10 Eye-Catching Accent Color Ideas
Make a statement with these creative color pairings.
When designing an interior around one main hue, there's room to incorporate accent colors—the jewelry in your design scheme—for even more visual appeal. "There is a classic decor rule, which states that 60 percent of the room should be a dominant color, 30 percent should be a secondary color or texture, and 10 percent should be an accent," says Mary Maydan, founder and principal of Maydan Architects. For instance, you might paint the walls and doors of a children's room lavender and reserve white for the ceiling.
And when choosing your accent colors, don't go too dark or too bold, Maydan warns. "Accent colors should take into account the furniture in the room and all the other design selections," she explains. "The idea of an accent is to create contrast." Whether you're partial to soothing shades of gray and taupe or rich blues or energetic hues, accent colors can add interest to a space. Click through for 10 accent color ideas that are full of style.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
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