Homeowners Review and Information Guide: Color Theory

Do you want to paint the walls of the living room a new color to refresh the space but are not sure if they will go with the color scheme of the furniture that you already have? Or maybe you have a brand-new house to work with and want to get everything perfect. Color theory can help make that happen. Learn about what colors go well together and how they will look. You will be on your way to having the perfect space.

What is Color Theory?

Color theory makes a logical structure for colors. It is actually quite extensive and covers a host of design applications and concepts, covering many different ways of organizing colors.

However, you do not need to spend several years in college to find the perfect blend of colors for your home. Basic concepts that use the color wheel, color schemes, tint, shade, tone, and mood will get you well on your way.

Resources:

• New York University: Color theory
• University of Alaska Fairbanks: Color theory
• Smithsonian Libraries: Using color

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The Color Wheel

In 1666, Sir Isaac Newton created the first circle diagram of colors. Artists have been developing and using it ever since. There is a multitude of variations, but the majority follow the rule of logically organizing colors.

Resources:

• Maryville University: The Art of Color: Color Wheel & Color Relationships
• DePaul University: The color wheel

Basic Colors

The color wheel has three categories of colors: primary, secondary, and tertiary. These are each grouped based on their features and how they mix with, or are created by, other types of colors. 

Primary Colors

The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. They are based on a traditional color theory that categorizes them founded on them being pigments that cannot be created by any combination of other pigments. All other colors are created by some combination of these three primary colors. 

Secondary Colors

Secondary colors are created by the mixing of primary colors. The secondary colors are green, orange, and purple.

Tertiary Colors

This type of color is formed by mixing both a primary and a secondary color together. The tertiary colors include red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-purple, and red-purple. They may include variations, depending on how much of each primary and secondary color is used in their creation.

Resources:

• University of Kentucky: Color basics
• Usability.gov: Color basics
• National Gallery of Art, Washington: Color theory

Color Schemes

Color schemes are arrangements or combinations of color. The most popular use for them is in interior decoration, such as deciding what color accent pieces, paintings, furniture, and walls should be in a home.

The following color schemes are useful when deciding on what colors you want on the inside (and even the outside) of your house:

Complementary Colors

Complimentary colors can be found opposite of each other on the color wheel. They include yellow and violet, orange and blue, red and green, blue-green and red-orange, yellow-green and red-violet, and yellow-orange and blue-violet. The contrast in each pair of colors creates a look that really stands out. In some cases, this scheme may be too intense.

Split-Complementary Colors

For those who want the vibrancy of complementary colors without it feeling jarring to look at, there is the split-complimentary color scheme. It uses a base color, but instead of including its complementary color, the two colors adjacent to that complementary color are chosen.

Analogous Colors

For something that creates a more soothing effect, consider analogous colors when redecorating. These are groups of three colors that are all next to each other on the color wheel. This will include a primary color, a secondary color, and a tertiary color. A combination of blue, green, and blue-green is an example of this type of color scheme.

Triadic Colors

This color scheme creates a different kind of effect by using three colors that are evenly spaced out on the color wheel. A basic one might include red, yellow, and blue; although they can also use a group of secondary colors or tertiary colors.

Tetradic Colors

A tetrad color scheme creates a vibrant but somewhat chaotic effect by including four colors that are all an equal distance from one another on the color wheel. It is not for the faint of heart and may take some careful arranging and planning to get the right effect.

Resources:

• American Institute of Interior Design: Follow a color scheme
• Seattle Pacific University: Color schemes and pallets
• University of Texas: Color and visual comfort

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Tint, Shade, and Tone

There is more to color theory than just mixing primary and secondary colors. A tint adds white to lighten the shade of a color, while a shade adds black to get a darker effect. A tone is created by including grey or a mix of both black and white in with a color.

Resources:

• Harding University: Color basics: Hue, value, and chroma
• Cornell University: Color, value, and hue
• Utah Education Network: Tint, tones, and shades painting

Color Temperature

When we think of color temperature, we refer to colors as cool colors or warm colors. Cool colors will have a bluish aspect while warm colors will be more yellowish. Consider how warm and cool colors will interact in the space you are decorating before buying that new sofa or sofa cover.

Resources:

• International Academy of Design and Technology: Kelvin scale color temperature basics
• University of Missouri: Basic principles of color theory

Color, Moods, and Emotions

It is hard to deny that certain colors can affect us in certain ways. It is just human psychology. Red, orange, and yellow are warm colors that evoke emotions and can create a sense of warmth or hostility. Blue, purple, and green are cool colors and can create a calming or saddening effect.

Resources:

• Washington State University: Designing through emotion
• Harrington College of Design: Colors and moods: The psychological impact of paint colors
• California College San Diego: Using color in design to evoke powerful emotions

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Getting the Kids Involved (resources related to Color theory for kids)

One of the best ways to get kids interested in color theory is through introducing the rainbow. This arch of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet is nature’s color wheel.

For more ideas on how to get kids involved, visit the following links:

• Mensa for Kids: Introduction to color
• The Art of Education University: How to teach color theory and keep students engaged

Additional Resources

• Do you want to get your color theory and home just right? Check out the Color calculator at Sessions College to discover the perfect blend of colors for your home. Or drop by the New York Institute of Art and Design for Cool tools that will help you with lighting, painting, and other aspects of interior design.