These extraordinary decorating schemes prove that mismatching shades can pack quite the style punch. Move over neutral decorating: take a look at these unexpected colour combinations from every corner of the decorators' colour wheel that seem so wrong, but look gloriously right.
Although found frequently in nature, lilac and green was not a colour duo that you often see indoors. Until this year when Pantone released 'Very Peri' as their colour of the year. Teaming the soft purple with mint green creates a harmonious and spring-like feel.
Orange and blue are a complementary dream team but why not journey one slot further around the colour wheel and try combining orange with green instead? Set against a neutral backdrop like this textured taupe, the result is bold and invigorating. The cool tones of the green tempers the warm orange.
Sapphire, emerald, amber, ruby and amethyst; jewel tones create a rich and colourful treasure chest that is sure to punch up a dining room scheme. Interiors specialists at AMC Design have used them in velvet materials and combined them with gold and metallic accessories to create a high-end and glamorous vibe.
Green and black can sometimes look muddy, but choose the right shades and together they can make a bold and striking statement. The key is to this pairing is to balance it out with a touch of white. Here, the rich block of emerald green is edged with black against a white backdrop, the real greenery finishes the look and adds texture.
Pink and green are often put together for refreshing spring decorating looks but deepen the tones and you'll get a more cosy and atmospheric effect. This rich moss green has been lifted with a dusky rose pink border and looks perfectly romantic and inviting as a bedroom scheme.
Draw inspiration from citrus trees and soften the in-your-face impact of hot oranges and yellows with furniture in a rich warm wood. This will create an energising – but not overstimulating – environment that’s perfect for a den or family room. Cool teal accents work perfectly with both of the warmer colours, too.
Pale blue is popular in bedrooms and bathrooms for a reason; it's light, delicate and airy. The deep pigment of a brick red might seem too heavy to pair with such a cool shade. But layer them up in a selection of different tones and textures and add a large dose of white to create a fresh, opulent scheme that you might be drawn to, despite yourself.
Smooth kitchen cabinets are easily adaptable with colour. Here, kitchen tile splashback creates a retro vibe with the use of an unusual and striking colour combination. The high gloss finish and pretty raspberry toned border creates a rich contrast against matt mint units.
This fabulous wallpaper by Cole & Son features every colour from the rainbow song except red. The lesson we can learn from this bold scheme by AMC Design? You can combine pretty much any colours you like as long as you do it with confidence!
When used in low-intensity hues these ice-creams shades make for a soothingly serene colour scheme, especially when accessorised with natural accent pieces. This is certainly not sickly but sweet instead. Think of mouthwatering lemon sorbet and strawberry ice-cream mix — delicious.
A soft and soothing minty green is a tone that works in countless colour schemes. Here, the icy tone frames a vibrant teal sofa and warming buttercup yellow curtains to create a relaxing space that's easy to live with.
Think of primary colours and you may well think of primary school, which is where this colour combo can most commonly be found. However, opting for a cobalt blue canvas to work on means you can create a surprisingly grown-up and moody scheme that echoes modern art. We'd love to see how the atmosphere changes in this modern dining room as the incredible yellow chandelier starts to glow.
A room of pastel pink, yellow and baby blue might sound sickeningly saccharine. But as this beautiful room goes to show, pastels can look delicate and sophisticated, provided you combine the right shades in the right order. The aqua and white hues as a backdrop are key here, anchoring small patches of complementary pink.
Bright, candy colours can be quite overpowering on their own, so throwing a bunch of them together and seeing what happens sounds like a recipe for disaster. However, the effect is quite energising. This is a great way to zone areas of an open-plan room, giving each space a different feel. Feel free to experiment with creative touches, like a scalloped dividing line or simple panelling.
When used sparingly in a geometric design, colours chosen from opposite ends of the colour wheel can work in harmony. These powder blue tiles create an ideal anchor to introduce shades and patterns that pop out beautifully against them. In this case, terrazzo with splashes of orange, yellow, pink and black. The colour clash goes even further with the addition of additional pink tiles turning this retro bathroom into a show-stopping space.
Russet, a reddish-brown tone that's been out of favour for decades is now set to be a must-have colour for 2022 but teaming it with a slightly chalkier terracotta might strike fear into many a decorator's heart. But fear not! These two shades sit close together on the colour wheel, so it's not surprising that the striking combination works. We think this red hot bathroom tile palette is very cool!
The combination of orange and grey decorating may evoke visions of traffic cones on asphalt but it makes for a surprisingly sophisticated colour scheme, especially in a contemporary and muted setting. Go for a subdued saffron shade with burnt undertones to avoid the construction worker's look.
The bubblegum bright hues of pink may not seem to most obvious place to turn for interiors inspiration but, when used sparingly against a grey or blue backdrop, these eye-popping tones can combine to soothing effect. Anchor the colour with a white bathroom suite and black fixtures.
Who would have thought maroon and brown tones could look so classy together? The reason this works so well is that both hues are from the murkier end of the spectrum, giving them a subdued feel that’s perfect for a refined bedroom.
Purple and green are secondary colours, which means they are made from two primary colours; red and blue and blue and yellow, respectively. With Blue as their common base, these polarising pigments can actually work well together as this autumnal room proves. To get the look, pair damson velvet fabrics with a forest green backdrops and finish with warm wood floors. You can also pick our detailing such as woodwork to highlight the colour clash.
Coral has been a strong colour trend for the last few years and it continues to look both modern and cheerful in 2022. Offset the orange hues with soothing aqua or even zingy teal; it's a daring choice but one that will unfailingly work every time.
Darkest green and palest pink make for an arresting combination that’s easier on the eye than you might expect. It’s a rarely-seen pairing that somehow manages to look both strong and soft at the same time, especially when accessorised with real greenery.
Usually, if it works in nature it works on paper. Peacock feathers have been a source of aesthetic admiration for centuries so it's not surprising that blue and green look so regal and refined together. Look closer and you'll find purple, gold and almost black tones too, so use these shades with an iridescent finish as accent pieces.
Give grey and pink a more atmospheric feel by choosing deeper tones of rose and slate. This contemporary home-office turns the 'two-tone' trend on its side with one-third of a wall painted the pretty colour which saves its partner from being overly dark and dull. The blushing hue makes a strong statement against the stormy tone.
Red and green are another oft-maligned colour combination but it breaking this particular rule is a refined way to inject a sense of daring and playfulness into a scheme, especially when working with abstract furniture pieces too.
Blue and green also work wonders in deeper tones, creating a more dramatic but equally inviting look. Be sure to include a few lighter accents when working with darker colours – for example, the white border on the wall helps the helps balance the scheme and soft brown bedlinen is warming.
Here’s a hot combination that really shouldn’t work but, miraculously, does. It looks particularly inspiring in traditional settings. Be sure to include the odd cooler tone, such as this baby pink, in the scheme to balance things out.
Black and yellow décor may at first summon up thoughts of a giant beehive, however, it can be used to subtler effect that's intriguing and stylish. Simply, go for richer mustard tone in a matt finish and paint woodwork a smart jet black. Gold accessories add glamour to this scheme too.
Using a single colour in a scheme can be just as brave as combining clashing colours. Blue is the perfect gateway hue for anyone keen to attempt a monochromatic scheme, as its cool, calming tones are easy to blend. A smattering of white accessories will look crisp and clean against the blue backdrop.
Read more: Easy ways to add colour to your home