COLOR
USING COLOR TO ENHANCE A ROOM
COLOR
• Many designers agree that color
is the most significant element of
design.
• Individuality can be expressed
through color.
• Set a mood or illusion
WHAT IS COLOR?
• A ray of light
• Light broken down in
electromagnetic vibrations of
various wavelengths.
• Color is perceived by the eye
and interpreted by the brain.
• Color can influence how we feel.
IDENTIFYING COLORS
• Primary Colors: cannot be mixed
from any other pigments (red, yellow,
& blue).
• Secondary Colors: mixing equal
amounts of two primary colors
(orange, green, & violet).
• Tertiary Colors: mixing an equal
amount of a primary and secondary
color (red-violet, red-orange, yellow-
orange, yellow-green, blue-violet, & bluegreen).
WARM COLORS
• Colors associated with the sun
– Red
– Orange
– Yellow
• They appear closer than cool
colored objects
• Used in areas of high activity.
• Ex. Kitchen and Family Room
COOL COLORS
• Colors that capture the essence of the
ocean.
– Blues
– Violets
– Greens
• You can visually enlarge a room by painting
the walls a cool color
• Cool colors are popular for bedrooms,
bathrooms, and home offices because of
the relaxing effect.
THE COLOR WHEEL
A tool used when working with color
End for today 
TERMS TO KNOW
• Hue: the specific name of a
color
– Black, white, and gray have no hue
• Intensity: the brightness or
dullness of a color.
– You can lessen the intensity of a
color by mixing it with its
complement
EFFECTS CREATED
• High Intensity
– Bright, stimulating, and makes
objects stand out
– Objects will seem larger and
closer
• Low Intensity
– Muted, calming
– A ceiling painted a light color will
appear higher
TERMS TO KNOW
• Value: lightness or darkness of
a color.
– Basic hues in the color wheel are
considered normal values.
• Tint: a hue lighter than its
normal value (add white).
• Shade: a hue darker than its
normal value (add black).
TINTS & SHADES
COLOR SCHEMES
• Color combinations based on
color wheel relationships that
are used to create a mood or
set a tone.
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•
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Monochromatic
Analogous
Complementary
Split-complementary
Triad
Neutral/Achromatic
Accented Neutral
MONOCHROMATIC
• Using the same tints, tones, or
shades of the same hue.
ANALOGOUS
• Using three or more colors next
to each other on the color wheel.
COMPLEMENTARY
• Using colors found directly across
from each other on the color
wheel
SPLIT-COMPLEMENTARY
• Combining a color with the two
colors found on either side of the
original color’s complement.
TRIAD
• Using three colors spaced evenly
from each other on the color
wheel.
NEUTRAL
• Using whites, blacks, grays, and
beiges.
ACCENTED NEUTRAL
• Using neutral colors with a small
amount of one bright color.