Intro to colour

 

#01

Our friend the colour wheel

You’ve probably heard of the colour wheel before but have you ever used it? And I mean actually use it?… like put it into practice? In 1666, Isaac Newton mapped the colour spectrum into a circle, which gave birth to the invention of the theory of the colour wheel. Still used today, the colour wheel is utilised in many industries, including art, interior design and everything in between. It’s a handy tool as it’ll show you the relationships between different colours, making it the basis of colour theory

Colour wheel basics:

Primary colours: red, yellow, and blue

Secondary colours: the output of mixing any two primary colours – green, purple and orange

Tertiary colours: made from mixing a primary colour with a secondary colour to get all the different colours in the colours wheel (yellow-green, blue-green, blue violet, red violet, red orange, and yellow-orange) 

#02

Basic colour theory

Hue: The actual colour you’re referring to, like blue

Value: The lightness or darkness of a colour

Saturation: The intensity of a colour

Tint: Adding white to a colour

Tone: Adding grey to a colour

Shade: Adding black to a colour

#03

Colour schemes and how to use them

Colour wheel combinations

Complementary colours:

Opposite colours on the wheel (e.g. blue and orange). Using complementary colours reveals a bold and sharp contrast

Analogous colours:

Side by side on the colour wheel (e.g. blue and purple). Analogous colours are pleasing to the eye and ‘guide’ the visitor

Monochromatic colours:

Focusing on just one colour on the wheel but playing with different shades. Creates a very simple and clean aesthetic

Triadic (advanced):

Evenly spaced around the colour wheel (blue, red, yellow). Makes the image pop and each colour stand out in a harmonious way

#04

Colour palettes and how to use them

Warm colours

These are oranges, reds and yellows (but can also include browns and golds). Warm colours give off a bright and cosy vibe and often evoke passion and energy

Cool colours

These are blue, greens and purples. Cool colours give off a more relaxed and calming vibe and often evoke professionalism, cleanliness and calmness

Neutral colours

These are black, whites and browns. Neutrals on their own can look boring unless done creatively as they give off sophistication and professionalism. But thankfully, they can be easily paired with brighter accent colours

#05

Colour psychology

It’s known that colour can evoke strong emotions. So here’s a breakdown of some of the psychology behind each major colour

Red

Mental reaction: inspires action and confidence

Association: fire, energy, strength, power love

Mood: intensity, anger, excitement, lust

Rooms often used: kitchen, dining room, living room, playroom

Yellow

Mental reaction: boost communication

Association: warmth, joy, friendship, socialisation

Mood: friendly, happiness, optimism

Rooms often used: kitchen, nursery, workout room, bathroom

Blue

Mental reaction: Calm and aids intuition

Association: peace, softness, serenity, water, cool

Mood: productive, calm, relaxed, cold

Rooms often used: bedroom, office, living room, dining room, kitchen, nursery, bathroom

Green

Mental reaction: relaxes mentally and physically

Association: natural, money, life, growth

Mood: calm, happiness, luck, patient

Rooms often used: Living room, bedroom, office, dining room, kitchen, bathroom

Orange

Mental reaction: stimulates activity

Association: cheerfulness, caution, warmth

Mood: impulsiveness, fear, confidence

Rooms often used: workout room, living room, office, bathroom

Purple

Mental reaction: uplifts and encourages creativity

Association: luxury, fun, loyalty, softness

Mood: happiness, playfulness, calming

Rooms often used: living room, dining room, bedroom, craft room, kids room

#06

Design with colour

The 60-30-10 rule defines that you should design a room by picking three core colours, and then distribute them in those three percentages to keep the palette balanced and harmonious. 60% will be the dominant colour (like a neutral, though certainly not always!), 30% will be something a bit bolder, and 10% will be the accent colour (often the boldest colour)