COLOR

USING COLOR TO ENHANCE A ROOM

COLOR

• Many designers agree that color is the most significant element of design.

• Individuality can be expressed through color.

• Set a mood or illusion

WHAT IS COLOR?

• A ray of light

• Light broken down in electromagnetic vibrations of various wavelengths.

• Color is perceived by the eye and interpreted by the brain.

• Color can influence how we feel.

IDENTIFYING COLORS

• Primary Colors: cannot be mixed from any other pigments (red, yellow, & blue).

• Secondary Colors: mixing equal amounts of two primary colors (orange, green, & violet).

• Tertiary Colors: mixing an equal amount of a primary and secondary color (red-violet, red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-violet, & blue-green).

WARM COLORS

• Colors associated with the sun– Red– Orange– Yellow

• They appear closer than cool colored objects

• Used in areas of high activity.• Ex. Kitchen and Family Room

COOL COLORS

• Colors that capture the essence of the ocean.– Blues– Violets– Greens

• You can visually enlarge a room by painting the walls a cool color

• Cool colors are popular for bedrooms, bathrooms, and home offices because of the relaxing effect.

THE COLOR WHEELA tool used when working with colorEnd for today

TERMS TO KNOW

• Hue: the specific name of a color – Black, white, and gray have no

hue

• Intensity: the brightness or dullness of a color.– You can lessen the intensity of

a color by mixing it with its complement

EFFECTS CREATED

• High Intensity– Bright, stimulating, and makes

objects stand out– Objects will seem larger and

closer

• Low Intensity– Muted, calming– A ceiling painted a light color

will appear higher

TERMS TO KNOW

• Value: lightness or darkness of a color. – Basic hues in the color wheel

are considered normal values.

• Tint: a hue lighter than its normal value (add white).

• Shade: a hue darker than its normal value (add black).

TINTS & SHADES

COLOR SCHEMES

• Color combinations based on color wheel relationships that are used to create a mood or set a tone.

• Monochromatic• Analogous• Complementary• Split-complementary• Triad• Neutral/Achromatic• Accented Neutral

MONOCHROMATIC

• Using the same tints, tones, or shades of the same hue.

ANALOGOUS

• Using three or more colors next to each other on the color wheel.

COMPLEMENTARY

• Using colors found directly across from each other on the color wheel

SPLIT-COMPLEMENTARY

• Combining a color with the two colors found on either side of the original color’s complement.

TRIAD

• Using three colors spaced evenly from each other on the color wheel.

NEUTRAL

• Using whites, blacks, grays, and beiges.

ACCENTED NEUTRAL

• Using neutral colors with a small amount of one bright color.