Color Blocking in Interior Design

Color Blocking was one of the hottest trends in fashion last year and it doesn't seem it will go away soon. Just as in fashion, this fun design style can work in interiors too! Here's how...

Color Blocking is an exploding style that is all about combining clashing colors and making them work together. Let your place shine with vibrant, playful hues and make the time you spend in it brighter.

The trend is anything but new, but the comeback it’s had not so long ago, made it impossible to ignore. There is a lot of ways to make color blocking work in interior design, and here are some ideas:

Combo 1

This is a typical living room color-block combo. It revolves around two contrast colors, magenta and lime. Even though they’re opposite and both very strong, they work perfectly together. When choosing pieces of furniture in these colors, be careful with the materials – if they’re both shiny, the combination won’t work so good.

As color blocking is all about creating a party of colors, the turquoise giraffe planter fits in just perfectly, adding up to the dynamics of the composition. The black floor lamp is added, to visually represent the central point of the room and to invoke the impression of all colors spinning around it.

Karim Rashid Orgy Sofa And Other Color-Block Furniture

What’s in Combo 1?

  • Artifort Seven Chair (hivemodern.com)
  • Karim Rashid Orgy Sofa (bonluxat.com)
  • Giraffe Planter (etsy.com)
  • Adesso Director Tripod Base Floor Lamp with Shade (homefurnitureandpatio.com)

Combo 2

This catspired combo brings us some new clashes/matches. All the present colors are derived from the central yellow shade of the coffee table.

The yellow green of the vintage armchair is similar to the color of the table, so they can visually be considered one entity. This is a good trick for creating large color units – simply combine similar hues. The purple armchair on the left is the exact opposite of the table color. These two sometimes don’t work together, but the sea green on the poster right behind them harmonizes the clash.

The red-yellow-blue combination is the prototype of color-block, first widely used by Dutch artists in the twenties. Here it is further emphasized by different types of surfaces that hold the colors – the strictly geometrical table, the amorphous lamp and the traditionally shaped statue. Remember: the materials and shapes have to be in the same relation as the colors.

Marie Antoinette Vintage Armchair And Other Colorful Furniture

What’s in Combo 2?

  • ABC Carpet & Home Viola Coffee Table (abchome.com)
  • Marie Antoinette Vintage Armchair
  • Finn Juhl Pelican Chair (dwr.com)
  • Untitled 1956 Green Cat by Andy Warhol Poster (roomandboard.com)
  • Gallery Agatha of Izf Hanging Lamp (architonic.com)
  • Egyptian Cat Statue (traditionalelements.com)

Combo 3

Kids are definitely going to love color blocking. It’s all about having fun and reminds them of spending time at playgrounds. When decorating a nursery or a toddler’s room, feel free to go off limits with the usage of colors.

Let them all mix and clash – the more contrasts and mixes there are, the happier the kids will be. Color blocking will encourage their imagination and creativity and create an amusing and comfortable environment for them to live, play and learn in.

Richard Shemtel Rebel Chair And Other Kids Furniture

What’s in Combo 3?

  • Richard Shemtel Rebel Chair (bonluxat.com)
  • bObles Elephant Tumbling Animal (yliving.com)
  • Loll Loll Kids BBO2 Table (yliving.com)
  • Watt Floor Lamp (hivemodern.com)
  • Duncan Taylor and Kevin Champion Magnetic Clock (momastore.org)
  • Magis Puppy (hivemodern.com)
  • Pink Nerd Domo In Love Plush (fredflare.com)
  • Space Alien Alarm Clock (tillys.com)

Combo 4

Kitchen is also a great place to try out color-blocking. Metallic surfaces in different colors create the impression of luxury, make the beginning of your day brighter and boost your optimism for the day.

When it comes to kitchen color blocking, you should combine warm hues and insert a cold one to introduce visual dynamics to the space. You can also add interesting vintage posters or signs to bring some charm to your contemporary design kitchen. Don’t forget to have your cutlery and dishes in color-block too!

Samba Yellow Combi Fridge And Other Kitchen Stuff

What’s in Combo 4?

  • Samba Yellow Combi Fridge (tlc-direct.co.uk)
  • Stoves and Belling Color Boutique Stove (appliancist.com)
  • Karter Small Ghost Buster Table (hivemodern.com)
  • Low Back Chrome Chair (furniturefashion.net)
  • Diane von Furstenberg Pebblestone Dip Bowls & Tray (bloomingdales.com)
  • Soda Fountain Tin Sign (galesgifts.com)

About the author

Nicole

Nicole lives in a small town in Southern California with her life partner and two crazy dogs. She is a blogger, cook, photographer and all round lover of life!

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