If you’ve ever studied a color wheel, you’re likely familiar with the concept of analogous colors. Analogous colors are those colors that are located directly next to each other on the color wheel. For example, and a very simplistic one at that, yellowish green, green, and greenish blue would be considered analogous. There are many ways – infinite, actually – that you can use the visual power of an analogous color scheme in your home’s design and décor. Here are some ideas to get you started.

All the Surfaces, All the Time.

Of course, one very obvious (yet loosely structured) way to utilize analogous colors is to cover your walls, furniture, and even floor with them. The greens and blues here are analogous, with some pops of magenta thrown in for good measure.

Sweet Confection.

This analogous combination reminds me of childhood, of sweet confections, and of good cheer. Generally, a successful analogous color scheme uses one color to be the dominant hue, and the others are used as accents to that color. In this instance, the dominant color is the coral chair, while the accents are goldenrod and that sort of deep ballet slipper pink.

Energizing Trio.

Muted shades of maroon, cherry, and sienna make a powerful trio and a breathtaking analogous vignette. It’s a good thing to remember that each color in an analogous setting doesn’t need to be equally proportioned; in fact, the palette is more successful if one is the dominant color.

Analogous Neutrals.

Often overlooked, neutrals can appear in an analogous color scheme with a gorgeous visual impact. It is their very neutrality that makes the slight variation of color and depth that makes analogous neutrals so beautiful and soothing. A cool brown can work beautifully with a warm grey and cool creams, for example.

Big-Picture Combos.

A little more subtle approach to analogous colors is considering the whole picture – the wall color plus whatever objects might be in the foreground. These ombre pendant lights, for example, are the start of an analogous vibe, but the finishing touch really comes into play with the deep burgundy wall color in the background.

Mix & Match.

A great way to showcase analogous colors and also create a unique dining experience is to incorporate dining chairs in analogous colors. Choose the same exact chair in different colors for a more streamlined and modern approach, or opt for slightly different variations in the chairs and colors for a more eclectic experience.

Colorful Clean Lines.

By definition, analogous colors are those colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. Generally, this refers to the closer-knit color neighbors, such as burgundy, red, and red-orange. But analogous colors, on a broader scale, can include yellow, green, and blue.

Patterned Analogy.

By varying the size, scope, scale, and pattern of the analogous color scheme, you can create a very interesting space without a lot of excess visual “busyness.” Notice how the stripes on the furniture here are chunky and surrounded by a light neutral; the ottoman-coffee table is a large solid, and the throw pillows and lamp shade provide different proportions and silhouettes

Lighting Impact.

Lighting can play a big role into the appearance of an analogous color scheme, as well. In this case, for example, soft lights cast a rosy sort of glow on all the components. This makes the entire space pick up on the wine color of the table…and run with it. (The pink throw and taupe rug complete the analogous color scheme here.)

In another way that lighting impacts the analogous color scheme, these black cylinder pendants have a gold-finished interior. This makes the reflecting interior surfaces appear to be a lighter version of yellow, which is a key player in this room’s analogous color scheme involving brown and orange. The light fixtures themselves provide an important brightening and lightening effect (no pun intended).