Colour Theory

The basic “map” for colour theory is known as the colour wheel. The colour wheel is a circular arrangement of the spectrum that illustrates the relationship between colours.

Colour Wheel

Colour Temperature

If you were to divide the colour wheel into 2 halves, you would have warm and cool colours on each half. Warm colours have a cozier feeling and make a welcoming statement in a room. Cool colours evoke a more tranquil mood within a space.

There are a few terms that help us measure colour.

Hue, Value, and Saturation

Hue- refers to the colour family or name of a colour such as: red, orange, blue

Value- the degree of lightness or darkness of a colour

Saturation- refers to a color’s purity. Highly saturated colours look clean and bright, like the colour you see on the colour wheel. As other colours are added or mixed with these colours, they become less saturated.

Monochromatic

monochromatic colour scheme

Monochromatic means one colour. This scheme is easiest to understand and the simplest to work with. It consists of one colour and its different values.
To bring depth to a room at least three shades of your colour should be used. To bring more interest, add pops of other colours in accessories and artwork.

Analogous

Analogous Colour Scheme

The analogous colour scheme is similar in feeling to the monochromatic where you choose a colour and the two colours adjacent to it on either side. Stay within similar values on either end of the colour you have selected.

Complementary

Complementary Colour Scheme

A complementary scheme uses two colours directly across from each other on the colour wheel, such as, green and red. This scheme creates a contrast that can be vibrant and exciting or soothing and relaxing depending on what value of the colours you use. With this scheme it works best to allow one colour to be the dominant so that the colours don’t compete with each other.

Triadic

Triadic Colour Scheme

This scheme uses a combination of any three colours that are an equal distance from each other on the colour wheel. It can be a lively environment so it’s best to let one colour dominate and to use toned down versions of the other two colours.