The Color Wheel

Colors on the color wheel are divided into three groups:

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  Primary

  Red, Yellow and Blue

  Primary colors cannot be made by combining other colors, but all colors can be made from them.

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  Secondary

  Orange (red + yellow), Green (yellow + blue), Purple (blue + red)

  Secondary colors are made by combining two primary colors.

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  Tertiary

  Yellow-Orange, Yellow-Green, Blue-Green, Blue-Purple, Red-Purple, Red-Orange

  Tertiary colors are made by combining a primary color and a secondary color. The resulting color name lists the primary color first, followed by the secondary color.

Color Characteristics

Every color can be described as having 3 distinct characteristics:

• Hue (also referred to as color)

  Hue ranges from warm to cool

  Hue is what we usually mean when we ask “what color is that?” The characteristic of color that we are actually asking about is “hue”. For example, when we talk about colors that are red, yellow, green and blue, we are talking about hue.

• Shade (also referred to as lightness)

  Shade ranges from light to dark

  Shade describes the lightness or darkness of a color. Shade is controlled by adding white or black to any hue from the color wheel, making it lighter or darker. The amount of white or black added determines how light or dark the new color becomes.

  

• Intensity (also referred to as saturation)

  Intensity ranges from vivid to dull

  All hues on the color wheel are at their maximum intensity, or most vivid. You can dull any hue by adding gray. The amount of dulling is contolled by the strength of the gray added.

  

• Temperature

  Warm Colors: Red, Orange, and Yellow

  Warm colors advance and can create a cozy feeling. Passion & energy can be associated with warm colors and can be used to create a feeling within a space. Using warm accents will create a visual “pop” when used in a color scheme.

  Cool Colors: Green, Blue, and Purple

  Cool colors recede and will create a feeling of spaciousness and depth. Serenity and freshness are associated with cool colors, which is why they are often popular choices for bedrooms and bathrooms. Using darker shades of a cool color will help ground a space.

  

Combining Colors

Combining colors may seem to be a daunting task, so we’ve provided the following guidelines to take the mystery out of this crucial process. We also provide many color combinations on our color cards.

Like colors themselves, color combinations fall into distinct categories:

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  Monochromatic (or Same)

  One hue on the color wheel

  Since all colors in a monochromatic combination share the same hue, there is no discord and the results can be very beautiful when shade and intensity are varied.

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  Analogous (or Similar)

  Adjacent hues on the color wheel

  Although these colors have much in common, there is slight tension between them that can be used to your advantage. Combinations from bright and summery to elegant and understated can be achieved by combining similar hues and adjusting shade and intensity.

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  Complementary

  Opposite hues on the color wheel

  Complementary colors contain all the colors in the spectrum, and as such their combinations can be harmonious. But complementary colors should be used with caution, because friction between the colors can create a disquieting mixture. Vary the shade and intensity between complementary colors for a pleasing outcome.

• 

  Split Complementary (or Contrasting Hues)

  Two hues separated by 4 hues on the color wheel

  Although they use hues that are nearly opposite on the color wheel, split complementary combinations can blend well and be very pleasing.

• 

  Triads

  3 hues separated on the color wheel

  There are thousands of ways to combine three colors on the color wheel. When carefully crafted, triads can create some of the most beautiful color combinations of all. You can achieve results from retro to natural to festive but remember to vary shade and intensity or your triads can easily become overwhelming.