Understanding Complementary and Split-Complementary Color Schemes

• complementary colors a.k.a. contrasting colors are 180° opposite to each other on the color wheel and they always go well. In the blue color room, note how beautifully the shade of red adds intensity the room. Interestingly, mixing complementary colors creates a variety of brown shades. 

contrast circles: http://rjohnhowe.wordpress.com/2010/02/08/color-in-oriental-rugs-and-textiles-part-1/  

yellow wall: http://www.beinteriordecorator.com/interior-design/interior-design-home-with-colorful-by-barbara-bestor
blue wall: http://colorindesign.net/2011/02/03/looking-up-what-color-to-paint-the-ceiling/ 
orange and blue living room: http://www.justflewthecoop.com/2010/05/complementary-color-scheme-blue-and.html 
orange and blue bedroom: http://gavehome.com/design-ideas/bedroom/boys-bedroom-furniture-design-ideas-selections/

• split complimentary color scheme - in this scheme, instead of using the color directly opposite the starting point color as you would in the complementary scheme, the opposing complement is “split”, using each of the two colors on either side. Image below illustrates this,

 source: http://theimagedoc.blogspot.com/2010/10/save-your-layout-in-three-easy-steps.html 
red chair source: http://profeditor.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/73/