Nov 9, 2025
Every space tells a story, and colour is one of the languages spoken. Whether your home feels calm or energetic, open or intimate, much of that comes down to how colours interact. It’s part science, part emotion, and entirely personal.
At KHD Homes, we love helping homeowners find that sweet spot where the rules of colour theory meet the feeling of hygge: comfort, connection, and belonging.
Our relationship with colour runs deeper than what pleases the eye. Culture, upbringing, and even climate shape how we interpret hue and tone. In Canada, where the light changes dramatically through the seasons, the same colour can feel completely different in January than in July.
While some cultures associate red with passion and energy, others link it with luck, prosperity, or celebration. None of these interpretations is wrong — they’re reflections of shared experiences. What matters most is how you respond to a colour in your space. We work with Canadians of all backgrounds, each bringing their own associations and comfort zones. That’s what makes design feel deeply human.
Still, colour theory gives us a universal framework. It helps us predict how colours behave together, regardless of cultural meaning. This balance between personal emotion and scientific principle is where great design lives.
The colour wheel organizes hues based on how light interacts with the human eye. It’s not arbitrary; it’s physics and perception at play. Colours opposite one another on the wheel (complementary pairs like blue and orange) balance each other because they stimulate different photoreceptors in the eye. Together, they create an equilibrium that feels complete.
Colours side by side (analogous schemes, like green, teal, and blue) share a common base hue. They’re easy on the eyes because they blend naturally, like a landscape shifting from forest to sky.
Triadic schemes, formed by three colours evenly spaced around the wheel, bring harmony and energy — think mustard, teal, and coral. Each colour has its moment, supported by the others.
When used intentionally, these relationships guide your perception of depth, warmth, and emotion. It’s not about memorizing formulas; it’s about recognizing harmony.
Try this: Stand in your living room and identify the dominant colour first. Then find its complementary colour on a colour wheel (or online). Introduce a touch of that hue to create visual balance. It could be a vase, a pillow, or a piece of art. You’ll be surprised how even a small shift can change the entire feeling of the room.
You’ve probably heard that warm colours make a space feel cozy and cool colours make it calm. True, but that’s only part of the story. Warm hues (reds, oranges, yellows) contain longer wavelengths, which our brains read as active and intimate. Cool hues (blues, greens, violets) have shorter wavelengths, often perceived as restful and spacious.
But colour temperature isn’t fixed. Lighting, context, and material all affect how a hue feels. A grey-blue might look soothing in daylight, then moody under evening lamplight. A muted mustard may feel neutral next to dark walnut but golden beside white oak.
This is why paint samples belong on the wall, not just on a swatch. The same colour shifts depending on your home’s orientation, the type of light bulbs you use, and what surrounds it.
Colour theory also explores saturation. That is to say, how pure or diluted a hue is. Highly saturated colours are intense and lively; pastels are soft and diffused. When paired together, they create depth and contrast that feels natural.
Picture a moody emerald green accent wall beside soft blush drapery. The blush tempers the green’s strength, and the green gives the blush substance. This interplay mimics nature. Consider how bright berries stand out among the leaves, sunlight through mist. That’s why it feels right to us.
Too many high-saturation tones can feel overstimulating, while an all-pastel room can fall flat. The magic lies in balance, where each tone highlights the other.
When you’re building a colour palette, start with one anchor colour. This is usually a neutral or muted base. Then layer one mid-tone and one accent. Keeping the ratio around 60-30-10 helps maintain balance: 60 percent dominant, 30 percent secondary, and 10 percent accent. This mix keeps a room lively but never chaotic.
Finding the Right Wall Colour
Purchase a ½ pint (8 oz) of paint and paint it on the wall you’re considering painting. Observe it in morning and evening light to see if it changes and if you’re happy with it.
Painting directly on your wall will allow you to know how many coats you need to cover your existing paint. Dark colours will be more difficult to cover and will affect how the new paint colour is viewed.
If you can’t or don’t wish to paint your wall to test it, you can ask your paint supplier to prepare a sample on bristol board for you to pin to your wall. If utilizing this method, consider the underlying colour in your room.
Do the same thing with samples of wallpaper. A large sample size is required to be able to sense how the colour or pattern will change the colour of your room.
Colours to Furnish and Decorate Your Room
Use finishes and textures to shift tone. Matte surfaces soften colour where gloss reflects and amplifies it.
Mix warm and cool accents to create dimension.
Always test colour combinations beside your flooring and cabinetry, not in isolation.
We also wrote a blog about design fundamentals you might want to read as well.
Hygge design is about comfort through connection. It’s the feeling when everyone can gather in the same space and feel at ease. Colour supports that. It’s not just a backdrop but an emotional foundation.
Neutral palettes often form the base of hygge-inspired homes, not because they’re safe, but because they allow texture, light, and personality to shine. Soft whites, taupes, and greys create a grounded canvas for warmth to build upon. Then, small touches like a moss-green throw, amber glass, and navy cabinetry bring life and depth.
Hygge isn’t minimalism; it’s intention. Every colour choice should feel purposeful, connected to the rest of the palette and the people who live there.
Our eyes constantly seek harmony. When colours relate to each other in predictable ways through hue, tone, and proportion, the brain relaxes. That ease translates into comfort, which is the essence of hygge.
The goal isn’t perfection; it’s comfort. You’re building a palette that supports how you live, not how a magazine looks. Whether it’s a muted coral that warms up a snowy Calgary winter or a soft sage that cools down a sun-filled kitchen, colour becomes part of how you feel at home.
In short: Colour theory gives you the tools; your experiences give them meaning. When the two come together, you don’t just create a beautiful home — you create a space that feels like you.
Connect with us to bring a little colour and hygge to your home.
