Colour in design is always one of my favourite topics because colour is so interesting. Even as kids, learning and experimenting with colours is an activity we all genuinely enjoy. As one of the elements of design, colour in interior design is pivotal for creating the appropriate atmosphere for a space. The colours incorporated in a room can determine the room’s ambience and evoke psychological reactions from us as humans. These reactions could be happy, energetic, peaceful, serene, creative, or even melancholic.
The Concept of Colour
Sir Isaac Newton was the first to invent the colour wheel in the 17th century; it was later published to the open in 1704 in his book Opticks. There are three classes of colour according to him: primary, secondary and tertiary. The three primary colours are red, blue and yellow. They are primary because other colours can’t be mixed to produce them. The secondary colours are obtained by mixing the primary colours: green, purple and orange. While the tertiary colours are obtained from mixing the primary and secondary colours together.
Further elements of colour to consider include hues, values, and saturation. Hues are the colors themselves, for example red, green, black etc. Hues are distinct from each other just as how a yellow hue is very distinct from a purple hue. Values refer to how light or dark a colour can be. Lighter colours have more value; for example, white has the highest value because other colours can be placed on it well. In contrast, black has the lowest value since it absorbs other colours. You can increase or decrease the value of other hues by more than lighter or darker.
Saturation refers to the intensity or vibrancy of a colour. Doing certain things to a colour can reduce its saturation. When you add grey to a colour, you make it a tone. When you add black you make it a shade, and when you add white to a colour, you make it a tint. Tones, shades and tints all have reduced saturation.
COLOUR IN DESIGN
Colour in design can be used to evoke emotion, set the mood, create ambience, communicate information and guide the eyes through a room. Certain colours signify certain things, and most times people use these colours in appropriate places. For instance, the colour red can be used to signify danger, urgency, romance or love. The colour blue on the other hand signifies peace and tranquility, calmness and trust. The colour white in design signifies cleanliness, purity, and simplicity; it can also be used to open up a space, to make it appear larger or bigger. While the colour black signifies sophistication, and elegance and can make a room appear more closed up. Yellow and orange colours convey vibrancy, life and warmth, while the colour purple can signify wealth, royalty and luxury.
Using the Colours Scheme in Interior Design
When trying to design a space with colour, one must consider the colour scheme and its varieties. The colour scheme deals with the colour wheel and how the colours on this wheel relate to each other. The colours could be monochromatic, analogous, triadic, or complementary. Another variant of classifying colours is warm and cool colours. This is also important when deciding what colour to use in the interiors or exteriors of a home. Start with a main base colour or a hero colour and build your colour palette off of that. You can use the colour wheel and scheme to pick colours that show contrast or as accents.
Monochromatic scheme: This is using different shades, tones and tints of just one colour throughout your design. It creates a very sophisticated and elegant look.
It can also be accomplished by using different shades, tones and tints of the two neutrals: black and white. The monochromatic scheme is usually used in minimalistic designs.
Analogous scheme: This can be accomplished by using colours adjacent to each other on the colour wheel. For example, for the colour purple, the colours red and violet are adjacent to it in the colour wheel and would therefore be analogous colours. Using the analogous scheme could be a bit overwhelming, so be sure to incorporate shades or tones to avoid this.
Complementary scheme: This describes using two colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel. This is usually to create a vivid contrast for a vibrant environment. it can achieved by picking one main colour and using its complementary colour as an accent in the design. To avoid being visually overwhelmed, use shades and tones of the colours to create a balance. For example, you can use orange and royal blue as accents.
Triadic scheme: These are three colours that are equal parts away from each other on the colour wheel for example, the primary colours red, blue and yellow. To use this scheme, one colour is picked as the dominant colour while the other two are used as accents. This scheme can be more vibrant than the analogous scheme. It’s advisable to incorporate the accent colours in shades and tints.
Remember colors can set the mood and emotions of a space, so picking to right colors for the emotion you’re trying to convey is important. If you’re trying to go for a calm, serene mood, or a vibrant, lively and playful scene, your colour choices will differ. Always keep in mind colour harmony, that is, the colours you pick should work well with each other and create a visually appealing look.
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