Secondary Colors Create a Punchy Focal Point
See how green, purple and orange bring a room to life
This ideabook introduces secondary colors — and the notion that color does not have to be complicated. Secondary colors are created by mixing equal parts of two primary colors. Blue and yellow make green, red and blue make purple, and red and yellow yield orange. Even just using one of these colors in combination with an ubiquitous palette of black, white, and gray will create a space that is anything but common. Let's see if you agree.
More: Primary Colors Bring a Room to Life
More: Primary Colors Bring a Room to Life
The color of grass and leafy veggies, vibrant green reads fresh in any combination of colors. Just a hint will add life to a space. Painting the window trim is a great way to add a splash color without the use of fabric and allows glorious sunlight to flood into this welcoming kitchen.
Benjamin Moore Ben Paint, Baby Fern 2029-20
Borrow inspiration from Mother Nature. Green consistently appears on her color palette and for good reason. It symbolizes vitality, life, sustainability — and most important, it harmonizes with all other colors.
How to Pick the Right Green
How to Pick the Right Green
Again, purple is used modestly but makes a big statement. There's a ongoing debate regarding accent walls, but when wall space is at a premium, I think a single painted wall is always a good idea.
Aubergine Brooke Rug
Look for purple by other names, such as eggplant and aubergine. A rug like this one with a repetitive geometric print would be the perfect way to introduce a fresh update to traditional décor.
How to Pick the Right Purple
How to Pick the Right Purple
Orange, invigorating and energetic, adds a fun factor to even the most stringent spaces. When peeking beyond a wall of stainless steel cabinet doors and sprinkled throughout as an accent, orange adds a layer of dimension much like a spice that takes food from good to great.
On a color wheel and in real-life decorating, secondary colors complement one another. Here, orange and green is an unlikely color combination for kitchen cabinetry, yet it's part of what makes this kitchen spectacular.
REIDAR Chair
Want to try color without the commitment? Experiment with chairs in interesting hues, such as this orange ditty from IKEA. Regardless of the amount, bold color makes any room sing.
Which colors are for you: Primary colors, secondary colors (or neutrals)?
More of today's hottest hues
Which colors are for you: Primary colors, secondary colors (or neutrals)?
More of today's hottest hues