High contrast color combinations conjure images of pale wall color surrounded by intensely-colored trim details. But what happens when a neutral room’s contrast color is a dazzling yellow fireplace, or an all white house is dressed up with a series of details painted jet black, is pure style and architectural glam.

Three reasons to choose high contrast color schemes:

1. High contrast will enhance architectural features.

Let’s take a peek at what happens when we create contrast — and lots of it. The farther away from each other a color combination falls out on the gray scale, the higher the impact the contrast creates. Pure white when contrasted by pure black is the most compelling contrast possible. Think black & white photography, then set out to make a room that looks like these!

This combination will reliably call attention to every architectural feature, regardless of it’s inherent interest. Doors come to mind, or a single black wall in an all white house.

Looking at these pictures, you can detect the feeling a high contrast color combination creates — MODERN.

2. High contrast color choices suggest a modern vibe.

Be it the visual excitement of an Alexander Calder mobile dancing overhead in primary colors, or the more brash color combinations of an Andy Warhol, we instinctively consider highly provocative contrasting color arrangements to be modern. Older period homes can be cajoled into the new millennium with high contrast color enhancements.

High contrast color combinations suggest modernity in diminutive, sparsely furnished, well-edited spaces even when the furnishing or accessories seem at odds with the directive. Clean crisp and spare, each appears modern in it’s own unique and colorful way!

3. High contrast color selections bring energy to a room.

Remember that high contrast color choices don’t necessarily need to play out in a dramatically colorful wall paint color.

Rather than try to match a wall color to vivid furnishing or accessories, selecting a crisp neutral or a dazzling moonlight white creates the background canvas for you to go rogue with your colorful belongings. If you’d like a good mix, pick any single feature to start; this could be a chair, a picture frame or a window sash — surely you’ve got something? Paint your something a totally out there and truly exhilarating and energetic contrasting color, and see if your room doesn’t appear more architecturally exciting and feel more modern. Here’s a quick trip around the color wheel in very energetic colors to get you revved up!

Stay colorful,
lu