony in the interior can beautifully be created by selecting colors from same family but with different hue quality. For ex. Like architectural members can be light in shades and furnishings can be in darker one from the same family. It may be cool or warm color family.














interesting harmony is created in both the children's room by using contrast color scheme of orange and violet on the left image and cool color scheme on the right image.

Dark colors in smaller spaces can also be use, without compromising on the over all look it will give after coloring. Just take the note that dark shade should not concentrate only in one area of the space but it should balance the complete space. For ex. In smaller spaces darker shades can be introduce in the form of paintings, furnishings etc.
















with aqua blue seating arrangement on the left and red on the right the small size living is not getting affected by the dark color furnishings.

Avoid texture paints with different color of impression in the smaller area. It makes the space looks smaller. You can go with texture paints with same color embossing or impressions.

yellow texture paint of the bed room wall going with the warm color scheme of the space does not affecting the size of the space.

If you want to change your interior more frequently try to keep your flooring, ceiling and wall colors in lighter shades and can play with different hues for furnishings. It will help in easy make over of your space in less budget.

Colors also add heat in the interior space. Results in increasing the interior temperature. So while selecting any color for your interior take note of the exterior temperature of your area. For selecting any darker hue for any of the exterior wall of the interior space, or wall opposite to the big opening of the interior space, it will be advisable that the wall should face the north direction or any but not the south direction.

Avoid darker shades in the false ceiling and ceilings where there is no floor above the space which need to be color. It will add heat to the interior space.

Use contrast color scheme to create dramatic effect in the interior spaces. Like green and red or violet and orange. Such scheme need great attention for balancing the every color added in the space.
contrast color scheme is created in the bed room with bottle green and occur color.... giving a dramatic look to the bed room.


Don’t use dark shades in the study room it strains eyes in a short period of time.

Avoid use of violet or blue shades of color in dining area. It effect on appetite of the person. As we don’t have appetite response to blue. Blue food is a rare occurrence in nature. There are no leafy blue vegetables (blue lettuce?), no blue meats (blue burger, well-done please), and aside from blueberries and a few blue-purple potatoes from remote spots on the globe, blue just doesn't exist in any significant quantity as a natural food color. Consequently, we don't have an automatic appetite response to blue. Furthermore, our primal nature avoids food that is poisonous. A million years ago, when our earliest ancestors were foraging for food, blue, purple and black were "color warning signs" of potentially lethal food.

Black and white is not color so they can be added in any color scheme without disturbing the main scheme. Same is the case with shades of grey.

Grey color with cool color scheme in the bed room does not affecting the scheme of the room.

Color of illumination in the interior space also plays very important role in selecting color for any space. Illumination itself is a vast topic to discus, I wont go into much details just remember the thumb rule for illumination. Always use yellow lights for warm color scheme and white light for cool color scheme. If over all color scheme of the space is light you can play with the color lighting, but the basic illumination should be halogen or florescent light.

green color illumination in the false ceiling in the living room adding color to the space.

This is all about color in interior space. Rest if you have eye for color it wont be much difficult for you to decide color for your interior space. Remember every little thing which you add to your interior, add color to your space. Enjoy coloring your interior and it will add colors in your life….

Color theory_important aspect of interior spaces

COLOR THEORY- in interior spaces

Before going into detail relationship of color with interior spaces it is very important to understand the basic color theory. Afterwards will see the relation of color with the spaces of interior.

In traditional color theory, these are the 3 pigment colors that can not be mixed or formed by any combination of other colors. All other colors are derived from these 3 hues and these three hues are RED – YELLOW – BLUE.

Color formed by mixing of two primary color are termed as secondary color. These are GREEN – ORANGE – PURPLE.

Colors formed by mixing a primary and a secondary color are termed as tertiary colors . That's why the hue is a two word name, such as BLUE-GREEN, RED-VIOLET, and YELLOW-ORANGE. They can be YELLOW-ORANGE, RED-ORANGE, RED-PURPLE, BLUE-PURPLE, BLUE-GREEN and YELLOW- GREEN.

Analogous colors are any three colors which are side by side on a 12 part color wheel, such as YELLOW-GREEN, YELLOW, and YELLOW-ORANGE. Usually one of the three colors predominates.

Complementary colors are any two colors which are directly opposite each other, such as RED and GREEN and RED-PURPLE and YELLOW-GREEN. In the illustration above, there are several variations of yellow-green in the leaves and several variations of red-purple in the orchid. These opposing colors create maximum contrast and maximum stability.

There are some basic color schemes in the color theory which is apply in the interiors and use in various manner. This schemes are

Contrast color scheme- it includes colors in pairs like RED in contrast with GREEN , BLUE with ORANGE, YELLOW with VIOLET.

Warm color scheme- it includes color which gives warm in nature like RED-YELLOW-ORANGE and color formed by adding white and black.

Cool color scheme- it includes color which gives cooling effect like BLUE-GREEN-VIOLET and color formed be adding white and black.

Harmony- can be defined as a pleasing arrangement of parts, whether it be music, poetry, color, or even an ice cream sundae. It plays a very important role in the interior spaces.

In visual experiences, harmony is something that is pleasing to the eye. It engages the viewer and it creates an inner sense of order, a balance in the visual experience. When something is not harmonious, it's either boring or chaotic. At one extreme is a visual experience that is so bland that the viewer is not engaged. The human brain will reject under-stimulating information. At the other extreme is a visual experience that is so overdone, so chaotic that the viewer can't stand to look at it. The human brain rejects what it can not organize, what it can not understand. The visual task requires that we present a logical structure. Color harmony delivers visual interest and a sense of order.

In summary, extreme unity leads to under-stimulation, extreme complexity leads to over-stimulation. Harmony is a dynamic equilibrium.

After understanding the basic color theory lets understand the basic color context which will help us in understanding the relation between the different interior spaces.

Behavior of color in relation to other colors and shapes-

How color behaves in relation to other colors and shapes is a complex area of color theory. Compare the contrast effects of different color backgrounds for the same color and shape. It is observed that a object will always look bigger in the darker bag round than in the lighter one and the color will always appear more brilliant against darker bag round than the lighter one. Take the ex. Of the of the red color square-

Red appears more brilliant against a black background and somewhat duller against the white background. In contrast with orange, the red appears lifeless; in contrast with blue-green, it exhibits brilliance. Notice that the red square appears larger on black than on other background colors.

Perceiving a color-

From the side picture you see that the small PURPLE rectangle on the left appears to have a RED-PURPLE tinge when compared to the small purple rectangle on the right. They are both the same color as seen in the illustration below. This demonstrates how three colors can be perceived as four colors.

In my next post i will be writing about the use of color in interior spaces.