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Jun 10, 2026
Furniture Painting Masterclass
Colour theory - Part 2
with ANNIE SLOAN — Artist, colour expert, author and inventor of Chalk Paint. CBE for services to interior design.
Lesson 11 of 22
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Building on your new knowledge, Annie explains the concept of complementary colours and how to use them.
From the Lesson Workbook
Colour Theory - Part 2
I've talked about primary and secondary colours, so now I'm going to introduce to you the concept of complementary colours.
Complementary Colours
Colours that sit opposite each other on the colour wheel are complementary, meaning they are aesthetically pleasing when paired together. When the paint colours themselves are mixed together, they will create a neutral brown or black colour.
- Purple and yellow
- Blue and orange
- Red and green
I have created neutrals based on these complementary colour combinations.
- Country Grey - red and green
- Paloma - purple and yellow
- Paris Grey - blue and orange
How to Use Complementary Colours
If you use a neutral consisting of complementary colours, the theory goes that accents of these complementary colours will sit alongside the neutral very cohesively. It can also work in the reverse; if you have a very bold blue colour, a neutral that contains a blue tone will look really beautiful alongside it.
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Interior and exterior confidence
Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of information to dive into and explore new ideas. I'm...
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Jun 10, 2026
Absolutely love Create Academy
Absolutely love Create Academy! The instructors are extremely informative, and it is beautifully filmed. Create Academy is great value for money and plan on renewing my subscription yearly because there are ...
SG
May 31, 2026
Magic in small spaces
Butter's creativity is stunning! Her ability to incorporate brilliance in small gardens is magical!
Carla
May 30, 2026
Your Instructor
Annie Sloan
Artist, colour expert, author and inventor of Chalk Paint. CBE for services to interior design.
Renowned author, artist and designer, Annie Sloan, is one of the world’s most popular experts in the field of decorative painting. After studying Fine Art at university in the 1970s, Annie went on to write her first book, The Complete Book of Decorative Paint Techniques – which is widely considered to be the industry bible on the subject. Since then, she has published 26 books on paint effects, colour, and interior design, and has transformed the world of furniture painting with the creation of her revolutionary paint, Chalk Paint. Passionate about empowering interior designers and hobbyists to reinvent their living spaces, Annie’s expertise and creative flair has led her to being named one of Britain's most influential female designers.
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