Guest Columnist: How to Pair Colors Like a Pro

The following was submitted by Nika Stewart for Georgie Living: 

Combining colors is often a challenge for homeowners. Which color goes nicely with brown? How do you add color to a blue room? The following tips will give you confidence to add the right hues to your home.

Know The Three Basic Color Schemes

• Monochromatic- colors with the same hue but different values (brown and taupe; two shades of blue)

• Analogous - colors that are next to each other on the color wheel and thus similar

(green and yellow, red and purple). Rooms can use three analogous colors far

more excitement, like green, yellow, and orange. A subtler, more sophisticated

analogous combination would be yellow-green, yellow, and orange-yellow.

• Complementary - color-wheel opposites. Complementary colors give the most contrast and are exciting to the eye (orange and blue; red and green)

Take a Cue from Mother

Mother Nature, that is! Colors that are found together in the great outdoors are also beautiful when combined in the home. Think of a light blue sky paired with silvery white clouds. Or a forest with its combination of greens mixed with tree bark brown. If it's pleasing innature, it'll be sure to please you inside, as well.

Look to Your Closet

Think about the color combinations you enjoy wearing. What accent colors do you add to your outfits? Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says, "If you look and feel good with those colors on, you'll like them around you."

When adding new color to your home, remember to stay classic with your largest, most expensive pieces. That way, when you choose to make any changes, you just need to switch small accessories and other inexpensive items. Easy!

The New Trend is You

Warm be trendy? Then be yourself!

Decorating trends have been consistently moving toward more personal styles. Which means there are fewer rules to follow. You get to choose pieces that feel good to you Not because they are the correct items to fit a certain style, but just because you like them.

Choose one-of-a-kind elements

Opt for custom-designed furniture. Instead of shopping at mass-produced furniture stores, have a piece of furniture custom-designed for you. Customized furniture is becoming more and more popular. Imagine having a sofa or table that is the perfect size, shape, color, and pattern — and with all the exact details you want!

Reinvent existing pieces. You can add tassels and trim to upholstered items, apply unique moldings to tables and cabinets, or paint wooden furniture.

Shop at flea markets, antique fairs, and estate sales. The pieces you find will be much more unique than what you get at the usual store.

Create your own accessories. The interest in hand-crafted materials continues to grow. So why not craft your own piece? It will not only be one-of-a-kind, but it will have special meaning to you and your family — and be a great conversation starter for guests!

Use a designer. Professional designers and decorators have access to many more resources than you have as a homeowner. They are able to help you select and create a truly customized pieces from a wide variety of fabrics, trims, and other materials.

When you combine new technology with your own imagination, you can create a truly distinctive, one-of-a-kind home. How trendy. How YOU!