Color
Schemes
http://www.hgtv.com/video/warm-orangelivingdining-room-video/index.html
COLOR (Schemes)HARMONIES
• A color (scheme) harmony is a pleasing
combination of colors based on their
respective positions on the color wheel.
• The surest and easiest way to achieve a
successful color design that is pleasing to the
eye is to follow one of the standard 8 color
harmonies.
MONOCHROMATIC (Related)
• Simplest scheme which uses
a single hue from the
•
Example:
red,
pink,
standard color wheel.
burgundy, maroon,
– HINT: Mono = One
crimpson
Chromatic = Color
• Using tints, tones or shades
of the same hue.
• Accents of neutral colors
can be used to add interest
to the color scheme.
MONOCHROMATIC
Blue
Blue-violet
Blue-green
Violet
Green
Red-violet
Yellow-green
Red
Yellow
Yellow-orange
Red-orange
Orange
Monochromatic
Monochromatic
ANALOGOUS (Related)
• Example: violet, red-violet,
and red
• An analogous color
• Created by using hues that
scheme will look best if
are next to each other on the
you choose one color as
color wheel.
the dominant color and
• Usually three to five hues are
use smaller amounts of
used.
the others to add
• Since they are related, they
interest and variety.
blend well together.
ANALOGOUS
Blue
Blue-violet
Blue-gree n
Violet
Green
Re d-violet
Yellow-g ree n
Re d
Yellow
Yellow-o ran ge
Re d-o rang e
Orange
Analogous
Analogous
COMPLEMENTARY (Contrasting)
 Example: Red and
Green
 Made by selecting two
colors that are directly
opposite each other on
the color wheel.
◦ Brightest and most
intense form of each
color when these are
used together.
 A complementary
scheme can make a
room look bright and
dramatic.
COMPLEMENTARY
Blue
Blue-violet
Blue-green
Violet
G reen
Red-violet
Yellow-green
Red
Yellow
Yellow-orange
Red-orange
O range
Complimentary
SPLIT-COMPLEMENTARY
►
Example: Red,
blue-green, yellow-green
 Combining a color
with the two colors
found on either side
of the color’s
complement.
◦ Blue’s complement is
Orange, so you would
use the two colors on
each side: yelloworange, and redorange.
 With this color
selection, the main
color is the
dominant one. The
two colors on each
side of the
complement are
accent colors.
Examples of Split-Complementary
Schemes
Blue
Blue-violet
Blue-green
Violet
Green
Red-violet
Yellow-green
Red
Yellow
Yellow-orange
Red-orange
Orange
Split Complement
• The secondary hue, violet combined with
yellow-green and yellow-orange.
TRIADIC (Contrasting)
• Examples:
– Red, Yellow, Blue
– Green, Orange, Violet
– Yellow-Orange, Red-Violet,
Blue-Green
• Uses any three colors
that are equally distant
from each other on the
color wheel.
• Care and skill are
needed to achieve
pleasing Triadic
harmonies.
– Changing values and
intensities can lessen the
sharp contrasts.
TRIADIC
Blue
Blue-violet
Blue-green
Violet
Green
Red-violet
Yellow-green
Red
Yellow
Yellow-orange
Red-orange
Orange
Triad
NEUTRAL
 Using only colors not found on the color wheel
 Blacks, whites and grey (Achromatic Colors) – Can be used in a neutral color scheme.
 Browns are considered neutral.
 Neutral color schemes can be easier to live with than with vibrant color
schemes.
 To make this scheme look best, use a variety of textures and shapes to add
interest.
◦ Black, grey, and white
◦ Brown, tan, and beige can also be used.
ACCENTED-NEUTRAL
• Small amounts of another color(s) added to a neutral
color scheme to give the room more interest.
• Example: black, white, red
Accented Neutral
Accented Neutral
Double Complementary
• 2 combinations of
complimentary colors.
– Purple, yellow, blue, orange
 The tetradic (double complementary) scheme is the richest of all
the schemes because it uses four colors arranged into two
complementary color pairs.
 This scheme is hard to harmonize; if all four colors are used in
equal amounts, the scheme may look unbalanced, so you
should choose a color to be dominant or subdue the colors.
ASSIGNMENTS – COLOR SCHEME
3. Mandela - color scheme coloring picture
4. COLOR SCHEME 1 pt Perspective assignment
• Create a one-point perspective drawing of a room. It
must have at least 4 items in the rooms. (ex: bed, table,
couch, picture frame, dresser ect…) Color the room using
one of the color schemes we talked about in class.
• Professionally mount the 1-pt perspective onto black
construction paper and then onto white cardstock. Make
sure to include a title written in professional lettering.
See samples on next slides
COMPLIMENTARY