Learn About Color

In order to better understand color selection and why colors work together, you need to understand color theory. The basic map for color theory is known as the color wheel. The color wheel is a circular arrangement of the spectrum that illustrates the relationship between colors.


Refers to the color family or name of a color such as: red, orange and blue


Is the degree of lightness or darkness of a color.


Refers to the intensity of the color. The amount of black added to a color will lessen the colors saturation, making it more muted.


Red, yellow and blue.


Green, orange and purple.


Primary and Secondary mixed: Yellow-Green, Blue-Green, Red-Purple.


Warm colors have a cozier feeling and make a welcoming statement in a room.


Cool colors evoke a more tranquil mood within a space.


If you're looking for a clean, sophisticated look, the monochromatic color scheme is for you. A monochromatic scheme is the easiest to create with subtle variations in lightness and saturation of a single color. The result is a look that's calming, organized and buttoned-down.


You might think that opposites attract, but it's the colors adjacent to each other that really offer the nuances. Pick one color as a dominant color and use the colors that are adjacent to it for accents, to give the scheme some texture and visual interest.

