The wonder of colour
One of the essential elements of interior design is colour and not just for its aesthetic value.Its important to know how to use colour to enhance light and create appropriate moods and energy in different spaces. The worst part about it is that there are thousands of colours to chose from.It can be quite a task figuring out which colours go together let alone which to chose. There are basic rules in using colour in interior spaces but every space is different and several other factors must be considered.Ever wondered why your mood changes when you go to certain interiors, why the neighbours house seems bigger yet they are the same size or why your house always feels cold even in the hottest seasons or maybe you find it hard to sleep... all these could be a result of the colours you have in your rooms..
In our journey with colour we start with the basic colour wheel... and ladies feel free to use it when picking out your clothes,the same rules apply.I will keep it as simple as possible.
Just like other things colours have families.This part is a bit easy for those who took their kindergarten classes seriously.
The first family is primary colours : Red, Blue and Yellow which are the mother and father of all colours. These cannot be made from any other colour.
Secondary colours ,Purple, Green and Orange come from mixing primary colours in equal ratios.
Red + Yellow = Orange Red + Blue = Purple Blue + Yellow = Green
(secondary image)
Tertiary colours come from mixing a primary with a secondary colour, in a ratio of 2:1.they include Red-Orange, Blue-Green etc..
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| northlite.net |
P-primary
S-secondary
T-tertiary
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| creativecurio.com |
Going into details of hue,tones, shades and tints will only confuse most especially the male species who already have a hard time telling the difference between red and pink but just in case i mention them here's an illustration.
The other family is cool and warm colours On the colour wheel colours on the left hand side are 'warm' or 'hot' and those on the right are 'cool' or 'cold'.
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| sensationalcolour.com |
Neutrals,also called earth tones are easier to work with .They don't usually appear on the colour wheel. Black, Grey, White and sometimes Brown and Beige are examples. They are safe colours / non colours to use since they all go together very well and no neutral colour tries to dominate over another.
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| housebeautiful.com |
Colour schemes
Monochromatic Colour SchemesThey are based around one colour.One colour is used in its shades and tints
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| hlminteriordesign.com |
It is also known as analogous colour scheme and is created by using colours next to each other on a colour wheel. Good examples would be using a scheme made up of oranges and yellows, or with blues and purples. One colour should be dominant, the second to support. The third colour is used as an accent. (a colour used in quite small quantities to lift or to add punch to a colour scheme.)
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| positivelybeauty.com |
Complementary Colours
Colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel are said to be complementary colours example: red and green.When using a complementary colour scheme do not to use the 2 colours in the same quantities or intensity.For example, if you used a bright yellow on one wall and a bright purple on another It would be disturbing and not have the expected result.Instead,try and create a mainly purple scheme, with a few yellow accents..
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| reeniesdaily.com |
Uses three colours spaced equally around the colour wheel.To use these scheme successfully, the colours should be well balanced - one colour should dominate and the other two used for accent.
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| designsherpa.com |
So we now know the basics of using colour do not be afraid to add some colour into your home or office space. A little later we can learn together what kinds of mood different colours evoke and which colours to use where. If you live in a rented place where you are not allowed to paint, worry not. There are various other ways to incorporate colour besides painting the walls. I will be posting lots of ideas on how to do that.
Feel free to comment and ask any interior design related questions you may have and I will be glad to help out.
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