-picking a color scheme for decorating iseasy when you use the color wheel. the color wheel maps out color relationships. and bydoing so, it sets up guidelines for how colors work together. one of the simplest relationshipsis called complementary, which simply means any 2 colors opposite each other on the wheelsuch as red and green, yellow and purple, or blue and orange. let's look at how a complementarycolor scheme works when decorating in blue and orange. in a complementary color scheme,pick 1 color to be the star. in this living room, various shades of blue color the wallsand area rug plus a few accent pillows. using the second color and accents, we'll createa dynamic vibrant look. in this space, an orange lamp and ottoman are an infusion ofwarmth against the cool blues. patterns also
help carry a color scheme by displaying bothcolors side by side for unity. a medium scale floral print on the drapes sports the blueand orange while a narrow stripe on the pillows along with the pattern on the ottoman introducesa small scale pattern for contrast with the same color palette for harmony. and when choosingcolors, don't forget the neutrals. here, an off-white on the sofa and chair are a calmingvisual among the vibrant blues and oranges. play with different shades of complementarycolors to get a scheme that works for you. a deep navy blue and a vivid coral orangeor a dusty blue paired with pumpkin orange would both be considered complementary colorschemes and will create a look that is unique to your style.