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The Art of Choosing a Color
Color Harmony
Color Wheel
Color Schemes
Monochromatic
Analogous
Complementary
Other
Using Black in a Color Scheme
Ideas
The Art of Choosing a Color
We are naturally and emotionally drawn to colors and when we are planning a
painting project its easy to get excited about the colors we love. Its also normal
to become a little apprehensive about color selection. Often we have furniture,
family heirlooms, artwork, floor coverings or fixtures that we cannot change and these
things have to be integrated into the color scheme. Then, of course there are so
many colors to choose from.
How do we avoid mistakes and create color harmony?
While we should explore the colors we love, there is an art or methodology in
making the final selection. First we need a starting point - your favourite item in the
room or one that is unchangeable. The scientific approach is to use a color wheel to
determine how the colors we are passionate about and the colors of our unchangeable items
work together or in combination with other colors to create a color scheme. Using these
colors we create harmony - the right colors that, together. are expressive and pleasing to
the eye.
Color harmony is critical to creating a pleasing combination of
colors. When used properly it changes your room from a space to an experience.
Color harmony enhances the aesthetics of your room and provides cohesion for the overall
appeal of the room. Your color scheme provides a blueprint for the finishing, furnishings
and accessories that will be used in a room.
Here, we will provide an overview of the most common schemes - monochromatic,
analogous, and complementary along with a brief description of other schemes.
Color Wheel
 The color schemes discussed below
will refer
to a color wheel which is illustrated on the left.
When you require assistance in selecting colors our staff are trained and
experienced and we'll give you color samples to help.
For excellent interactive information on color visit the
Paint Quality Institute - PQI is an
unbiased source of information, established to educate consumers, contractors and
retailers on paint. Their Digital Color Wheel teaches you about different Color Schemes,
i.e. which colors go with what. You can choose your primary or reference color, then move
the mouse over the different color schemes – analogous, split complementary etc.
– to highlight all the colors that could complement your scheme.
There’s also a Color Combinations tool which is fun to use if you’re
planning to mix your own colors, and a glossary to explain color terminology.
Another excellent site on Color Theory -
Color Theory Interactive - from the
Poynter Institute.
Monochromatic Color Scheme
 In a
monochromatic color scheme, one color completely dominates a room. This is a particularly effective way to establish an overall mood.
Using variations in lightness and saturation of that one single
color your look is clean and refined. The overall effect is soothing - easy on the
eyes, especially with green or blue hues - because monochromatic colors go well together.
The new neutral colors as well as the traditional ones of black, white and grey can
be integrated with your primary color to complete the scheme.
Analogous Color Scheme
Analogous colors are any three colors which are side by side on a color
wheel, such as yellow-green, yellow, and yellow-orange. Usually one of the three colors is
predominant and the other two are used to enhance the overall color scheme. This
scheme offers more nuances than the monochromatic one.
Complementary Color Scheme
 The
complementary color scheme is made of two colors that are opposite each other on the color
wheel to create maximum contrast. This scheme looks best when you put a warm color
against a cool color. In our example, the variations of the purple flowers contrast
with the variations of green in the leaves. When using the complementary scheme, it
is important to choose a dominant color and use its complementary color for accents.
Other Schemes
Tertiary - any three colors that form an isosceles
triangle on the color wheel
Primaries - using the primary colors of red, yellow, blue
Rainbow - using the twelve main colors around the color
wheel
Warm - reds, oranges, and yellows are warm colors - these
colors appear to advance.
Cool - greens, blues, violets are cool colors and appear to
recede
Light and dark - this term refers to how much black or white is
in each individual color
Neutral - neutral colors enhance color schemes, work well with
other colors, and act as good backdrops.
Traditional - two analogous colors - a dominant and a
subdominant - and complementary color working together. For example: White, Beige and blue
accents.
The Mystery and Power of Black
 Black is associated
with power, elegance, formality, mystery and the night.
Black is a mysterious color associated with awe and the unknown. Though it
usually has a negative connotation black denotes strength and authority and is considered
to be a very formal, elegant, and prestigious color. (black tie, black
Mercedes). In heraldry, black is the symbol of grief.
Black contrasts well with bright powerful colors and presents a very aggressive
color scheme. Black gives the feeling of perspective and depth so used as a
background it makes the other colors stand out. |
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