Decorative Color Schemes

A color scheme is basically an arrangement of colors. Throughout history the decorative style of certain times and places have become a standard. Think English manor, or country French. When you use the colors associated with these styles in your own home, you create a space which reflects the ambiance of those specific period.

Below you will find descriptions of several color styles which have developed throughout history. By understanding the way certain colors create these types of spaces, you can gain a deeper and more meaningful understanding of how color affects your life.

You can also copy the color styles below to create a novel decorative theme, which captures the spirit of a specific time and place.

Coastal / Beach Life Color Schemes

This color style invites the spirit of coastal life into your home. Blue, white, and tan, the colors of beach and bay are the predominant tones in this space. The ocean often meets the shore across the ceiling and walls of such a space. Furnishings tend to be rustic wood, unfinished or treated, to simulate outdoor beach chairs. Touches of actual coastal life, sea shell ashtrays, nautical décor, and brightly patterned blankets add a depth to the colors which gives the theme an added dimension.

Rustic Cabin Color Schemes

This color style is dominated by rustic earth tones, with deep reds, and blues or greens acting as accents to the color. Wood is a predominant tone, as well as a good texture for a cabin décor. Southwestern tones such as adobe pottery can give the room more of a dessert theme. Color patterns often include Native American styles, with deep maroon or brown, interlaced with dark navy interplays.

English Manor

This style is dominated by vibrant reds, yellows, blues, greens, purples and oranges, melded together in an explosion of color. The tones often resembled gemstones, which collude in a chintz style that is almost gaudy. These powerful colors are generally arranged in floral patterns, which give the overwhelming colors of the space an anchor in reality.

Country French

Vibrant earth tones abound in interplay of the dazzling and the subdued. White plaster is the traditional backdrop, against which colors such as mustard, rust, and indigo are placed. A calico pattern tends to dominate fabrics and upholstery in this style.

Country Cottage

A sweet and feminine style, the colors are generally pastels, in both warm and cool tones. Light blue, white, and pink, tend to form in floral patterns throughout the space. Accent colors are generally used in decorative frills such as bed skirts, trim, and ribbons.

Shabby Chic

This style is dominated by the color white. Think an old and distinguished southern manor. Most of the interest lent to this style is done by using texture, on walls, ceilings, and especially in trim, pieces and molding. Paint chips, and faded colors also add to the details of the space. Accent colors should be used sparingly, in strategic and clever locations.

City Chic

This style uses neutral colors throughout a space. White, black, beige, or anything which is unassuming can work in a shabby chic color scheme. Interest is added to the space through the use of texture and materials such as copper, chrome, steal, and shimmering hardwoods. The effect is a room which balances soft and hard elements to create a powerful space.