Fun and daring color combinations speak volumes, adding dimension to drab nooks with individuality and flavor. So why do so many interiors boil down to cookie-cutter white walls and beige carpets?

Many a home lacks diversity in hues, simply because people are afraid that certain color combos will look downright terrible.

And they’re not wrong. Some poorly planned retreats look like an artist’s workshop regurgitated across the walls. But the following unusual color combos have been tried, tested, and are waiting to reinvigorate your residence.

Navy and Pale Pink

A heavy navy brought together with dusty pink results in a magnetic attraction. With the male intensity of the deep blue and the soft feminine tinge of a pale pink, the two shades are tied together in eternal matrimony.

Midnight Blue and Canary Yellow

Midnight blue and yellow are complementary colors, and as such, they dazzle the eyes when paired together. Want the perfect way to blend the two? Try a midnight-blue accent wall and a yellow table or a midnight blue couch paired with a bright-yellow pillow.

Butterscotch and Kelly Green

Earth tones always look good together, and butterscotch pillows mixed with Kelly green blankets are a modern way to sprinkle in creamy earth elements without turning your room into a forest.

Pewter and Red

Red adds energy to the room and has been shown to elevate heart rates, making it the perfect tone for a home gym or lively kitchen. Adding a pewter couch or accents to a red backdrop softens the vibrance of red with some sophistication.

Lavender and Teal

Lavender and teal are secondary colors but are nearly opposite each other, making them complementary. Each is a heavier hue, and one could be used to accent the other.

Powder Blue and Silver 

Soft blue and gray are unsaturated, calming colors, but the two together can be a little dull. Swapping a yawn-worthy gray for a shiny, metallic silver complements any mellow blue and packs a soft but noteworthy punch.

Orange and Indigo

Indigo, found between blue and violet, is rich and overpowering, and combining it with a bright orange is a zesty way to add some flare. Don’t go too crazy with the two, though—less is more with this combination.

Mint and Mauve 

Mauve is bright, soft, and dark at the same time, and the multidimensional shade is even more compelling when seated next to a minty green. Instead of the standard wall/couch combo, opt for a mauve rug with a minty green lamp towering over it.

Gold and Black

We don’t need to prove this magnificent color marriage—the Egyptians did long ago. Gold-and-black combos go back to the dawn of time and give a room a feel of refinement and luxury.

Green, Coral, and Red

Greens and reds are perfect complementary colors that are unfortunately conquered by Christmas. To subdue the sense of a year-round holiday, mix in pops of colorful coral in playful fragments.

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