Using Color 50 Lessons Over Easy 1. Objectives After studying this chapter, you will be able to: Explain the meaning of different colors. Understand how.

Using Color50 Lessons Over Easy

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Objectives

After studying this chapter, you will be able to:• Explain the meaning of different colors.• Understand how color influences human behavior.• Describe the relationships between colors on the

color wheel.• Give examples of color harmonies.• Plan pleasing color harmonies.

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Color

• Color is what we see when an object reflects electromagnetic radiation. Color is an element or property of light. It is the visual information by which people perceive their surroundings.

• Color has powerful effects on spaces and the people who live in them. It is a good idea that everyone who shares a space help select a room’s paint color.

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The Color Wheel4

The Color Wheel

• The color wheel organized the visual spectrum of colors and shows the relationship between them.

• There are 12 pure colors on the most commonly used color wheel:

3 primary colors3 secondary colors6 tertiary colors

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12 Colors Found on the Color Wheel

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Primary Colors

Red, Yellow and Blue

are equally spaced around

the color wheel.

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Secondary Colors

Orange, Green, Violet are made by mixing equal

parts of the primary colors.

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Tertiary ColorsRed-Orange Red-Violet

Yellow-Orange Yellow-GreenBlue-Green &

Blue VioletAre created by

mixing equal parts of primary colors with their adjacent color.

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Sample Color Wheel

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Tints & Shades

• Are create by diluting the colors on the color wheel with black and white.

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• Mixture of pure color with black.

Tints• Mixture of pure color with

white.

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Colors are often described in professional circles by another set of terms:

Hue, Intensity, and Value

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Hue (color)• Is the undiluted color from which a tine or

shade come from. The 12 colors of the color wheel are all hues. So are the infinite number of colors that result from mixing these 12 pure hues.

• For example.: the color read has wide range of tints and shades, but all are the same hue.

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Intensity (purity)• Is the purity of color. The most intense version of any color is

the pure color, with no black or white added. For example: When white is added to a pure color, it diminishes the

intensity by diluting the color. Many color designers prefer to stay within the same range of intensity when using different

colors.

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Value• Is the brightness of a color. Adding white to a

color increases its value, while adding black decreases it’s value. Color values are particularly evident in black and white photos. High and low values create contrast and depth.

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Common Color Basics to Remember When

Decorating

1. Darker flooring colors carry visual weight and anchor a room, while lighter colors evoke a

feeling of lightness and openness.

2. Simple and soothing color schemes ten to

have a single dominant color combination with

complementary and accent colors.

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3. Generally, colors have greater intensity in larger spaces.

4. Reds and oranges become focal points.

Yellows and violets create a feeling of

warmth. Greens and blues lend a sense of

serenity and calm.

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5. Deeper tones and shades lean toward a more formal look.

6. Lighter tones and tints are more relaxed and informal.

7. Dark colors make rooms seem smaller while lighter colors add to the sense of space.

8. Glossy sheens reflect light; flat sheens absorbs light.

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Accent Colors50 Lessons Over Easy

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Accent Colors

• Colors that contrast in hue, value, or intensity with the background colors in a room or clothing.

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Suggestions for Using Accent Colors

1. Choose an overall color for large areas, such as walls, floors and large pieces of furniture. Then choose the extra color touches, or accent colors you want to add to the room.

2. Add accent colors, or “color splashes” by using items such as pillows, pictures, window coverings, floral arrangements, candles, baskets, vases, etc….

3. Use two main colors and one accent color in a room, or use one main color with tow or three accent colors.

4. When renting, if the landlord will not allow you to paint or change the colors, add accent colors to your furnishings, window coverings, throw rugs and pillows.

5. Do not overdo the number of accent colors you sue in one room.

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Color Schemes50 Lessons Over Easy

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• When choosing the colors you will use in a room, it is important to ask yourself several interior design questions.

1. What is your decorating style?2. Which of the existing colors in the room will remain the same,

such as, carpet, furnishings and window treatment.3. How much natural light enters the room during the day?4. What is the main source of light at night?5. What are the dominant colors in adjacent rooms?6. At what time to day will the room be used the most?7. Would you like to make the room appear larger or smaller?8. What mood are you trying to create?

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Basic Types of Color Schemes

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Monochromatic

• Tints and shades of the same color.

• For example.: Orange

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Triadic/Split

• Three colors that are equal apart on the color wheel.

• Example: red, blue,

yellow

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Analogous

• Colors that are side by side on the color wheel are adjacent.

• Example: BlueBlue-Green

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Complementary

• Two colors positioned exactly opposite on the color wheel.

• Example: red, green

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Analogous Complementary

• Combining analogous colors with a complementary accent.

• Example: Orange, Yellow-Orange, and Blue-Violet

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