Put down your brush! You may be getting the wrong paint color… Have you taken a step back and inspired yourself beforehand? Are you sure you’re not going too fast? Choosing a decorative color for your wallpaper, your paint or even your furniture is not a decision you should take lightly. Remember that the color of furniture and walls determines the mood of your room.
If in a paint or wallpaper store, you seem overwhelmed by the amount of choice offered to you, that’s normal. The hesitation is understandable. Choosing colors for your living room decor can be daunting because it raises so many questions. Which shade to choose and how to coordinate your furniture and accessories? Here are 6 colors to avoid when decorating your living room.
1 – Avoid the yellow and red association
In general, colors that are relatively close to each other on the color wheel harmonize quite well with each other. However, this is not the case with the two primary colors red and yellow. These are colors that challenge and which placed together cause a shock because they are both very bright and very intense. This is also the effect used by advertisers by associating them. Together, these two colors form a visual appeal, which is often used to announce promotions on certain products. The combination of red and yellow has a strong but rather uncomfortable effect when it comes to decoration.
In general, you should avoid combining the three primary colors red, yellow, and blue with each other, as nothing really does ever come out of it. Unless you have a lot of audacity and exceptional talent, of course. Because in itself, no color is to be avoided, there are just some that are easier to handle and combine than others. On the other hand, blue, yellow and red together are more suitable for accessories, for example. The brightness of the primary colors can be offset by more natural tones. Their neutral side can clearly attenuate a red, blue or yellow tone that is too intense.
2 – Avoid so-called candy colors like turquoise and pink
The turquoise color is by definition not a pure color, but a mixture of green and blue. Since colors like turquoise or pink are often used for candies in the food industry, they are also called “candy colors”. Just like candies, these colors should only appear well balanced on the walls of your home. Avoid using turquoise and candy pink to paint your walls, but also for large furniture. Instead, use these splash colors as visual punctuation in the form of throw pillows, vases, or flowers. Of course, once again, a professional will be able to do wonders with these colors. They’re just not easy to handle.
3 – Avoid black and navy blue together
Also in this case, the two colors of the color wheel are simply too close to each other and do not create a pleasant feeling when put together. The two tones are barely distinguishable. In addition, this combination looks very dark, it would take a lot of lighting in the room to optically compensate for this color combination.
4 – Avoid the association of pastel colors
Pastel pink or pastel blue are soft colors that are sometimes popular. Most of the time, they are referred to as “baby” colors. As a result, these two pastel tones, especially in combination, are more reminiscent of a children’s book scribble. When it comes to furnishings, these colors together give a slightly surreal effect that doesn’t create a cozy atmosphere. So it is better not to use too many pastel shades. However, these colors can be harmonized well with more neutral shades or the same color in a stronger tone.
5 – Avoid combining purple, orange and green
Violet, orange and green are the complementary colors of yellow, blue and red, the three primary colors. In combination of two, these work very well – since they are complementary, logical! On the other hand, if you mix green, orange and purple with each other, the result you will get will be less happy. Because these tones don’t really harmonize. In addition, we no longer distinguish them individually, none of the colors stand out. As a result, no contrast is created in the room and a visual imbalance appears.
Additionally, orange and purple in particular are not considered full-fledged upholstery colors, as they tend to be overwhelming. Furthermore, they are neither a pure color like red or blue, nor a natural shade like green. It is also difficult to classify them in terms of the effect produced. You might as well use them in contrast with other colours, for example a gray sofa with orange cushions.
6 – Avoid brown on your walls
Avoid brown? Yes, on the walls, it is sorely lacking in luminosity. It should obviously not be associated with black, because on the walls, it would be much too dull. And then, these are two colors that are too close, almost similar. You don’t want a dark and monotonous universe? On the other hand, of course, use it in the form of leather, wood. It is in its natural form that it really makes the difference. Combined with green, beige or greige, it creates a beautiful, pleasant harmony. If these combinations seem too dull, enhance them with touches of bright, therefore primary, colors to create a contrasting visual effect.