🎨 Understanding Colour Basics & How to Combine Secondary and Primary Colours in Interior Design

Discover how to use primary (red, blue, yellow) and secondary colours (orange, green, purple) to create emotionally engaging, beautifully balanced spaces. Complete with room-by-room techniques and style guidance.

Introduction: The Language of Colour
Understanding Primary & Secondary Colours
Combining Colours: Rules of Thumb
Room-by-Room Design Examples
The Emotional Impact of Colour Combos
Designer Tips for Colour Success
Practical Tools & Resources
Conclusion & Downloadable Resources

1. Introduction: The Language of Colour

Colour is much more than a visual tool—it’s an expression of mood, intention, and identity. In interior design, we use colour to convey calm, excitement, luxury, warmth, or focus. When used intentionally, colour can transform a space from functional to emotionally meaningful.

At the heart of colour theory lies the colour wheel—a roadmap of how colours relate, contrast, or harmonize. In this post, we explore primary colours (red, blue, yellow), their corresponding secondary colours (orange, green, purple), and how strategic combinations can elevate your home design.

Understanding the colour wheel—the visual representation of how colours relate—is the first step to mastering design. When you combine primary and secondary colours thoughtfully, you can shape environments that feel balanced, beautiful, and emotionally resonant.

We’ll cover:

Colour definitions and relationships
Emotional and psychological effects
Designer-approved pairing strategies
Real home examples, styling tips, and execution advice

2. Understanding Primary & Secondary Colours

a) What Are Primary Colours?

The PRIMARY colours—red, blue, yellow—are foundational. They cannot be mixed from other colours and carry deep meaning:

Red: Passion, energy, appetite, warmth
Blue: Calm, trust, clarity, focus
Yellow: Joy, creativity, optimism, brightness

They have deep emotional and symbolic weight in design.

b) What Are Secondary Colours?

SECONDARY colours are created by mixing primaries:

Orange = Red + Yellow
Green = Yellow + Blue
Purple = Blue + Red

c) The Colour Wheel & Your Design Strategy

The colour wheel visually explains how colours relate:

Complementary: Opposites attract (e.g., red + green)
Analogous: Side-by-side siblings (e.g., blue + purple)
Triadic: Three evenly spaced hues (red + blue + yellow)

These relationships guide harmonious and intentional design combinations, ensuring your space feels purposeful rather than chaotic. Each secondary inherits traits from its primaries, offering dynamic potential when paired.

By recognizing how these colours relate on the wheel, you'll gain clarity on combinations that contrast, harmonize, or energize.

3. Combining Colours: Rules of Thumb

a) Complementary Colour Pairing (High Contrast)

Complementary colours sit across from each other on the wheel. They deliver high contrast and vibrancy—think red + green, blue + orange, yellow + purple. Ideal for lively, bold spaces—but balance is crucial.

For example —like red + green, blue + orange, yellow + purple—create bold contrast.

Primary	Complementary Secondary
Red	Green
Blue	Orange
Yellow	Purple

🏡 Living Room (Red + Green)

Paint the walls sage or moss green
Add crimson velvet chairs or green throw pillows
Keep the rest neutral—white trim, natural wood floors
Accents: strategic pops of red in art, vases, or lighting

Emotional Effects:
Green soothes and brings nature indoors. Red excites and draws focus. Together they form a balanced statement.

🍽 Dining Room (Blue + Orange)

Use navy table linens
Incorporate rust-orange table runners, cushions, or terracotta dishes
Feature pottery or art in blues + oranges
Keep lighting warm and metal accents (gold, bronze)

Emotional Effects:
Blue invites calm and sophistication. Orange adds warmth and appetite. The result is a refined yet inviting atmosphere.

🛋 Bedroom (Yellow + Purple)

A mauve or lavender bedspread
Mustard throw pillows
Add purple curtains or blankets with yellow accents
Artwork blends yellow florals on lilac backgrounds

Source: Homeinthepastures.com

Emotional Effects:
Yellow energizes on a gentle scale, purple brings calm and luxury. Together, they craft a sophisticated cocoon.

Designer Tip: Use one as the main colour and the other as an accent, balancing them with neutrals.

b) Analogous Colour Harmony (Soft, Layered Effect)

Side-by-side on the wheel (e.g., blue + purple)—creates a soothing, harmonious look. Analogous colours sit adjacent on the wheel. They produce subtle, unified designs, ideal for sustainable energy and easy-to-live rooms.

☀ Kitchen (Yellow + Green)

Walls: soft, buttery yellow
Lower cabinets: sage green
backsplash tiles featuring both colours
Accessories in natural wood, white ceramics

Source: Herringbone house

Emotional Effects:
Feels fresh, organic, and gentle on the eyes—like sunlight through leaves.

🛋 Living Room (Blue + Purple)

Main walls: soft powder blue
Velvet sofa in navy or indigo
Cushions or throws in lavender
Art featuring muted ocean tones

Emotional Effects:
Evokes calm, sophistication, and depth.

Source: houzz.com/aparatment 48

🍽 Boho Dining (Red + Orange)

Warm rug woven in terra cotta and red hues
Wooden table with burnt orange seat cushions
Walls or shelves stained in terra-cotta red

Source: Courtneys world

Emotional Effects:
Warm, cozy, vibrant—ideal for gatherings and conversation.

Combination	Mood Created
Red + Orange	Warm, vibrant
Yellow + Green	Fresh, natural
Blue + Purple	Cool, serene

c) Triadic Colour Scheme (Balanced, Energetic)

These use three colours evenly spaced around the wheel (e.g., red + blue + yellow). They are dynamic but balanced—perfect for mature creativity. Stick with the 60-30-10 rule for harmonious use.

Triadic schemes use three colours evenly spaced on the wheel. Primary-secondary combos spark balance and visual energy when used thoughtfully.

🏡 Living Room (Blue + Orange + Green)

Walls stay neutral—soft cream or beige
Deep blue sofa
Terracotta lamps or cushions
Olive green plants
Accents in small areas—art, vases

Emotional Effects:
Energetic but not overwhelming—a mature yet playful harmony.

🛋 Office Corner (Red + Yellow + Purple)

Red chair
Yellow side tables
Purple curtains
Minimalist neutral backdrop

Emotional Effects:
Creative, energizing, yet calm enough for productivity.

Principle 4: Using the 60-30-10 Rule

This key principle balances design:

60%: Dominant background (walls, large furniture)
30%: Secondary colour in medium-sized items
10%: Accent points to draw interest

For complex triadic or complementary schemes, this rule keeps spaces grounded.

💡 Room-by-Room Design Examples

Kitchen: Blue + Orange Refresh

Walls: Soft sky blue paint
Cabinetry: Cream with blue accents
Counter chairs in terracotta orange
Tableware in deep blue and burnished orange
Accessories: wooden cutting boards, light fixtures

Outcome:
Versatile, sunny, Mediterranean-inspired comfort.

Dining Room: Red + Green Elegance

Walls: Muted sage
Chairs: Ivory with red cushions
Rug: Floral mix of green and red
Art: Botanical prints
Lighting: Gold chandelier to enhance warmth

Outcome:
Sophisticated, grounded, joyful.

Living Room: Triadic Modern Mix

Walls: Off-white with a navy accent wall
Sofa: Navy
Cushions: Mustard yellow and terracotta
Rug: Neutral with minimal highs in yellow
Bench/footstool: Burnt red velvet

Outcome:
Bold, balanced, layering sophistication and energy.

Bedroom: Sole Primary + Secondary Accent

Yellow + Purple Bedroom:

Walls: Soft gray to ground both colours
Bed linens: Lavender duvet cover + yellow pillows
Throw blanket in mustard for texture
Art: Floral prints in lemon and lavender

Outcome:
Warm enough to rest; bright enough to energize morning routines.

Bathroom: Green + Blue Spa

Tiles: Deep aqua on backsplash
Vanity: White with green undertones
Towels: Muted greens with navy edges
Green plants for atmosphere

Outcome:
Calming, spa-like retreat with depth.

4. Room-by-Room Design Examples

a) Complementary Pair Examples

• Living Room: Red + Green

Sage-green walls, crimson velvet chairs
Natural wood + white trim foundation
Accents: red lighting, plant life

• Dining Room: Blue + Orange

Navy linens + burnt-orange runners
Neutral walls + gold accents
Bold tableware fusion

• Bedroom: Yellow + Purple

Mauve bedspread, mustard pillows
Lavender curtains + floral art
Neutral backdrop w/ wood + off-white

b) Analogous Pair Examples

• Kitchen: Yellow + Green

Buttery cabinets, sage backsplash
White accents + wood counters
Potted plants + ceramic dishware

• Living Room: Blue + Purple

Powder blue walls + navy sofa
Lavender pillows + abstract art
Metallic and wood accents

• Dining Room: Red + Orange

Terra-cotta rug + red cushions
Rustic table + patterned decor

c) Triadic Pair Examples

• Living Room: Blue + Orange + Green

60% cream walls 30% navy furniture 10% terracotta & olive accents

• Bedroom Desk Nook: Red + Yellow + Purple

Red chair, yellow desk lamp, purple vases
Muted grey wall + wood flooring

5. The Emotional & Psychological Impact

Understanding how colour influences moods and behaviours ensures meaningful design:

Red + Green: Warm and dynamic; energizing but harmonious
Blue + Orange: Cool confidence with warmth—ideal for balance
Yellow + Purple: Joy with calm luxury, especially in smaller doses
Triadic combos: Energetic and creative when proportioned properly
Analogous: Gentle, restful, and easy to live with

This helps designers choose palettes aligned with goals and feelings, such as relaxing, inspiring, or socializing.

Combo	Mood Created
Red + Green	Lively, balanced
Blue + Orange	Warm, focused
Yellow + Purple	Joyful, luxurious
Blue + Purple	Peaceful, contemplative
Yellow + Green	Fresh, natural

6. Designer Tips & Best Practices

✅ Start small with accessories (pillows, rugs) before painting walls.
✅ Test colours in real light using swatches and clips. Use digital or paper mood boards with real light conditions.
✅ Balance bold hues with neutral tones like white, beige, grey, taupe, stone to temper strong colour combos.
✅ Layer textures—velvet, linen, rattan, wood—for visual warmth. They add dimension to bold hues.
✅ Consider the room’s function and emotional intention
✅ Consistent colour flow between rooms maintains harmony. Transition gently between rooms for continuity.
✅ Muted or dusty hues offer sophistication over bright primaries. Choose muted or dusty tones for mature design.
✅ Consider natural light: Warm natural light amplifies warm colours; cool light softens them.
✅ Edit intentionally—less can feel more. Bold colour looks best when intentionally placed and curated.

7. Practical Tools & Moodboard Resources

🎨 Colour wheel poster for reference. Print and hang near mood board
🖌 Sample paint pots and swatch strips. Test on boards and view at different daytimes and Tape swatches to furniture to test against wood, metal, glass
✂ Digital moodboard tools like Canva or Pinterest; Drag-and-drop your furniture images
📋 Printable 60-30-10 checklist

8. Conclusion & Free Moodboard Download

Combining primary and secondary colours is about bringing **emotion**, **intention**, and **balance** to your home. Whether your palette is vibrant or muted, thoughtful colour decisions make your space feel truly **personal and purposeful**.

Colour wheel