Clean And Dirty Colors, What Decorators Know
Every home decorator should know about clean and dirty colors and how they work together to make a room look interesting and attractive. You can mix clean and dirty colors in your home with tips from this post.
I think the concept of clean and dirty colors is one of the most overlooked decorating concepts. And one of the most important. We need to know if the color palettes in our home are on the clean side or the dirty side. Sounds funny, doesn’t it. But knowing this will help you create interesting, attractive, and harmonious rooms in your home.
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Here’s everything you need to know about clean and dirty colors when you decorate.
What Is A Clean And Dirty Color?
Color is such a complex subject. You can study it for a lifetime and still have so much more to learn. Here at StoneGable, my goal is to break down Interior Design concepts into easy to understand processes you can do over and over again in your own home.
So let’s define, discuss and dissect the concept of clean and dirty colors.
Here is a good working definition of a clean color…
A clean color is a color that has very little or no black or gray added to it.
It reads, or our eyes and brains pick this color up as looking clear, pure or bright.
Now let’s define a dirty color…
A dirty color is a clean color that has been dulled down by adding gray or black
A dirty color can also be thought of as being muddy or muted.
Both clean and dirty colors can range from very light to very dark in tone and shade.
Examples Of Clean And Dirty Colors
Let’s look at a couple examples of clean and dirty colors. I think they will be easy to see.
Which red block is the clean color? Which block is the dirty color?
If you said the block on the left is a cleaner color than the block on the right, you are correct.
How about these? Which is the clean color and which is the dirty color?
If you said the left is the clean color and the right is the dirty color, you are correct. Even though the right block is a lighter blue tone, it still has more gray added to it, which makes it muddier looking. Remember the words muddy and dirty are interchangeable.
Last one. Which is the clean color and which is the dirty color?
This was a sneaky question. The colors are both a bit dirty. However, one is more than dirty or muddier than the other. Now let me ask you this, which one looks more gray? If you said the right one, you are correct. Even though it is lighter in color, it has a lot more gray in it, making it dirtier.
So when compared, the right block is the cleaner color, and the left block is the dirtier color.
So here’s an important thing to know…
clean and dirty colors can not exist in isolation
They need to be compared to another color. So in the green colors above, the one on the left is clean, and the one on the right is dirty.
It’s easy to pick out clean and dirty colors when one leans so clean or pure or vibrant, and the other is dirty or dulled down or gray. But there is a lot of subtlety in color! It’s often a matter of degree!
Why Is This So Important?
Decorating is like a dance. You have to pair up the right partners. If we pair up people who can’t stand being near each other, they might fight and will probably not dance well together!
And if we don’t know what colors will work together and which will fight, our rooms will always look dingy! That’s right! When you don’t pay attention to clean and dirty colors and put them together in a room the wrong way, they will make a room look drab, dirty (really dirty and not color dirty), and dingy!
Clean colors work best with other clean colors. And dirty colors work best with dirty colors. That is just how it is in the world of color and decorating.
The clean blue and yellow look so striking and pretty together! Especially on the white background of this post.
But add in the dirty green, and the colors begin it fight with one another!
Now look at how nice the dirty colors below look together. They have about the same amount of gray added to the clean version of both colors.
Now let’s add a clean color to the mix…
The colors fight, and they actually look dirty! Would you want to decorate a room with these colors?
Real Examples
One of my favorite bloggers, Jennifer from Dimples And Tangles, has created the most gorgeous home using a plethora of clean-ish colors that work beautifully together. Her style is over the top, girly, and just so so pretty! Her home is a brilliant version of the Grand Millennial Style. I just can’t get enough of her use of color and pattern. She is a genius!
And I am a study in neutral dirty-ish color.
Can Clean And Dirty Colors Work Together?
Actually, yes. It’s all a matter of ratio?
Adding a little muddied-down color to a clean color palette can help to not make it look so bright. And a little bit of clean color added to a dirty color palette can help to make it not look so muddied.
But very little goes a very, very long way!
Notice the brown hide on the floor in the image? Oh, I LOVE how Jennifer decorates and uses colors. Look at the books on the table. All bright, clean colors! Jennifer mixes warm and cool colors like a pro because she keeps the majority of the colors she uses in rooms she decorates so clean!
Undertones And Clean And Dirty Colors
Undertones in color are something, as home decorators, we also need to understand. You might want to read CAN YOU MIX WARM AND COOL COLORS IN DECOR. This post will be so helpful when read along with today’s post.
The undertones of color really help to determine if it is clean and dirty and what colors will work together.
Using Clean And Dirty Colors In Your Home
It’s important to know if the majority of your decor is clean or dirty. If I had to guess, I would guess your home has mostly dirty colors. Dirty colors are far easier to work with.
I’ve had so many inquiries about this pillow. The blue in the pillow is a very dirty color. Almost gray. Because the blue is muddier, it looks beautiful with the tans, beiges, and whites in the pillow. There is also a bit of clean blue on the pillow if you look carefully. The clean and dirty colors are harmonious because the ratio of muddy colors far outweighs the tiny bit of cleaner blue, making that small bit of cleaner blue exciting! You can see the pillow HERE.
Most of us like to decorate with dirtier colors. They are warmer and muted and softer and more welcoming. On the downside, they are not as exciting as clean colors.
But dirtier colors are easier to decorate with.
Think about clean cobalt blue and a soft, worn denim blue. Now ask yourself what color you would prefer to decorate with.
Most of us would say a soft denim blue.
Even though blue is considered a cool color, it works with my warm color palette because it is a dirty blue color. And that warms a cool color up.
The muddier any color is, the warmer it reads.
More Helpful Things To Know
Here are a few things you should know about decorating with clean colors or dirty colors…
- Too many muddy colors in a clean color palette room will actually make the whole room look dingy.
- Same thing when adding too many clean colors to a dirty color palette room. Not good!
- When a room is not harmonious or “off,” it may be because clean and dirty colors have been used in the wrong proportions.
- Unless you are a decorating savant, like Jennifer (sigh), putting together a clean, bright color palette is daunting. So beautiful but incredibly hard for most home decorators unless you have been gifted with a fabulous eye for mixing clean colors.
- Colors must be compared to other colors to determine clean or dirty colors.
Knowing what colors work together when you decorate is such an important thing. And knowing whether a color is clean or dirty will make decorating so much easier and your home much prettier.
I hope that the big lightbulb above your head has turned on!
There is so much to know about color and how it creates beauty. I hope this look into clean and dirty colors is helpful!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make colors flow in a home?
The best way to use paint to make the rooms in a home flow together is to establish a color palette for your entire home. Pick one paint that is part of your home’s color palette for your home. Doing this will help the rooms in your home to seamlessly flow together.
What makes a color clean?
A clean color is the pure colors on the color wheel that have no black or gray added to them.
What makes a color dirty?
A dirty color is a clean color that has black or gray added to it to give it a muddier look.
Other Posts You Might Like
CAN I MIX WARM AND COOL COLORS WHEN I DECORATE
7 DESIGNER TIPS FOR DECORATING WITH NEUTRALS
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE COLOR BEIGE
HOW TO MAKE A MOVE TO A MORE NEUTRAL COLOR PALETTE
HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT COLOR PALETTE FOR YOUR HOME
Yvonne, I always learn so much from you, thank you!
Yvonne, This is a very interesting subject. I think we are naturally attracted to certain colors and though I never thought of them as dirty or clean this is a great definition. I have always been attracted to the colors of nature and therefore like a bit of dirt in my color scheme when decorating. The only time I find myself using clean colors are in the summer when I like to add in a little turquoise with my neutral familyroom and some bright lemons in the kitchen and late summer I bring in sunflowers. Of course fresh flowers can be all kinds of colors and never seem to clash when not over done.
Happy Mothers Day
Thank you Kathy. Happy Mother’s Day to you too!
Thank you for this very enlightening post! I had never once thought about it like this, but it makes perfect sense on why I choose what I do for my home and why I stay away from certain colors! As always, I enjoy your posts. Thanks for sharing! I have learned a lot from you!
Knowing about clean and dirty colors is a game changer!
Great post! I learned a lot about clean versus dirty color today. I do have one question though. My colors are obviously dirty as I have a very neutral home (taupe, grey, tan & cream) but I’ve added white in my spring vignettes. Is white not a clean color? If so, why does it seem to work?
A pure white or warm-ish whit works with dirty colors. I use lots of white in my home.
I love your curtains with the white dots. Where did you get them? Thanks.
Hi Karen, I found them at Ballard Designs. Hope this helps.
Can you please tell me where you find the best artificial flowers? I love flowers but do not want to buy fresh all the time and need some great looking artificial ones.
Thank you
Look at Etsy or Pottery Barn. I’m always pleased with their faux flowers.
This blog was amazing. I honestly had never heard of clean or dirty colors but it makes absolute sense. It really helped me to understand why I am so drawn to blue/white chinoserie and sharp, exact colors (I do swoon over light pink and white decor but I digress…). Thanks so much for continuing to share your info, experiences and advice. This post was an eye opener for me!
So glad this helped.
You are so welcome! I’m so thrilled that lightbulb above your head lit up!
This makes so much sense! Does this mean grey is always dirty? What colors work well with grey countertops? White cabinets.
Remember no one color can be clean or dirty. They must be compared to another color. Select the colors you want to put in your kitchen or where ever your countertops are and see how they look together.
Thank you for all your hard work, Yvonne. I’ve found this post very helpful and informative. It’s funny I’ve never thought of clean vs dirty colours when decorating, but I do a bit of watercolouring and I’ve been aware of it with that media. I just realized how this concept also translates to my wardrobe. No wonder some items seem like they should go together, but just don’t quite work. ?
Thank you Yvonne! I love the color mixes that you posted, and thank you for the tips as well! The pillows inspired me to think about redecorating.
Thanks, Rachel!
I am always learning from you. You certainly do have the Superpower of breaking down Interior Design concepts so that we can learn how to make our Home look the best it can be.
Thank you so much.
Lorri
Thanks!
I love these explanations! I feel I do it somewhat naturally but I never knew why. I didn’t go to design school so I absorb your posts. Thank you!
I’m so glad you liked this post, Kristi! Good for you that you have a natural eye for color! It’s a gift!
Yvonne, Thank you so much. You are a wonderful teacher and you explain things so well. Thank you for all that you do for us.
Your home is always lovely. I would so enjoy having you as a close friend that I could settle onto your couch and enjoy your window view.
Have a blessed day.
Thank you againl
laurie
You are so sweet Laurie!
I love your choice in pillows. I am trying to change up my pillows on my couch, but I’m having difficulty not spending a ton of money.
Any suggestions on sites to order from that are not outrageously priced?
Hi Sheryl, try looking at the pillows on Etsy. Some of the pillow makers are quite reasonable. Also try HomeGoods if you have one in your area.
Thanks for the updated information
Hi,
Would you happen to have a link for the two blue pillows? They are just so pretty!
Thank you
Here you go Jody: Find the pillow on the white spindle chair Here: https://rstyle.me/+v7dR36xWYEmuJGX-CX-u_w
and the pillow on the sofa HERE: https://rstyle.me/+g6PwVulugFF6mWy4QIA3fQ
Ah ha… so that is why sometimes I think my rooms that I decorate are “off”. I change a few things and then it looks better. That is why I seem to decorate
with muted colors with pops of clean colors. Light bulb moment… Thank you Yvonne ?
This is very helpful. Now I understand why my color pallet is a bit “off”. I’ve mixed dirty and clean colors by half. Thank YOU!
You will see a big difference when you change that percentage.