The Color Contrast in Interior Design

FFDM’s Summer Home Collection: Striking contrasts are seen in different design elements here from the shiny woodworks, to nature’s touch, and some metallic and ceramic elements.

Have you ever tried to define the word contrast? This is an oft used word in the world of interior design. Dictionaries define this term as the combination of unlike elements such as tone, colors, textures, patterns or emotions. This can be further defined as the lightest versus the darkest parts of a photo, painting or any other work of art.

Dullness vs. Contrast

Take a careful look at most black and white photographs; these are often difficult to read since there is no color contrast to begin with. This kind of photograph often appears flat except when taken at an angle where the depth is clearly defined. If there is any contrast in a black and white photo, these are the tonal contrasts.

To further define contrast, this is the comparison of two things with respect to their differences. This can also be similar objects but with dissimilar qualities.

Are you starting to get the concept of contrast now? No?

Examples of Contrast

One example of contrast is when an interior designer would want to highlight the intricate designs of a cream-colored cabinet inside a kitchen. This can be achieved if you use a charcoal wall as backdrop. The cabinets would appear to be the star of the show once you achieve this.

This kind of contrast is what’s known as achromatic. This is the contrast between two opposing shades – black and cream.

Contrasts can also be seen in nature each day. The white sheep grazing on the green, grassy landscapes; an orange buoy in the midst of the blue sea; white snow and some black rocks nestled beneath it; and many such contrasts.

The marriage of fabric and metal in this Miles Talbott Living Room Mesa Chair JR-9440-C is perfect for any living room.

Contrast: A Composition Element

Contrast is a crucial part of composition. You can easily create contrast, more frequently with colors. At times, you can make subtle contrast with texture. Rooms can also play with different forms of shapes which can also represent a kind of contrast.

Geometric pieces like curvy ones can play contrasting roles with edgy pieces.

Above any element, you need to consider the color contrast when you are out to achieve opposition. Contrast makes objects distinguishable.

Here are seven kinds of contrast according to Johannes Itten –

The first type is the contrast of hue. The wider the distance between two colors on the color wheel, the higher the contrast (e.g. black versus white).
The second kind is contrast between light and dark. This is based on the brightness as well as tone values. An example is the yellow-violet fusion.
The third type is the contrast between cold and warm colors which is perfectly achieved by the orange-red and blue-green combos. Warm colors include red, orange, yellow and such. Cool colors include the likes of green and blue.
Complementary contrast includes colors that sit on opposite positions on the color wheel. An example is red and green. When these are adjacent, colors that complement each other mutually highlight their being luminous. Another example is the marriage of blue and orange.
Optical illusion relies on the Law of Complementary Colors. This states that pure color demands for an opposite color. This is its complement. If this hue becomes absent, then the eye is sure to produce it concurrently. A strong green color, for instance, will make gray sitting next to it appear reddish-gray while red sitting right next to this same gray shade will result in a greenish-gray hue.
The next type is the contrast of saturation. This is the contrast between dull and luminous colors. Hues are subdued when white, black, gray or complementary colors are added.
The last type is the contrast of quantity or extension. This involves color proportions that have been used. The pure color has two factors that will determine its eventual force – its brilliance and its extent.

Tags: adding colors to a home, color 101, color basics, contrast, contrast in design, contrast in interior design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, mixing colors

This entry was posted on Friday, June 10th, 2016 at 8:30 am and is filed under Color Schemes, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

The Color Contrast in Interior Design

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