Any environment needs special zones on which people will focus their attention. Without bright spots, even an exquisite interior picture looks too boring. Accent areas are shaped to achieve two effects:
- Divert attention from the shortcomings of the room and concentrate it on the merits;
- Create landmark points for a "hook" look.
Solid space is always visually perceived difficult. The feeling of a faceless, monochromatic composition is boring. There are several ways to focus on individual interior details:
- Light accent. Spectacular illumination will unobtrusively show where the most important zones are located;
- Color. With the help of combinations according to a number of principles, they create a background and bright spots on it;
- Unusual forms. Sharp corners in a “smooth” interior will attract the eye, as contrasting elements are created that stand out from the overall stylistic picture;
- Invoice. Relief is perhaps the most organic way to create a moderate accent zone.
Color selection is one of the most difficult. The reason for this was the special "power" of shades over the human subconscious. Carefully and imperceptibly, a palette of colors can control mood and desires. Do not be surprised that in black and white kitchens you lose your appetite, and you want to escape from living rooms in brown and red tones with yellow. Let's talk about the concepts of color combinations.
Accents in the interior: choose a color
Color accents mean elements of a design picture that stand out from the overall design palette. Most often, decor acts in their role, but sometimes full-fledged pieces of furniture can attract attention. The choice of a palette of colors depends not only on the wishes of the owners, but also on the size of the room, lighting features, and stylistic decisions. The latter should be taken into account if not a potpourri of directions is used, but a specific style with its characteristic features and framework. So, in minimalism on a black and white with a gray background, accents are chosen according to the principle of “neutral interior”. Absolutely any tone brought to the light canvas of the situation will be noticeable and bright. In Provence, where snow-white floors are combined with the same furniture, or in high-tech, accent colors are chosen according to the same principle. In darker shades of classic style or art deco with a play of tones, it is recommended to be more careful, since such an interior will not endure everything. If you are confident in the impeccability of your taste, then color combinations can be selected intuitively. However, it is still recommended to use one of the generally accepted schemes. Each one is based on a specific principle.
As for the compatibility of the color scheme with the dimensions of the room, it is not recommended to overload small rooms with dark accents. In small spaces, interiors in light colors are used (more snow-white and pastel shades). To visually add extra meters to the room, accents should be done according to the principle of light color transitions, and not contrasting borders.
Scheme "warm-cold"
Depending on the psychological perception of a person, colors are divided into cold and warm. The first include blue, green, purple, turquoise, lilac and blue, and the second - red, yellow, orange, pink. The principle was based on the color combination in contrast. For example, all the decoration of the room is made in shades of one "temperature". The focus will be on the details that are made in tones that are on the other side of the conditional axis of the color spectrum. The tint picture is organic and balanced, as opposite colors complement each other.
Scheme "Additional"
The principle of addition involves the use of a pair of basic shades in the interior. To one of them is added that contrasting tone, which is strictly opposite on the spectral circle. For example, pink and orange shades prevail in the interior, in order to balance them and dilute them add accent blue or blue. If the atmosphere pulls “cold” (blue, purple), then the details are made out in brown tones or gold with yellowness. Such a color scheme brightly and slightly aggressively decorates the interior, so it is not recommended to use it in rest rooms: a nursery, a bedroom.
Scheme "Similar"
This combination principle is calm and relatively neutral. The color temperature of the room remains almost unchanged, since the nearest “neighbor” in the spectrum is chosen for the main or additional shade. The borders of the background and accent zones will have a transitional character, instead of sharp contrasts. It is recommended to decorate bedrooms and lounges in a similar manner.
Accents in a neutral interior
If the color scheme of the room consists of brown, black, white, gray, beige shades, then you can safely introduce accents of absolutely any tones at the choice of the owners. And it is not necessary to be limited to just one option. It is acceptable to use several colors, but only after a preliminary assessment of the tonal congestion of the room. For example, in monochrome rooms you can safely add even two or three accents. In interiors where brown, beige, black and white are already combined, it is not recommended to overload the atmosphere with a couple more additional shades.
Before buying decor, carefully weigh the degree of compatibility of accents with each other. Perhaps one will be able to completely drown out the second, thereby calling into question its use. It is desirable that both shades are of the same intensity.
How to strike a balance
In order for the background and accents to harmonize with each other, it is necessary to observe the norm of ratios. A kind of "golden section" rule, adapted for interior composition. The ratio concerns three colors:
This rule does not apply to all surfaces. Designers usually do not take into account wood or materials that mimic it. They are considered as a neutral background. We are talking about classic wood in natural shades (oak, pine, wenge), and not about plastic panels, the surface of which repeats the texture of the original, but painted in acid colors. A similar situation develops with white, plastered ceilings and walls. They are simply thrown out of the color composition, since solving the “problem” with such a large neutral background will inevitably lead to incorrect results and a broken composition.
What can be used as a bright accent
Any decor items or basic furnishings act as an accent. The interior painting is usually “polished” with:
- Textile. An option that allows you to focus not only on color or pattern, but also on texture. The main advantage of the fabric is its interchangeability. You can completely change the accents in the room if you are already fed up with the current ones. Fabrics allow you to experiment even with those colors that quickly get bored without harming your wallet;
- Decor items. Their role can be played by any interior object, the main purpose of which is to decorate the room;
- Furnishings. With these objects and brightness, it is better to be more careful, since such shades are still recommended to be introduced into the room in a strictly dosed manner. For this reason, for example, it is better to choose a sofa not entirely red, but with catchy legs and armrests. The use of modular furniture is considered optimal, where only certain parts of it are painted in bright colors;
- accent zones. This concept usually means the whole area, which is given to the "torn apart" by decorative elements. A wall, a podium, a separate corner of the room can act as an accent zone.
In the living room, the accents are rugs, cushions, blankets, curtains, vases or boxes on the shelves, lamps, chandeliers and individual parts of coffee tables or shelving. In kitchens, the interior is polished due to bright aprons, dishes, indoor plants, tablecloths (for the dining area), curtains and countertops. In the bedroom, usually all the accents are focused on the wall at the head of the bed. As a result, it turns out that there are bright colors on the palette, but sleeping people do not notice them, which, accordingly, does not interfere with sleep. Also in this room they use catchy curtains, pillows, bedspreads. In the hallways, they are limited to a couple of paintings on the walls, a rug under the door and a bench for changing shoes. In children's rooms, bright colors are used everywhere: the more colorful the environment (within the limits of course), the more actively the child develops.
Conclusion
Bright accents are vital in the interior design of a city apartment or a private house. It does not matter what type of housing you have and where it is located. If people spend time in it, then the atmosphere should be cozy. And it is impossible to get it without observing the color balance (background accents).
Let's splash paint!
It is known that even a small blotch of bright color can enliven the picture, making the overall look more interesting, attractive, spectacular. This technique works flawlessly for interiors, and for the landscape, and for the external image of a person. So, for example, bright ties transform men in formal suits, and accent bags and scarves - women in neutral outfits. Even one blooming flower bed is enough to make the garden many times more beautiful. By adding a few bright "spots", we will bring a "sparkle of life" into the interior.
Arranging bright accents in the interior is not as easy as it seems at first glance. Difficulties arise at the stage of selecting an accent color and determining its quantity. If there are a lot of color accents, the room will turn out to be excessively bright. Yes, and the effect of the accent will be lost, since the accent color will “wash out” in space and turn into an auxiliary one. If there are not enough accents, the desired result will not be achieved.
Accents in the interior: choose a color
Color accents in the interior are objects that have a color different from the main colors that prevail in the room. For example, orange textiles, furniture, accessories and decor in a blue and white room are color accents. But the light blue objects in the same room are an addition to the main color. In a lilac-beige room, green items will be accents, while purple, cream or lavender will complement. In a beige room, pink items will be accents, while light brown items will complement.
Add-ons
So, the first rule of color accenting: if you want to introduce bright accents, you need to choose not a different shade, but a different color. But what? The choice should depend on the desired effect.
1. Scheme "Heat-cold". If you want to emphasize the warmth of the room, which is dominated by "sultry" tones (yellow, orange, apricot, terracotta, red, etc.), you should choose a cold color as an accent. It can be shades of blue, green, purple. Cool accents will not only emphasize the warmth of the room, but also slightly cool its ardor.
Blue accents in a warm interior
And vice versa: if you like a cool atmosphere created with light, fresh or slightly gloomy tones, you can emphasize its coldness by contrasting with warm accents. To do this, use accents in orange, terracotta, honey shades.
2. Scheme "Additional". To bring a lot of life, energy and color into the interior, they use a different scheme - “additional”. In this case, for emphasis, a color is used that is additional to the main or secondary.
Complementary - these are colors located opposite each other on the color wheel.
For example, if the room is dominated by orange, additional accents should be in one of the shades of blue or blue, and vice versa. In a green room, red or purple accents are placed according to this scheme.
The "Additional" scheme is quite complex - it charges the interior with powerful energy. Therefore, this option is recommended to be used only in living rooms, dining rooms, playrooms, etc.
3. Scheme "Similar". If you want to create a calm atmosphere, as an accent, you need to choose a color located on the color wheel next to the primary or secondary.
So, if the room is dominated by blue, the accents can be green or light purple (lilac, lavender). Peach room will be refreshed by accents of red berry shades.
With such an accentuation scheme, peace and harmony reign in the interior. Therefore, this option is preferable for bedrooms, recreation rooms, libraries, etc.
4. Accents in a neutral interior. If there are only neutral tones in the room, such as white, black, beige and, any existing color can be an accent. Moreover, there can be several accent colors.
A neutral interior is good because accents can be changed according to mood. Or, for example, by time of year. In autumn - in orange-red tones; in winter - in blue and blue; in spring - in delicate florals; in summer - in green.
In very light neutral interiors, many different colors can be introduced at once, no matter what place they occupy in relation to each other on the color wheel. However, it is desirable that these accent colors are combined with each other in saturation and brightness. For example, pale blue can coexist with pink, lilac, pistachio, but not with burgundy, jade or dark purple.
How to maintain balance by placing bright accents in the interior?
There is a classic rule. Or rather, a formula. It looks like this: 60-30-10. What does this mean?
60% - main color
30% - additional (secondary) color or shades of the primary color
10% - accent color
Yellow: main color
Green: secondary color
Blue: accent color
This formula is also valid for classic clothes. It goes something like this: 60% is a suit, 30% is a shirt, 10% is a tie, that is, an accent.
Consider an example with the interior. Let's say the walls are painted beige, and the floors, shelving, and TV stand are wood. Thus, the beige-brown gamma prevails, accounting for approximately 60%. Suppose that the curtains and upholstered furniture in this room are in purple. Violet in this case is a secondary color, occupying approximately 30%. Accents can be yellow, green or blue depending on the desired effect. They should account for about 10%: for example, a small carpet on the floor, a pouffe, four sofa cushions, a blanket on one of the chairs and two.
Second example. Walls and upholstered furniture - in blue and blue shades (60%). Floors and furniture - gray (30%). Accents - orange (10%).
Of course, the figures are very approximate and conditional. You just need to strive to ensure that the main color takes a little more than half. The secondary color (or shades close to the main one) is half the size of the main one. Accent - about one tenth of the main.
The color of the wood is neutral and may not be taken into account in the formula. That is, wooden floors can be ignored, but a rug lying on the floor is a must. You can also ignore white ceilings and walls, wooden or white doors and window frames, a stone wall, a lined fireplace, etc.
If the interior is monochrome and there is no secondary color, accents can take up a little more than 10%.
Sometimes it's enough one bright accent in room. But it must be either large or very spectacular. It can be, for example, an accent sofa in a monochrome interior or a stunning chandelier. Single accents make the interior impressive. Comparisons come to mind: a completely black cat with emerald eyes or a white winter forest with one red rowan bush.
The less accent color - the more it stands out, drawing attention to itself and to everything that surrounds it.
Bright accents in the interior: what and where to place?
For color accenting in the interior, various decor items are most often used: vases, figurines, cushions, photo frames, carpets, rugs. However, surfaces, pieces of furniture, and works of art can also be accents.
As for furniture, armchairs and, less often, sofas often make accents. In the bedroom, it can be accent. In the kitchen - chairs and part of the facades of kitchen furniture.
The accent can be a wall or part of a wall. For example, at the head of the bed, behind the TV, behind the sofa. In the kitchen, the apron of the working area is accentuated. You should always keep the 10% rule in mind.
Curtains are also accented, like other textiles: chair covers, bedspreads.
The use of accent lights is in fashion, especially in kitchens and dining rooms.
Of course, not always and not everywhere you need bright accents in the interior. Calm monochrome or two-tone interiors are beautiful on their own. But if you wish, you can always “splash” a little color, since for this you don’t need to change anything drastically and spend a lot of money. The interior will sparkle with new colors, transform and come to life!
We offer a selection of interiors with bright accents. Get inspired!
Hot pink and red accents: a win-win for neutral interiors
Violet accents give the interior a veil of mystery
Green accents: create a feeling of freshness and lightness
Yellow accents: in black and white and gray interiors, they shine like light bulbs or sunlight
Blue accents: not so spectacular, but calm, restrained, elegant
This article uses images from the Depositphotos.com stock photo bank.
It is known that even a small blotch of bright color can enliven the picture, making the overall look more interesting, attractive, spectacular. This technique works flawlessly for interiors, and for the landscape, and for the external image of a person. So, for example, bright ties transform men in formal suits, and accent bags and scarves - women in neutral outfits. Even one blooming flower bed is enough to make the garden many times more beautiful. By adding a few bright "spots", we will bring a "sparkle of life" into the interior.
Arranging bright accents in the interior is not as easy as it seems at first glance. Difficulties arise at the stage of selecting an accent color and determining its quantity. If there are a lot of color accents, the room will turn out to be excessively bright. Yes, and the effect of the accent will be lost, since the accent color will “wash out” in space and turn into an auxiliary one. If there are not enough accents, the desired result will not be achieved.
Accents in the interior: choose a color
Color accents in the interior are objects that have a color different from the main colors that prevail in the room. For example, orange textiles, furniture, accessories and decor in a blue and white room are color accents. But the light blue objects in the same room are an addition to the main color. In a lilac-beige room, green items will be accents, while purple, cream or lavender will complement. In a beige room, pink items will be accents, while light brown items will complement.
Add-ons
So, the first rule of color accenting: if you want to introduce bright accents, you need to choose not a different shade, but a different color. But what? The choice should depend on the desired effect.
1. Scheme "Heat-cold". If you want to emphasize the warmth of a room dominated by “sultry” tones (yellow, orange, peach, apricot, terracotta, red, etc.), you should choose a cold color as an accent. It can be shades of blue, green, purple. Cool accents will not only emphasize the warmth of the room, but also slightly cool its ardor.
Blue accents in a warm interior
And vice versa: if you like a cool atmosphere created with light, fresh or slightly gloomy tones, you can emphasize its coldness by contrasting with warm accents. To do this, use accents in orange, yellow, terracotta, honey shades.
2. Scheme "Additional". To bring a lot of life, energy and color into the interior, they use a different scheme - “additional”. In this case, for emphasis, a color is used that is additional to the main or secondary.
Complementary - these are colors located opposite each other on the color wheel.
For example, if the room is dominated by orange, additional accents should be in one of the shades of blue or blue, and vice versa. In a green room, red or purple accents are placed according to this scheme.
The "Additional" scheme is quite complex - it charges the interior with powerful energy. Therefore, this option is recommended to be used only in living rooms, dining rooms, playrooms, etc.
3. Scheme "Similar". If you want to create a calm atmosphere, as an accent, you need to choose a color located on the color wheel next to the primary or secondary.
So, if the room is dominated by blue, the accents can be green or light purple (lilac, lavender). Peach room will be refreshed by accents of red berry shades.
With such an accentuation scheme, peace and harmony reign in the interior. Therefore, this option is preferable for bedrooms, recreation rooms, libraries, etc.
4. Accents in a neutral interior. If there are only neutral tones in the room, such as white, black, gray, beige and brown, any existing color can be an accent color. Moreover, there can be several accent colors.
A neutral interior is good because accents can be changed according to mood. Or, for example, by time of year. In autumn - in orange-red tones; in winter - in blue and blue; in spring - in delicate florals; in summer - in green.
In very light neutral interiors, many different colors can be introduced at once, no matter what place they occupy in relation to each other on the color wheel. However, it is desirable that these accent colors are combined with each other in saturation and brightness. For example, pale blue can coexist with pink, lilac, pistachio, but not with burgundy, jade or dark purple.
How to maintain balance by placing bright accents in the interior?
There is a classic rule. Or rather, a formula. It looks like this: 60-30-10. What does this mean?
60% - main color
30% - additional (secondary) color or shades of the primary color
10% - accent color
Yellow: main color
Green: secondary color
Blue: accent color
This formula is also valid for classic clothes. It goes something like this: 60% is a suit, 30% is a shirt, 10% is a tie, that is, an accent.
Consider an example with the interior. Let's say the walls are painted beige, and the floors, shelving, and TV stand are wood. Thus, the beige-brown gamma prevails, accounting for approximately 60%. Suppose that the curtains and upholstered furniture in this room are in purple. Violet in this case is a secondary color, occupying approximately 30%. Accents can be yellow, green or blue depending on the desired effect. They should account for about 10%: for example, a small carpet on the floor, a pouffe, four sofa cushions, a blanket on one of the chairs and two floor vases.
Second example. Walls and upholstered furniture - in blue and blue shades (60%). Floors and furniture - gray (30%). Accents - orange (10%).
Of course, the figures are very approximate and conditional. You just need to strive to ensure that the main color takes a little more than half. The secondary color (or shades close to the main one) is half the size of the main one. Accent - about one tenth of the main.
The color of the wood is neutral and may not be taken into account in the formula. That is, wooden floors can be ignored, but a rug lying on the floor is a must. You can also ignore white ceilings and walls, wooden or white doors and window frames, a stone-lined part of a wall, a brick-lined fireplace, etc.
If the interior is monochrome and there is no secondary color, accents can take up a little more than 10%.
Sometimes it's enough one bright accent in room. But it must be either large or very spectacular. It can be, for example, an accent sofa in a monochrome interior or a stunning chandelier. Single accents make the interior impressive. Comparisons come to mind: a completely black cat with emerald eyes or a white winter forest with one red rowan bush.
The less accent color - the more it stands out, drawing attention to itself and to everything that surrounds it.
Bright accents in the interior: what and where to place?
For color accenting in the interior, various decor items are most often used: vases, figurines, cushions, photo frames, carpets, rugs. However, surfaces, pieces of furniture, and works of art can also be accents.
As for furniture, armchairs and ottomans are often accented, less often sofas. In the bedroom, the head of the bed can be an accent. In the kitchen - chairs and part of the facades of kitchen furniture.
The accent can be a wall or part of a wall. For example, at the head of the bed, behind the TV, behind the sofa. In the kitchen, the apron of the working area is accentuated. You should always keep the 10% rule in mind.
Curtains are also accented, like other textiles: chair covers, tablecloths, napkins, bedspreads.
The use of accent lights is in fashion, especially in kitchens and dining rooms.
Of course, not always and not everywhere you need bright accents in the interior. Calm monochrome or two-tone interiors are beautiful on their own. But if you wish, you can always “splash” a little color, since for this you don’t need to change anything drastically and spend a lot of money. The interior will sparkle with new colors, transform and come to life!
We offer a selection of interiors with bright accents. Get inspired!
Hot pink and red accents: a win-win for neutral interiors
Violet accents give the interior a veil of mystery
Green accents: create a feeling of freshness and lightness
For everyone to be comfortable The master class was held on Saturday, moreover, in the very center of Moscow: at the Higher School of Environmental Design of the Moscow Architectural Institute.
Decorating secrets shared interior designer Alexander Bezvushko, well known to viewers of the "Housing Problem" and "Country Answer". Colleagues in the shop - practicing designers - gathered to listen to him. There were also those who came on a personal matter, carried away by the repair of their own apartment or cottage. We did not manage to see some of the students - they took part remotely. It turns out that the master class could be watched and listened to online without leaving home.
Alexander began by praising and recommending color accents as a technically simple technique that works flawlessly in any interior, if used correctly.
Even with the most simple tools in your arsenal, such as paint and textiles, you can create a very interesting and memorable space with the help of color. True, this is not as easy as it might seem at first glance.
The first difficulty is choosing the right accent color for the setting. The second is to introduce this color into the interior in the right amount. If you overdo it, it will be too colorful or bright. The accent will begin to argue with the primary colors and will cease to be a highlight. If you add a little color, the accent will be completely lost in the general background.
It would seem that such subtle questions can only be correctly decided by having "absolute" taste. But, as it turned out, there are quite specific rules in this area. So, to choose an accent color, Alexander Bezvushko recommended using one of the four main methods.
The first scheme is very common- “contrast in tone”. The point is that as an accent, you can take some other shade of color that dominates the room. It can be darker or lighter - as you like.
The second scheme is “warm-cold”. It is more interesting and more difficult to perform. Based on the contrast of warm and cold colors. So, if the room, say, is dominated by warm tones (yellow, orange, terracotta), you can choose some cold color as an accent, such as blue or blue. This will bring some dynamics into the interior and emphasize its warmth even more.
Scheme three - "additional" suggests using colors that are opposite each other in the color wheel as companions. If, for example, orange color prevails in the room, then blue, blue or purple will look appropriate as a “highlight”. And in a green room, you can safely place red or purple accents.
The fourth scheme is “similar”. The most calm and popular for living quarters. In order not to miscalculate, you can take tones that are located in the color wheel next to the main color of the interior.
To visualize how these circuits work, and in general, to practice coloring, Alexander advises using the online fitting room on the website www.dulux.ru, where you can paint virtual interiors in any color as much as you like, without fear of making a mistake. And only then, having gained experience online, move on to a practical lesson.
Everyone who is about to choosing colors and painting walls, the designer warned against one common mistake.
Even if you really liked some color, you should not buy paint for the entire volume at once.
It's best to get some samples first. and make a paint - cover part of the wall (at least 80 by 80 cm in size). So you can see how the tone looks in the mass. And it is also very important to look at this fragment at different times of the day: in the morning, in the evening, in daylight and artificial lighting. The color can change almost beyond recognition.
So, we sort of figured out the accent color, now it would be nice to learn how to determine how much this color should be in the room in order for the space to play. Alexander recommends not guessing on coffee grounds, but using a proven formula.
According to the formula, approximately 60% of all surfaces in the interior, including textiles and accessories, should occupy the main color, 30% can be given to the second most important, additional tone. The accent color will fulfill its role if its share is about 10%.
Having finished with the rules and formulas, The facilitator moved on to examples from his own practice, and after everyone was invited to consolidate fresh knowledge in practice. There were already several dozen open cans of paint in the most cheerful shades nearby.
Armed with rollers, the students set to work. We were faced with the task of coming up with a coloristic solution for the room and, of course, choosing a color accent for it. There were no grades, so everyone had the opportunity to express themselves without restrictions.
The lesson has come to an end, leaving a feeling of usefully spent time and a desire to return again to learn something new about the wonderful world of colors. Fortunately, such an opportunity will present itself very soon. Already on July 6, a new design class Dulux will take place. Join now!