Choosing Complementary Colours for Interior Schemes

The intuitive Paint & Paper Library colour palette is the ultimate tool for architects, designers and home enthusiasts. The shades work harmoniously in combination to deliver cohesion and continuity within and between schemes.

The simple yet intelligent colour card design allows you to combine colours with ease. Pair Original Colours with Architectural Colours for an effortless, complementary colour scheme.

Using the Paint & Paper Library colour card to choose complementary colours

The Original Colours are on the lower section of the colour card. Use these bold colours independently or as part of a wider scheme to add strength and depth to your interior.

Positioned on the top half of the colour card, the Architectural Colours are valuable ingredients to incorporate into any scheme. The Architectural Colours palette is arranged in tonal groups, featuring subtle graduations in strength of pigment.

Use a combination of the Architectural and Original Colours to achieve a sophisticated result and a balanced scheme. Introduce stronger hues from the lower half of the colour card in certain parts of the space to create emphasis and draw the eye.

Combine your chosen Original Colours with related, lighter shades from the Architectural Colours. The shades that are directly above, or nearby, will often produce a harmonious combination. Incorporate these tonal shades on your woodwork, trim, ceilings and walls to design an elegant, cohesive scheme.

Order a complimentary colour card to find complementary colour combinations for your scheme. If you have already received your colour card, learn how to navigate the palette: How to use your colour card

Hallway featuring complementary colour scheme with burgundy walls in Soumak paired with colours from the Salt family.

Inspiration for complementary colour pairings

This landing area demonstrates how coordinating shades from the Original and Architectural Colours can work together in one space. Soumak is a deep, richly coloured purple-red, bringing impact to walls and an essence of luxury.

The Salt Architectural family is the ideal accompaniment on the panelling, woodwork and ceiling. The soft grey shades contain subtle purple undertones, for a related colour pairing.

Walls: Soumak

Woodwork: Salt III

Ceiling: Salt I

Hallway featuring complementary colour scheme with yellow walls in Brimstone paired with colours from the Salt family and Clean White on the ceiling.

This hallway design presents another example of using both palettes in combination. The Original Colour, Brimstone, provides a bold focal point on one wall. Shades from the ‘Salt’ Architectural Colours feature on the surrounding walls and woodwork, along with Clean White as a pale accent.

The purple undertones within the Salt shades juxtapose with the bright yellow of Brimstone for a complementary colour contrast.

Wall/Trim: Brimstone, Salt III

Door/Trim: Salt IV

Ceiling: Clean White

Explore the Salt Architectural Colours

Bedroom showcasing Purple Azurite paint from the 'Jewels' collection with dramatic deep purple walls and black ceiling.

Bold colour combinations: the ‘Jewels’ palette

‘Jewels’ is a capsule collection featuring eight majestic paint shades inspired by rare and semi-precious minerals. The Jewels colours represent some of the most vibrant sources of colour within the natural world. Each shade can completely transform a space as a single, bold colour.

Alternatively, use the ‘Jewels’ hues to accent a scheme alongside complementary shades from the existing Paint & Paper Library palette. Consider pairing Purple Azurite, a luxurious deep purple, with the profound navy blue, Plimsoll, as a dark, impactful highlight.

Read our guide to choosing paint colours.

Walls and skirting: Purple Azurite

Ceiling, cornice, upper walls, and door frame: Plimsoll

Elegant living room featuring paint from the 'Jewels' collection with vibrant turquoise Blue Tiger walls and white architectural details.

Draw inspiration from complementary colours in the natural world

One of the best ways to choose complementary colours for the ‘Jewels’ shades is by drawing inspiration from their natural sources.

Blue Tiger is an arresting, vibrant colour from the Indian town of Wagholi. In nature, this shade is found a tiny, rare specimen of electric blue pentagonite. To emulate these origins, consider using Blue Tiger to provide a colour highlight amongst warmer or cooler neutral palettes.

The Lead Architectural Colours have subtle, contemporary blue-grey undertones that harmoniously complement the richness of Blue Tiger. Depending on your preference, you might choose to incorporate Blue Tiger as a smaller or larger proportion of the overall scheme.

Explore the Lead Architectural Colours

Essential considerations when choosing complementary colours

The Paint & Paper Library palette is arranged as two, complementary colour palettes that work harmoniously in combination. You can pair shades from the Original Colours and Architectural Colours with confidence to create sophisticated, coordinated schemes.

For a related tonal pairing, consider selecting shades within the same column - or nearby columns - on the colour card. Examples include Muga with Paper, Soumak with Salt, or Stable Green with Wattle.

Alternatively, you can achieve a beautiful, contrasting scheme by combining shades with differing undertones. For example, pair Brimstone with Salt, or Blue Gum with Plaster.

Incorporating the bold, vibrant shades in the ‘Jewels’ palette is an excellent way to bring added contrast and visual interest to your schemes. Introduce these dynamic hues as impactful colour highlights, alongside coordinating shades in the Original or Architectural Colours.

Request a colour card to browse the palette and select shades for your complementary colour scheme.