The cool colors of blue and green create a soothing, restful effect. Red, orange and yellow are warm colors that can be used to make a room sunny and bright. How to Choose a Color Scheme You don't have to be an artist to use color effectively if you understand the relationship of colors to each other.

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Monochromatic Scheme Select variations in lightness and saturation of a single color from the color wheel. This look is subtle, elegant and sophisticated. It is a calm scheme that forms an excellent background for accessories and collections.

Related Scheme Choose colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. Decide which color will be dominant and use the others as accents. A related scheme using cool colors is restful, since there is not much contrast. On the other hand, a related scheme can also become quite exciting when violet and red or pink and orange are combined.

Complementary Scheme Complementary colors are those opposite each other on the color wheel: red and green, yellow and violet, blue and orange. Complementary color schemes are uncommon, can be very lively and often are accented with white.

How to Incorporate Neutrals
Neutrals include grays, beiges, taupes, off-whites, stark white and black. Depending on how they are used, neutrals can balance strong colors or be incorporated as effective contrasts and dramatic elements.

Use Color to Maximize Space
Lighter colors are expansive, making the room appear larger. In some cases, you may consider using a combination of colors to create an illusion. For example, if the ceiling is too high, paint it a darker or brighter color to contrast with a lighter or cooler wall color. The reverse will make ceilings appear higher.