8 Unexpected + Timeless Colour Combos To Try At Home

Purple + Blue

Purple is a colour that can easily look a bit too wild and immature in a space. It can be a difficult colour to work with, however when done right, it seriously pays off. Blue helps ground purple because they are right next door on the colour wheel.

Purple and blue work even better together when paired with green — also known as an analogous combination (a group of three colours that sit side by side on the colour wheel).

The gorgeous space by Leigh Elwood highlights this combination perfectly with green in the rug, blue in the artwork and purple in the sofa.

Maroon + Navy

Maroon and navy paired together feels mature and luxurious. These colours work so well because they are the same tone, which means that they have the same amount of dark grey.

Here’s a colour secret for you; any colour pairing will work together as long as they’re the same tone.

Maroon and navy is an unexpected combination although it’s still safe. It’s tried and tested; we see maroon and navy together in textiles, artwork and of course, interiors.

Keep in mind the 60-30-10 rule. The main colour in any space should represent 60 per cent of the palette in a room (for example, maroon). The secondary colour should have a 30 per cent representation (in this case, navy). And 10 per cent is the accent (with this colour combo I’d try a tan or mustard).

Green + Blue

There’s an old saying; ‘blue and green, should never be seen except with something in between’ – and that ‘something’ surely must be timber.

Blue and green work together in harmony because they are both on the cooler side of the colour palette.

This colour combination together feels calm and tranquil – perfect for spaces where you need a chilled out vibe. Use across walls for an encompassing effect, or as an accent with décor such as rugs, soft furnishings and textiles.

Pink + green

At first, you might think that pink and green is an unusual colour combination however once it’s on your radar, you’ll see it everywhere.

Pink and green is a classic colour contrast, it’s a dynamic pairing as these two hues sit directly opposite one another on the colour wheel.

Here we see pastel pink kitchen cupboards combined with khaki green, instantly making the space feel harmonious and sophisticated.

Tonal neutrals

Tonal neutrals refer to white-adjacent hues that ‘aren’t quite white’ – creams, beiges, soft taupe and coffee-coloured tones all fit this description.

Although mixing tonal neutrals might seem easy, it can be hard to pull off without an essential ingredient; texture.

Too many tonal neutrals in a space can look completely drab without contrasting the finish of materials. It’s about combining shiny gloss handmade tiles against matt smooth cupboards, or raw travertine stone with natural cane webbing. There needs to be contrasting textures to keep the space visually interesting.

Brights + whites

It’s thought that the easiest paint colour option is to just go white — ha!

Anyone who has been tasked with selecting a white paint knows that there is white, and then there is white. There are so many shades!

However, I find that Vivid White is a great all-rounder, not too cream or too cool. Lexicon Quarter is a very cool clean white and suits contemporary new builds.

Of course, white means that you can layer a rainbow of colour over the top with wild abandon — it will never clash!

Terracotta + cream

As a material, terracotta is forever timeless because even though it ebbs and flows in popularity, it’s simply a beautiful material from the earth.

As a colour, terracotta is so easy to live with; it’s inherently warm, tactile and natural. Being on the warm side of the colour palette, terracotta really needs to team with other warm tones like cream, tan and beige.

Green + timber

Timber tones are versatile and coordinate with many colours, however when paired with green, you have a particularly harmonious combination. Timber and green feel natural, fresh, calm and timeless.

Matching the intensity of the green with the right timber means taking note of the tones and saturation. A deep green ties in well with rich timber tones as seen in this kitchen above.

Ready to start?

It’s best to start with the vibe. Remember, a harmonious colour scheme will be more tonal and have less contrast. Whereas something more dynamic and ‘interesting’, will call for higher saturation and more contrast.

Note the colours of things already in the space that can’t be changed — flooring, for example — and work back from there.

The key here is to test the colours. Order in A4 colour swatches to narrow down your chosen colour palette. Then buy sample pots and large boards so that you can move the coloured boards around the space in a different light. See how they work against the other materials. As you experiment and narrow down your selections, you’ll begin feel more confident. Go for it!