Basic colour theory explains how colours interact with each other and how they are perceived. It organises colours into primary, secondary, and tertiary hues, and explores concepts like warm and cool colours, colour harmonies, and the psychological impact of colours.
Colour psychology is the study of colour as it determines human behaviour. The language of colour is communicated quicker to the brain than words or shapes are. Colour works directly on our feelings and emotions.
Understanding the colour principles helps in choosing and combining colours effectively, whether for art, interior design, or branding.
The colour wheel was developed from the colour spectrum. It helps us to co-ordinate and develop different colour schemes.
It is the basis of colour theory, because it shows the relationship between colours. Colours that look good together are called a colour harmony. Artists and designers use these to create a particular look or feel. You can use a colour wheel to find colour harmonies by using the rules of colour combinations.
Primary Colours:
Primary colours are those that cannot be created by mixing other colours. They are pure hue colours. The 3 primary colours are connected by an equilateral triangle.
- Blue
- Red
- Yellow
Secondary Colours:
These are produced by equal mixing of 2 primary colours. These 3 hues are equidistant from one another on the colour wheel.
- Orange
- Violet
- Green
Tertiary Colours:
- Red-Orange
- Yellow-Orange
- Yellow-Green
- Blue-Green
- Blue-Violet
- Red-Violet
Harmonious:
Colours next to each other on the colour wheel
Monochromatic:
One colour, colour scheme. A tint tone, (A tinted colour is a lighter version of a pure colour, created by adding white to it.) or shade (a colour variation created by adding black to a pure colour) of one colour.
Pure Achromatic:
Black through to white
Complementary:
Colours opposite each other on the colour wheel eg. Green and Red or Yellow and Purple.
Typically, a pair of complementary colours comprises one warm colour and one cool colour. For example, yellow is a warm colour, and purple is a cool colour. No matter the complementary colour combination, one colour will always be warm, and the other will be cool. These colours have opposite temperatures.
Split Complementary:
A split complementary colour scheme uses a base colour and the two colours adjacent to its complement on the colour wheel. For example, if your base colour is blue, its complement would be orange, and the split complements would be yellow-orange and red-orange. This creates a colour scheme that is both vibrant and harmonious, offering a good balance between contrast and visual interest.
Tetrad:
A tetrad colour scheme uses four colours, typically two complementary pairs, arranged in a square or rectangular shape on the colour wheel. This creates a vibrant and energetic palette with strong contrasts and visual interest. eg. Yellow-Green with red-violet and blue-green with red-orange.
Analogous:
Colours next to each other on the colour wheel. Use at least 2 colours, no more than 4. Analogous colours create a sense of harmony and visual flow. They are often used in design to evoke a calm, unified, and pleasing aesthetic. Think of them as “colour neighbours” that naturally complement each other.
Triadic:
3 colours equally spaced from each other on the colour wheel. eg. the primary colours. Triadic colour schemes are often used in commercial spaces as they are memorable and dynamic. Triadic colours are contrasting.
Colour Terminology:
To describe colour terminology, you can use terms like hue, saturation, and value/brightness.
- Hue – refers to the basic colour (e.g., red, blue, green).
- Saturation or Intensity – describes the intensity (or dullness) or purity of a colour (vivid vs. muted). eg. Blue is less intense, red is intense.
- Value or brightness – refers to how light or dark a colour appears (light, dark, etc.)
- Tint – hue with white added
- Tone – hue with grey added
- Shade – pure colour hue with black added
- Key Colour – the predominant colour in a colour scheme which can be connected to other spaces. A key colour can ensure “flow” through an interior from room to room promoting a co-hesive design.
Colour Proportions:
60% / 30% / 10%
The 60-30-10 rule is a design principle that suggests a balanced colour scheme by using three colours in a specific proportion: 60% dominant colour, 30% secondary colour, and 10% accent colour. This creates a visually pleasing and harmonious design.
Happy decorating!
Need interior decorating advice? Get in touch with me now.
