How to Choose Colour Combinations for Your Home Interiors: A Colour Wheel Guide
Colour is at the heart of every space we design. It sets the mood, brings warmth and personality, and can completely transform how a room feels. Whether you're updating one room or rethinking your whole home, choosing the right interior colour scheme can pull everything together beautifully.
That said, picking colours for your home interiors can feel daunting. If you’ve ever found yourself staring at rows of paint swatches or second-guessing a fabric choice, you're not alone. The good news is that there’s a simple tool interior designers use to build colour confidence, the interior decorating colour wheel.
Using the Colour Wheel in Interior Design
The colour wheel is a brilliant starting point if you're not sure where to begin. It takes the guesswork out of colour pairing by showing how colours relate to one another. Whether you’re planning a full renovation or just refreshing a corner of your home, it gives you a structure for creating palettes that feel balanced, cohesive and personal.
The colour wheel is a brilliant starting point if you're not sure where to begin. It takes the guesswork out of colour pairing by showing how colours relate to one another. Whether you’re planning a full renovation or just refreshing a corner of your home, it gives you a structure for creating palettes that feel balanced, cohesive and personal.
The three main colour groups:
Primary colours: red, blue and yellow - the building blocks of all other colours
Secondary colours: green, orange and purple - created by mixing two primaries
Tertiary colours: the more nuanced tones that come from blending a primary with a secondary
You don’t need to memorise any rules. Just knowing where colours sit on the wheel can help you build schemes that feel thoughtful and easy to live with.
Quick Tip: Colour Ratios That Work
When you're building a palette, it helps to think about how colour is distributed in the space. Interior designers often use a loose 60-30-10 ratio to create balance and flow but that doesn’t mean you're limited to just three colours.
60% of the space is your main colour group - used on walls, larger furniture or cabinetry
30% includes secondary tones - often seen in rugs, curtains, or bedding
10% is made up of accent colours and textures, smaller touches like cushions, ceramics, or artwork
This ratio is simply a guide. It helps you layer colour in a way that feels intentional, even when you’re using four, five or more colours in a scheme.
5 Colour Combinations to Try at Home
Not sure what colours go together in a room? These five colour palette ideas are tried and tested by interior designers all based on the colour wheel, and easy to personalise at home.
1. Monochromatic Palettes
Monochromatic schemes use a single colour in different shades and tones to create a soft, cohesive look with plenty of depth.
How to bring it to life:
Pick a base colour you love (like blue, ochre or green)
Layer in lighter and darker versions
Add texture, velvets, linen, matte finishes
Balance the look with soft neutrals, wood or subtle metallics
Try a mustard velvet cushion, ochre wall and pale yellow ceramics for a rich yet calming space.
2. Complementary Colours
Complementary colours are opposites on the wheel like blue and orange, or pink and green. They create contrast and balance when used thoughtfully.
How to bring it to life:
Pick a main colour, and use its complement for accents
Choose muted or earthy versions for a more liveable feel
Add contrast through furnishings, cushions or artwork
Try a deep navy sofa with rust cushions, or blush pink with sage green for something bold yet grounded.
3. Triadic Colour Schemes
Triadic colour schemes use three colours spaced evenly around the wheel. These combinations are full of personality, but still feel balanced when grounded with texture.
How to bring it to life:
Choose a trio like red, yellow and blue or more muted tones like terracotta, mustard and powder blue
Let one colour take the lead, and use the others sparingly
Add plenty of natural texture to keep the look grounded
This works especially well in kitchens or family rooms where you want energy and character.
4. Harmonious Colours
Harmonious colours sit next to each other on the wheel and flow effortlessly together. Think soft greens, teals and blues relaxed and grounded.
How to bring it to life:
Choose two or three side-by-side colours
Let one lead and use the others for accents
Ground the scheme with oak, linen or clay for added texture
Sage green walls, teal tiles and navy accessories make a beautiful trio.
5. Tonal Palettes
Tonal palettes use colours from the same family, similar in feel, but not necessarily adjacent on the wheel. Think clay, ochre and rust, or soft beige, greige and ivory.
How to bring it to life:
Use a range of light, mid and dark tones within one palette
Mix in materials like wood, wool, linen or ceramics
Add soft lighting to bring everything together
This is a great approach for creating calm, inviting spaces with a sense of ease.
Top Tips for Using Colour Like a Designer
1. Keep the flow
If you’re unsure about bold colour choices, try repeating similar tones or accents from room to room. It helps your home feel more connected and intentional.
2. Have fun with contrast
Bold contrast can be exciting just balance it with plenty of soft or neutral elements to avoid visual overload.
3. Start with the mood
Ask yourself how you want the space to feel. That answer often points you to the right colours.
Cool tones (blue, green, purple) = calm and fresh
Warm tones (red, orange, yellow) = cosy and energising
Neutrals (beige, grey, white) = timeless and grounding
Final Thoughts
The colour wheel is a fantastic starting point if you want to make more confident colour choices in your home. Whether you’re redecorating or choosing paint colours for a new project, it helps you build an intentional, beautiful colour scheme that suits your interior style.
Once you’ve chosen your palette, don’t forget to test it in your actual space. Colours shift in natural light and change with the time of day. The real magic happens when you start layering in textures, finishes and the little details that make a space yours.
