If you're serious about understanding the core principles of interior design, it's worth re-visiting the color wheel and how colors can work together to create a variety of results.
The color wheel--as you probably know--is a tool that shows the relationship between different colors and how they can be combined to create harmonious or contrasting schemes. In this blog post, we will explore the color wheel in terms of interior design and explain some of the key concepts that you need to know.
The color wheel is based on the three primary colors: red, yellow and blue. These are the colors that cannot be created by mixing any other colors. By mixing two primary colors, you get the secondary colors: orange, green and purple. By mixing a primary and a secondary color, you get the tertiary colors: red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-purple and red-purple. The color wheel shows 12 colors arranged in a circle, with the warm colors (reds, oranges and yellows) on one side and the cool colors (blues, greens and purples) on the other.
One of the systems that is used to describe colors on the color wheel is the Perception Based System or NCS (Natural Colour System). This system focuses on the visual characteristics of color, such as hue, saturation and brightness. Hue is the name of the color, such as red or green. Saturation is the intensity or purity of the color, from dull to vivid. Brightness is the lightness or darkness of the color, from white to black. The NCS system uses a notation that indicates these three aspects of color, such as Y20R80B for a yellowish-red with 20% blackness and 80% chromaticness.
Now that you know how the color wheel works and how to describe colors using the NCS system, let's see how you can use it to create beautiful interior design schemes. There are many ways to combine colors on the color wheel, but here are some of the most common ones:
- Primary colors: These are the colors that are equidistant from each other on the color wheel: red, yellow and blue. They create a vibrant and energetic scheme that can be used for playful and dynamic spaces.
- Secondary colors: These are the colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel: orange, green and purple. They create a harmonious and balanced scheme that can be used for relaxing and soothing spaces.
- Tertiary colors: These are the colors that are between the primary and secondary colors on the color wheel: red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-purple and red-purple. They create a subtle and sophisticated scheme that can be used for elegant and refined spaces.
- Neutral colors: These are the colors that have low saturation or high brightness, such as white, black, gray, beige and brown. They create a neutral and versatile scheme that can be used for any space and style.
- Complementary colors: These are the colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green or blue and orange. They create a contrastive and dramatic scheme that can be used for accentuating and highlighting features.
Complementary Color Examples
- Warm and cold colors: These are the colors that are on either side of the color wheel, such as reds, oranges and yellows for warm colors and blues, greens and purples for cold colors. They create a temperature-based scheme that can be used for creating different moods and atmospheres.
Warm Color Scheme
Cool Color Scheme
One example of how interior designers use complementary colors is by pairing purple with yellow. This creates a striking contrast that can make a space look livelier and more exciting. For instance, you can use lavender curtains with yellow/gold picture frames or a royal blue sofa with orange patterned pillows.
Complementary Color Scheme
An example of how interior designers use warm and cold colors is by choosing a dominant hue for a room and sticking to it. This creates a cohesive and harmonious look that can make a space look more inviting and comfortable. For instance, you can use blue tones for a bedroom or living room to create a cool and calm vibe.
Mixing warm and cold colors can be tricky because they can clash or create an unpleasant effect. However, if done right, they can also create an interesting and dynamic look that can make a space look more unique and creative. For instance, you can use warm accents in a cold room or vice versa to add some contrast and interest.
Warm and Cool Color Scheme
The color wheel is a powerful tool that can help you create amazing interior design schemes for your orange poppy home decor followers. By understanding how it works and how to use it, you can unleash your creativity and experiment with different combinations of colors to suit your taste and style. Learn more about color schemes in our next post.