How to Add Contrast To Your Interior Design

Contrast is a professional interior designer's secret weapon to create visually striking spaces. However, contrast is a word that tends to be thrown around loosely in interior design conversations and is often used as a hype word without being fully understood.

Read on to learn how to use contrast to create a unique space in your home or business.

Contrast in interior design

Contrast in interior design is the art of using opposing elements in a space and making them work together to highlight and enhance your interior design concept.

You can create contrast by using the following:

Colours and shades
Textures and materials
Shapes and forms

Read on to learn more about these elements and how to create contrast with them.

Colours and shades

The colour wheel is your best friend when using colour to create contrast. Interior designers often pick colours from opposite ends of the colour wheel to create the desired effect.

Examples of colour and shade contrasts include:

Complementary colours—often from opposite sides of the spectrum, like blue and orange, yellow and purple, or green and red.
Monochrome—using the timeless combination of black and white contrasts, including shades of grey.
Light and dark—which creates contrast with various shades of the same colour; light and dark blues, greens or reds, for example.
Cool and warm colours—like reds and oranges, to create a cosy feel, or cool colours, like blues and greens, to create a relaxing vibe.

In open-plan designs, a mixture of these elements can be used to develop a sense of separation between spaces, like a kitchen, dining and lounge areas.

Textures and materials

Textures create physical kinesthetic contrast while making occupants also think about how things may feel—a two-prong concept. Examples of texture contrasts could include:

Polished concrete or marble floors with rough linen furniture
Rough rugs or jute flooring with sleek seats and tables
Wooden elements contrasted with smooth acrylics and stone
Tactile fabric with plush velvet window covers
and more

Contrasted textures using different materials are a popular current trend in interior design and can be used to enhance traditional and modern decor styles.

Shape and forms

Using a variety of contrasting shapes and forms can be one of the most effective ways to create a stunning contrast in a room or space, and it ties in perfectly with the concept of using different textures and materials.

Examples of using different shapes and forms to achieve contrast may include:

Curves and rounded furniture against straight and angular architecture
Classic or vintage light fixtures paired with ultra-modern furniture and art
Parquet flooring mixed with spiral staircases
and more

The most important thing when using colours, textures and materials, and shapes and forms as contrast is to be open to creativity, experimenting with various ideas, and going with what feels right. Everyone has a taste and style that is unique to them.

Help create the perfect contrast with our comprehensive range of removable wallpaper designs

With a huge catalogue featuring over a million wallpaper designs, you can achieve the perfect contrast in your home or business with wallpaper categories such as:

3D wallpaper
Wall murals
Hallway art
Wall stickers and decals
Ceiling murals
Stair riser murals
and much more

With a range of secure payment methods and fast worldwide shipping, why not browse and buy today to get your ideal room contrast? For more information, message us via our online contact form, or call the toll-free number for your region.

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