COLOR SCHEMES
• Certain colors used
together in design
• There are seven basic
color harmonies
MONOCHROMATIC
• Based on a single hue and
is the simplest color
harmony
• Variation is achieved by
changing the value and
intensity of a hue and by
adding neutral accents
• Makes a room appear
larger and unified
ANALOGOUS
• Combines three to five
adjacent related hues on
the color wheel
• Look best when one color
is dominant
• Examples:
– Yellow, yellow orange,
orange
– Green, blue-green, and
blue
PG 116
COMPLEMENTARY
• Combining two hues
that are directly
opposite each other on
the standard color
wheel
• Makes the colors
appear more intense
• Examples
– Red/green,
yellow/purple,
orange/blue
SPLIT COMPLEMENTARY
• Combining one hue and
the two hues on each side
of its complement
• Examples
– Red orange/ green/ blue
– yellow/blue-violet and redviolet
TRIADIC
• Combination of any three
colors that are of equal
distance from each other
• The most common is the
three primaries: red, blue
and yellow
• This can be tricky because
of the sharp contrast
– Example: purple, orange,
green
DOUBLE COMPLEMENT
• Combines two sets of
color complements
• Examples:
– Red/green and
blue/orange
File #: 4482480
NEUTRALS
• Made by using
combinations of black,
white and gray
• Shades of cream, brown,
tans and beiges may also
be used
• If it is one of any of these
colors it is still
considered a neutral
color scheme
File #:
9290653
COLOR DECISIONS
• Consider color harmonies that happen in nature
– Ex: earth tones
• Think about the fabric you want to use or a painting
you want to hang in the room
– Pull colors from these samples
• Some places are able to match paint colors directly to samples
• Always choose a dominant color
– Sometimes and equal amount of colors is overwhelming