Two Toned Painting Ideas: Top 20 Style Discussed For 2023
Have you heard about the latest talk of the town?
No?
Come on! You got to keep up.
Well, the rumor has it that the two-tone paint jobs are getting their grooves on by making a huge comeback!
You know what that means, right?
Gone are the days of staring blankly at the monotonous color of your bedroom that has been on the wall for ages!
It’s time to switch it up with some fantastic two toned painting ideas and create an intriguing, custom look that will super-charge you with enthusiasm every time you look at it!
In this article, we have gathered some of the most creative ways you can apply this two-tone painting theory in day-to-day life.
Along with the master bedroom, you can apply the same technique to decorate your living space, kitchen cabinets, trucks, cars and so many other things as well.
Interested to learn more about this color combo?
Let’s start with the things you need to know first!
Table of Contents
Things To Consider Before Painting With Two Colors
1. Choose The Right Color Palette
Neutral or BOLD?
Which one would you prefer?
Either way, the first thing you need to choose is the color palette that you will be working with.
If you have a calming personality and don’t like anything overwhelming inside your home, then you can choose neutral shades like Beige with Off-White, Sky-Blue with White or Sage with Cream color combinations.
Or you can go all out and experiment with darker hues like Black, Royal Blue, Hot Pink, Yellow or Orange and find the ones that work for you the best.
2. Use Contrast Color If Necessary
Having difficulties while picking up the right contrast color to make your design stand out?
While selecting the colors for a two-tone paint job, it’s important that you select the right ones to balance each other out. You can pair up a bright color with a slightly darker shade to create a nice contrast against the wall.
For instance, Tan with a Bright Coral color combo would make a lovely couple! Similarly, you could use Red with Green and Blue with Yellow to keep the chemistry interesting!
If you still have difficulties with finding the right shade for the walls, you could always use “White” as it tends to make the most striking combo with the darker shades and make them look prominent as well!
3. Get The Surface Prepared Beforehand
Did you think you could just jump in with a paintbrush and start painting right away as soon as you select the colors?
Um. You can, I guess.
But it’s recommended to wipe the walls down first to get rid of all the buildup dust, debris and dirt particles from the surface and start with a clean slate to get the best result.
If you are planning to give your car a new makeover, then make sure to prime the surface well and take care of the rust spots before you start working on it.
4. Test The Paint Color
Impressed with the paint color that’s displayed in the store?
Well, it might not look the same in your home without all the special light-effect!
A better idea would be to bring some samples back to your home and test them out in one corner to see if it goes well with your interior.
Take your time and observe the shade both at day and nighttime. If you are satisfied with the color swatches, then it’s okay to purchase them in bulks before start working on your project.
5. Select The Right Sheen
Done with painting?
Great! Now it’s time to put a finishing touch!
Depending on your preference, you can choose to go for either matte, semi-gloss, gloss or a satin finish for your project.
Keep in mind that, if you opt for a glossier finish, then it will be easier to clean up in case the surface gets dirty.
Semi-gloss polishes are the best for kitchen areas as they are easily washable. And the matte finishes work best for hiding any imperfection that you may have in the wall as they cover them up pretty nicely!
20 Two Toned Painting Ideas To Get You Started
Two Tone Painting Ideas For Bedroom
1. Break Up The Pattern
Hey, breakups are not the worst thing in the world, especially when it comes to colors!
The tricky thing is to know when to draw the line in between the two tones you choose to work with.
Paint your master bedroom with black color to achieve a bold, modern look. While this shade will look gorgeous and intimate on your space, you might want to pair it up with a crisp, bright color to make the room feel instantly a bit larger.
Confused about the color combo?
Well, you can never go wrong with a black and white pair even if you want to!
We suggest drawing the divider line a couple of inches below the ceiling to make it look more interesting.
Keep the window frames white and throw in some aesthetic artwork right on top of the divider line to complete the whole look.
2. Give Your Ceiling A New Attire
Any kind of wooden element adds a touch of warmth and coziness to the bedroom.
However, we are planning to put a twist in your rustic décor and turn that into a more gorgeous piece of work!
From that point of view, we have come up with an idea that’s going to soothe your mind and lull you to sleep as soon as you hit your bed.
To get this look, you need only two colors: Walnut and Baby Blue.
One word of advice, go for the ceiling decoration before you do any work with the wall panels to avoid drippings!
Paint the ceiling with the baby-blue shade and try to hide any imperfection you may find with a second layer of the paint if necessary.
Then, to complete the look, drip the wall panels with a fresh coat of walnut shade and remove any paint splatters with a cloth before leaving it to dry on its own.
3. Pink Is More Than Just A Color, It’s An ATTITUDE!
Let’s give it up for all the pink lovers that are reading this article right now!
Pink is a sophisticated color that’s bound to bring a look of elegance to your bedroom.
Especially, if you are thinking about redecorating your teenage daughter’s room, then we suggest using the softest hue of pink you can find to make the room look like a fairy castle straight out of her favorite Disney movie!
Pair the pale pink with a creamy white texture and you got yourself the dreamy effect you have been hoping to achieve!
However, it's best to keep the ceiling white, in this case, to make the space feel a bit larger. Cover the bottom half of the wall panel and the ceiling in white color.
Leave the rest of the décor to get accessorized with the most delicate shade of pink and enjoy the tranquil ambiance it creates once it's done!
4. Together We Click!
Some say opposites attract while some say two persons with similar goals and mindset make the best couple.
You know what I think?
I think it’s about whether or not you click with the other person in a way that makes you go “Ah!”. That’s what I was looking for even without knowing!
The same theory goes with two-tone wall colors examples as well!
For instance, if I ask you to go Blue on Blue for painting your bedroom wall, what combo pops into your mind first?
Although you can experiment with different shades here, it’s best to go with the classic sky blue and light turquoise combo, as these two have that "Ah" factor in them!
To keep the scenario from looking too sweet, we suggest anchoring it with a white border in the middle if you want. And don’t forget to match your bedsheet and chair cushions with the whole attire to add as a finishing touch!
Two Tone Painting Ideas For Living Room
1. Create An Exotic Look With Mulberry Tone
Need a conversation starter?
Go bold while choosing the wall pattern of your living space and make your guests go “WOW”.
For instance, you can pick a classy color like mulberry and pair it up with a sugar-white color tone to make a striking combo!
The rich, liquid-like sheen of the mulberry tone will make any natural light bounce off its glossy surface and throw a happy dance all around your room! Cool, eh?
Well, to make the whole look come together, we suggest putting a plush, feather-white couch on the darker side of the wall. The secret is to make the right contrast between accessories and bring out the best personality possible with minimal effort.
As for the space in front of the white wall, you can decorate it with chairs and velvet curtains that go well with the mulberry tone and make those color pop as well!
2. A Timeless Pair To Feed Your Imagination
Love vanilla flavored ice-cream sundae?
Well, then you might fall instantly in love with these two classic colors as they strongly resemble the look of that flavor!
Beige and white are two common colors used for decorating walls and ceilings. Instead of using them for separate rooms, we have decided to run a test by combining these two in the same space.
And boy! The result will astound you for sure!
The soft tone of the beige color palette makes a smooth appearance with the crisp white tone of the ceiling and make the whole atmosphere feel a bit cozy and comfortable at the same time.
Here, we want to highlight the fact that it’s better to opt for a white ceiling instead of vice versa.
A bit of creativity, dark-colored futons and some bright pillows will even magnify the look by a few degrees!
3. Dare To Meet Me Halfway?
Are you brave enough to be up for a fun challenge?
Careful! You won’t be able to blame us if you don’t like the final look!
Relax, I am kidding!
You will love it. But first, get the painter’s tape out from the storage box, because you are going to need it the most for this project.
So, the idea is to divide the wall of your living space into two equal parts. For your convenience, it’s a good idea to mask the area below the divider line with a painter’s tape so that the colors don’t get all mixed up.
You can combine any two colors that complement each other in this way and pair them up together to give your plain walls a chick, modern appearance.
One side note: keep the lighter tone on top to create an illusion of a tall structure.
4. Break The Rules Like A True Artist
If you are getting bored with maintaining the 2 tone walls theories, then we have got news for you!
I believe in taking decisions on the spur of the moment and if you are just like me, then you can use your colors to get creative and mix them up to create some unique shades as well!
Technically, you are still using only two colors.
But the twist is to blur the lines to show your personality through the decoration of your wall.
You can use any color you wish for this purpose. We would recommend using some cool shades like Royal Blue and White if you want to keep the ambiance a bit on the calmer side.
Make sure to blend the colors in the middle section of the wall smoothly so that it doesn’t become an eyesore. The rest is totally up to you how you want to decorate and create a totally individual look!
Two Tone Painting Ideas For Truck
1. Shades Of Blue
Once your old Chevrolet Pickup becomes old and grumpy, it’s time to give it a new makeover!
Well, what are you waiting for?
Glam it up with 2 different shades of blue and turn a few heads along the way, my friend!
You can already tell at this point how obsessed I am with this particular color, eh?
Well, can you blame me?
There are so many shades to choose from! And not to mention, you can have fun experimenting with them as much as you like, cause blues hardly ever go wrong!
Okay, so back to this particular idea, we would recommend going a bit darker on the top part of your truck. For instance, you can choose the Oxford Blue shade for this purpose.
Pair that shade with a Powder Blue tone to balance out the contrast and you get yourself a stunning transformation that everyone will love!
2. Green Or Blue? Let’s Find Out!
This idea is particularly for people who are obsessed with the looks of some classic cars found back in the ‘50s. Those old wheels really had some original charm that even beat the look of today’s car, I must say!
So, the plan is to pick a dominant color as the primary shade and find a matching counterpart.
We suggest using the color teal for this purpose as it has a bit of both green and blue tones at the same time and opens up the opportunity to pair it up with lots of other colors in lighter hue as well.
For instance, it’s a good idea to paint the roof along with the top half of the truck with a creamy white color for this particular style. Once you are done painting, wax and polish your vehicle to give it a complete shiny look and enjoy riding your brand-new truck!
3. A Classic Combo Never Fails To Impress Anybody
One of the power couples that has managed to survive the test of time ever since they were presented together is the Red-Black dynamic duo!
Come on! Where have they ever failed to make an impression?
From fashion statements to home décor to auto paint, they are just everywhere with their bundle of positive energy!
So, without further ado, let’s meet our next idea on the list, which revolves around this fantastic duo!
To nail this look, you need to paint the bumper, hood, window panel and roof of the truck with a metallic black color to add a glass-like shine to it.
Done?
Great! Paint the rest of the surface with cherry red color and use a sealant all over the truck to protect it from getting damaged.
Now get ready to enjoy the all-new flashy truck of yours and earn a compliment or two along the ride!
4. Tune It Up!
Sometimes the littlest things end up making the biggest impact.
A new haircut, small changes in your regular wardrobe and a crack of a smile might be all you are missing to discover a new YOU.
Similarly, it’s time to give your age-old ride a brand-new smashing look as well, don’t you think?
Our next color palette includes the all-traditional ink-black color and a silver-white tone to glam up the overall look of your ride.
Although you can use these colors in any order you like, we suggest keeping the silver color reserved for painting the lower half of your vehicle.
The reason?
We want you to match it up with your freshly-painted silvery wheels that’s why!
Surprised?
It’s actually a brilliant car hack that’s going to give your worn-out wheels a new life and get them back into their former glory as well!
To get a radiant look that’s going to last for a long time, opt for a good-quality spray-on wheel-paint for this purpose.
Two Tone Painting Ideas For Cars
1. Up In The Flames
If you are the proud owner of a luxury sedan like Chrysler 300, then you are already in love with its fancy interior and post leather seats I bet!
And the exterior isn’t too bad, I must say.
However, we humans have a tendency to leave a personal touch to our belongings, right?
Something that’s unique, to let everyone know that the car’s MINE!
And the best way to demonstrate that possessiveness is to paint the exterior with a fiery-red color combination that’s as wild as your personality and goes well with your car’s style at the same time!
To add a little drama to the scenario, we suggest introducing a thin orange line under the red paint for a colorful combo.
You can keep the bottom half of your vehicle as it is if it’s a brand-new car. In case, it’s an old one, you might consider painting it with white to make the whole look come together nicely.
2. Keep The Trends Alive
Black and White colors have been together ever since they first met, I think!
That’s why, it’s hard to leave out this timeless, elegant couple out of our list!
Fun fact, this color combo goes well with any kind of car you have. From an ordinary passenger vehicle to any kind of sports car, the Black-White combination rocks them all!
However, there’s one thing that we have noticed in particular that might come in handy while you are painting your ride for the very first time.
If you paint the roof with an ink-black shade and use dark-tinted glasses for the windows, instantly it adds a lot of volume to the vehicle and makes it look a bit dominant and stylish at the same time!
You can keep the rest of the appearance minimal with a crisp-white tone and enjoy a look that will never go out of style!
3. Go Dark If It Suits Your Personality
While talking about all these traditional combinations, I came to realize, we are always pairing up colors that go well with the happy, bubbly people that have bright personalities!
Don’t worry, dark-lovers! We got you covered in our next idea!
So, the idea is to go dark on dark shades and make a bold, masculine statement at the same time.
It's a bit tricky to nail this look, to be honest. Not all dark colors go well together and chances are, you will wind up with a goth-looking car if you are not careful enough!
So, our best guess is to pair up an emerald green shade with black color that compliments each other and at the same time never fails to make a sensual appearance even in the middle of a busy road!
Don’t forget to paint the wheels as well to give it a sleek, shiny look that matches the rest of the exterior!
4. Stay Young At Heart Forever
Is there a child-like spirit hidden beneath your exterior?
Well, let him out! We love having creative people around us no matter your age, height or personality is!
And the best way to show your talent would be to paint your car in a way that speaks volumes and make your car easily distinguishable from the rest of the crowd even in a fully-loaded parking lot!
We have chosen the color purple for this project, but you can pick any color under the sun for this purpose.
The trick is to make a unique, stylish pattern on the top half of the vehicle to make a bold statement and paint the rest of the surface in the lightest shade possible to make a striking contrast.
Want to know a secret?
We have used masking tape for this purpose and we suggest you do the same!
Two Tone Painting Ideas For Kitchen Cabinets
1. Think Beyond The Box
When it comes to renovating your kitchen cabinets, we all want something interesting.
Something that goes beyond the plain-old builder-style cabinets that have got no charm of their own!
Instead of choosing the colors randomly, we suggest picking up two solid colors for this purpose.
For instance, let’s take a look at the gorgeous shade of Cyan here that’s all decked up to make a bold statement inside your kitchen’s interior!
Since we are using such a loud color for the bottom cabinets, it’s better to keep the upper ones low-key and choose a plain white color to balance them out perfectly!
One pointer to be noted: as we are using two different types of colors here, opt for the same rectangular cabinets for both the upper and lower sections so that the combination looks like they have always belonged together forever!
2. Retro-Themed Kitchen Cabinet
Think the modern-styled kitchen cabinets are too boring for your taste?
Me too!
Let’s take a step back in time together and get the old grooves back in our spirit, shall we?
So, the main trick here is to add some colors that are less saturated, yet vibrant enough to give life to your kitchen space.
For this particular look, you can pick a pale green for the upper cabinets. To pair it up with a similar accent, we would recommend using the turquoise shade as it compliments the color well and gives a soothing vibe to the overall surroundings as well!
Keep the rest of the decoration to a bare minimum to make these two colors POP and enjoy the new look of your kitchen!
3. A Contemporary Style Always Looks The Best!
This one is for the people who love a touch of contemporary-style in their home and can’t seem to get enough of it in the kitchen space as well!
If you have an open-concept structure inside your house that combines the living space and the kitchen area together, then it’s best to opt for a minimalistic décor for the cooking area and keep it as simple as possible.
We suggest painting all the cabinets in white color except for the center table in the kitchen. Use charcoal-black color to give the table cabinets a masculine finish and add steel knobs for the drawers to make it look a bit aesthetic.
Even if you own a large space inside your home, we recommend sticking to only two colors, as too much or too little color combination may just muddle the whole look and feel a bit overwhelming or boring at the same time.
4. It’s Time To Get Nostalgic!
This kitchen setting reminds me of my childhood!
It has the 90’s vibe written all over it, yet it’s chic enough to work in today’s time just fine!
Well, enough blabbering. If you want to get this family-oriented kitchen for your home, then all you have to do is to get some DIY paint from the local store and start styling as you wish!
For this particular look, you will need to collect a medium-dark sage shade and a creamy off-white color. We suggest using the sage shade to highlight the outline of the kitchen cabinets and the space above the cooktop.
For the doors and the drawers of the cabinets, you can use the cream color to paint them over and give them a country-like appearance!
All done?
Well, now it's time to dance around and enjoy a more positive, loving vibe all around the kitchen space just like your childhood!
Tips For Getting Creative With The Color Scheme
- If you have a small apartment and thinking about which shade will look best on the walls, then it’s best to combine a darker shade with a lighter one to make a stark difference. Keep in mind, the lighter shade goes on top so that the space feels a bit open and airy at the same time.
- If you want to highlight an architectural structure of your room, such as the fireplace, ornamental carvings by the window frame, etc., then pick a bold color for that particular corner and keep the rest of the shades lighter in comparison.
- Use color wheels to help you out if you are confused about which combination you should choose and select the opposite of the existing color that you picked to be on the safer side.
- Take off the wheels of your car if you want to paint over the rims for proper blending.
- You can use a door frame, window or a chair rail as a prop to determine the paint line from where the color changing takes part.
Wrapping It Up
Color is a powerful form of communication.
It can change the mood or sway your ways of thinking in an instant!
Two-tone color schemes are even more eye-catching as they help add interesting details to your home interior and give you the opportunity of getting creative along the way!
You can also add a personal touch to your vehicle by customizing the exterior with vibrant colors to represent your bold personality.
Have you got any more ideas you would like to experiment with?
Feel free to share your two toned painting ideas with us and we would love to add them in our lists!
Till next time, cheers!