“VALUE” OF COLORS

In nature there are hundreds of different

steps in value that are sometimes not
easily distinguished by the human eye.

Value is the lightness or

darkness of a color. To
combine a hue with black is
called a SHADE. To combine a
hue with white is called a TINT.
To combine a hue with black
and white is called a TONE.

Remember… colors appear darker when placed on rough textures.

Paint appears darker when it dries on the wall. Artificial incandescent
and fluorescent lighting changes the appearance of some colors.
•There are certain groups of colors that
work together very well in interiors…they
might be referred to as Color Schemes or
Color Harmonies. Color Schemes
• A color scheme can include hues, any values
(including tints, shades, tones), or intensities
of that hue, and any neutrals.
• Make sure when using color schemes to
select colors that you or your client likes.
• Color schemes of adjoining rooms may need
to be coordinated.
• Although some designers prescribe to the
idea that “beauty is in the eyes of the
beholder”, most prefer a “tasteful” approach.
Taste is defined as a cultured appreciation for
aesthetic quality or sensibility.
 Monochromatic

• A color scheme using one color,

and tints, tones and shades of that
color.

Blue Blue-violet

Blue-green Violet

Green Red-violet

Yellow-green Red

Yellow Red-orange

Yellow-orange Orange
 Analogous
• A color scheme using 3 or more
colors next to each other on the
color wheel.

Blue Blue-violet

Blue-gree n Violet

Green Re d-violet

Yellow-g ree n Re d

Yellow Re d-o rang e

Yellow-o ran ge Orange

 Blue Blue-violet

Blue-green Violet

Complementary G reen Red-violet

Yellow-green Red

Yellow Red-orange

Yellow-orange O range

• A color scheme using

colors opposite each
other on the color
wheel.
 Double Complementary

• A Color scheme using two sets

of complementary colors.

Blue Blue-violet

Blue-green Violet

Green Red-violet

Yellow-green Red

Yellow Red-orange

Yellow-orange Orange
 Split Complementary
• A color scheme using one color,
and the colors on either side of it’s
complement. This color scheme,
along with the double
complementary are more difficult
to achieve in a tasteful fashion.

Blue Blue-violet

Blue-green Violet

Green Red-violet

Yellow-green Red

Yellow Red-orange

Yellow-orange Orange
 Triad
• A color scheme using three colors
equal distance from each other on
the color wheel.

Blue Blue-violet

Blue-green Violet

Green Red-violet

Yellow-green Red

Yellow Red-orange

Yellow-orange Orange
 Neutral
• A color scheme using whites,
blacks, browns, grays and beiges,
etc.

Blue Blue- violet

Blue- green Violet

G reen Red- violet

Yellow-green Red

Yellow Red- orange

Yellow-orange O range

This scheme is often “accented” with a

small amount of another hue, and called
the ACCENTED NEUTRAL.
  Some designers base a room decor on a
popular “theme” instead of a prescribed color
Fad scheme. It should only be used if it reflects the
personality and preferences of the client.

The bedroom above is decorated

around a nautical “theme”,
disregarding any specific color This red, white, and blue color
harmony. combination is only acceptable for
those who prefer the patriotic “theme”.
 What doesn’t count…
As you put together or identify the background
and furnishing samples that make up your
color scheme, there are some items in the room
that do not have to be considered:
Books and
magazines.

The colors of a
Living things,
painting, although
such as pets,
the predominant
fresh flowers,
color, frame, and
and plants.
mat colors may be
considered.
Warm Colors
• Colors on the warm side of the
spectrum…red, yellow, orange.
They usually also include the
neutral black and brown tones.

Blue Blue-violet

Blue-green Violet

Green Red-violet

Yellow-green Red

Yellow Red-orange

Yellow-orange Orange

Warm colors are especially good in rooms with northern exposures.

 Cool Colors
• Colors on the cool side of the
spectrum…blue, violet, green.
They usually include the
neutral white and gray tones.

Blue Blue-violet

Blue-green Violet

Green Red-violet

Yellow-green Red

Yellow Red-orange

Yellow-orange Orange

Cool colors are especially good in rooms with southern exposures.

 Light Colors
“RECEDE”
When rooms are painted pastel
or light colors/neutrals, they
seem bigger. The colors
“recede” or appear to move
away from you. Remember when
selecting paint… the paint dries
darker on the wall.
Dark Colors “ADVANCE”
When rooms are painted
dark colors/neutrals,
they seem smaller. The
colors “advance” or
appear to move in closer
to you.
Large prints or very
“busy” prints may also
make a room appear
smaller.
 Choosing Color Schemes…
• Color schemes look best when one color dominates.
• Your dominant color should cover about two-thirds of the
room area. An equal split between dominant and subordinate
colors is less pleasing.
• Evaluate parts of the room that cannot be changed, then
consider color choices that will complement existing
furnishings.
• Base your color scheme on the exposure of the room (choose
warm colors for northern exposures and cool colors for
southern exposures; choose lighter colors for small rooms
and darker colors for large rooms; choose colors you like;
choose colors that complement a particular fabric, wallpaper,
work of art, etc.
• Consider the psychological and physiological effects of color…
 Physiological Effects of Individual Colors

Color creates powerful psychological and physiological effects.

Psychological effects are sensed in the mind; physiological effects
actually cause a change in the body. It is important to note that
people may react differently to the same color, based on their
previous experiences or learned behavior. Research studies have
shown that:

Color affects eye's perception of weight and size. Dark and bright
colors seem heavier than light and cool colors. (However, it is
interesting that the opposite effect is true in fashion design. Dark
colors tend to slim the figure, whereas light colors are usually
thought to make one look heavier.)
Color affects a person's perception of temperature.
Studies have indicated that body temperature
actually fluctuates in response to various colors. For
example, red, orange, and yellow can raise one's
temperature; cool colors have the opposite reaction.

Color can cause feelings of boredom and calmness,

or stimulation and liveliness. Colors may cause the
nervous system to become agitated, and the body
reacts in negative ways to this stimulus.

Colors can affect one's reaction to sounds, taste,

odors, and time perception.

Colors can improve the rate of recovery of sick

patients.
 Psychological Associations with Color:

Gray Elegance, humility, respect, reverence, stability,

subtlety, timelessness, wisdom OR boredom, decay,
decrepitude, dullness, dust, pollution, urban sprawl
White Reverence, purity, snow, peace, innocence,
cleanliness, simplicity, security, humility, marriage,
sterility, winter OR coldness, sterility, surrender,
cowardice, fearfulness, winter, unimaginative.

Black Modernity, power, sophistication, formality,

elegance, wealth, mystery, style OR evil, death, fear,
anonymity, anger, sadness, remorse, mourning,
unhappiness, mystery .
Red Passion, strength, energy, fire, love, sex,
excitement, speed, heat, leadership, masculinity,
power OR danger, fire, gaudiness, blood, war,
anger, revolution, radicalism, aggression, stop.
Blue Seas, skies, peace, unity, harmony,
tranquility, calmness, coolness, confidence,
water, ice, loyalty, conservatism, dependability,
cleanliness, technology, winter OR depression,
coldness, idealism, obscenity, ice, tackiness,
winter
Green Nature, spring, fertility, youth,
environment, wealth, money (US), good luck,
vigor, generosity, go, grass OR aggression,
inexperience, envy, misfortune, jealousy, money,
illness, greed
Yellow Sunlight, joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, wealth
(gold), summer, hope, air OR cowardice, illness (quarantine),
hazards, dishonesty, avarice, sissification, weakness

Violet Sensuality, spirituality, creativity, wealth, royalty, nobility,

ceremony, mystery, wisdom, enlightenment OR arrogance,
flamboyance, gaudiness, mourning, profanity, exaggeration

Orange Buddhism, energy, balance, heat, fire, enthusiasm,

flamboyance, playfulness OR Aggression, arrogance,
flamboyance, gaudiness, over-emotion, warning, danger, fire

Brown Calm, depth, natural organisms, nature, richness,

rusticism, stability, tradition OR boorishness, dirt, dullness, filth,
heaviness, poverty, roughness