Room Color Schemes - Using The Color Wheel

by HDME Staff

Trying to sort out your room color schemes? It is common knowledge that certain colors clash so badly that they can not exist in the same item, outfit, or room without creating a sense of dissonance that can lead to being completely uncomfortable.

However, not everyone realizes which color combinations clash the worst or how many poor matches are possible before finding room color schemes that match well. This is why use of the color wheel can prove quite useful in selecting one's room color schemes.

First, one must understand a few simple terms used when referring to the color wheel. Hue is another word meaning color, but the two words are not interchangeable. This is because it is possible to create different hues of the same color by adding different things to it.

We can tint a color by adding pure white to it. Shading a color is accomplished by adding black to it. A color's tone is changed by adding gray, which is a fifty/fifty mix of black and white. A color's value is determined by how dark or light it is.

Now, armed with these definitions, we are ready to look at how the color wheel can be helpful. There are four basic room color schemes that can be chosen from using the color wheel to select colors that go together. These are monochromatic, complimentary, analogous, and triadic.

A monochromatic room color schemes make use of a single color. This color can be changed using different tints, tones, shades, and values to create a broad spectrum of hues while remaining true to the single color theme.

Complementary room color schemes involve two colors that lay exactly 180 degrees apart on the color wheel. Examples would be red and green or yellow and violet. Taking two opposing colors and working with their different tones, tints, and shades can create a very dramatic color scheme.

Analogous room color schemes make use of three colors that lie adjacent to one another one the color wheel. One can choose to make such color schemes have a warm or a cool feeling by varying the tint or shade of the colors.

Triadic room color schemes are those that lie an equal distance apart on the color wheel. One example would be the three primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. Combining three triadic colors in different tints and shades can be very dramatic and energizing or very relaxing, depending on the effect being sought and which hues are dominant in the color scheme.

The Big Question for YOU!
Which color scheme strategy above do you prefer to use in decorating and why? Tell us some of your best secrets for selecting and matching colors whether it involves paint, fabric, etc.