Are you ready to give your home a fresh coat of paint? Having trouble choosing colors that work together? This is when it's time to take a page out of an artist's book and study color theory. Using color theory when painting your home will ensure that your colors work together and combine into a cohesive appearance.
Not sure how this works? No problem; We are here to talk about it. Read on to learn how you can use color theory to freshen up your home.
What is color theory?
Unless you are an artist or a seasoned painter, you may not know anything about color theory. That's okay! That’s why we’re here. Color theory is a set of fundamental ideas about how colors work with each other. It explains the visual effects of colors when used alone or in combination, and how each color can be achieved. People use color theory in home design to give their home an attractive and cohesive look.
The basics of color theory
You don't have to know all about color theory when giving your home a new coat of paint or redesigning the decor in your room. You just need to know a few basic ideas (and how to use them). First, take a look at a color wheel. A color wheel shows you all of the colors in the rainbow and the relationships between these colors. There are three basic categories of colors. These are primary colors, secondary colors, and tertiary colors. Many of us already know the primary colors. They are colors that cannot be made by combining other colors. They are made up of red, yellow and blue. Secondary colors are made by mixing primary colors. They are green, orange, and purple.
Tertiary colors are made by mixing the secondary colors. You also need to know the difference between color relationships. We'll talk more about this over the course of the tips. However, look at the position of your color on the color wheel to find out which of these relationships is best for you.
Use the color temperature to your advantage
Colors have temperatures. While they're not literally hot or cold, our eyes associate temperatures with them. Warm colors are red, strong yellow and oranges. Cool colors are blue, green, and purple. Intermediate colors (like tertiary colors) have some leeway. Use this temperature to your advantage. If you want to give a room a cool and calming look, shades of blue provide this effect. If you want a room to look warm and cozy, shades of red, warm brown, and oranges are ideal. Find out what “mood” the room should emit and select an appropriate temperature.
Use contrasting colors for a bold look
Contrasting or complementary colors add a touch of color to your home. People often use these colors as their main colors and accent colors. Complementary colors face each other in the color wheel. For example, red and green complement each other. This increases visual interest. When using complementary colors, try to keep large spaces neutral. In other words, a red accented wall and green chairs or furniture can work well, but red walls paired with green carpeting are too much. Instead, make your walls white or beige to balance the look.
Split complementary for a softer look
If you want the visual interest without the bold and aggressive complementary colors, try a split complementary color scheme. When looking at the color wheel, choose your main color. We stay with red. Instead of choosing the color directly opposite (real green), we move one field to both sides. This means that the red is paired with teal and a yellowish green. This look is a lot softer, but you still get the contrast. You don't have to rely on neutral tones.
Change colors with neutral
If you want a more monochromatic look, don't stick to one hue. There is no visual interest and the color is overwhelming. Instead, add neutral colors to your colors to transform them into something new. Let's say you start with pink. Too much pink doesn't have to be overwhelming when using different types of pink. However, if you mix pinks mixed with different colors (such as real pinks versus magenta), the appearance becomes messier. Instead, consider tinting, shading, and tinting your colors. When tinting your colors add white to them. When you shade them add black. When you tone them you need to add gray. All of this results in different but similar colors that look great in combination.
Look at analog colors
If you like the look of colors that are similar but want a small change, analog colors are for you. These colors form common "color schemes" in design and are also the colors that are often found on color chips in hardware stores. Analog colors are those that are next to each other on the color wheel. For example, if you choose a teal color, you have a greener color on the right and a bluer color on the left. These colors can be easily combined and give the room a cohesive appearance without being too “suitable”. Choose one color as the dominant color and add the other accents.
Is it time to paint your home?
Use these painting tips to give your home a fresh and beautiful paint job and design that is easy on the eyes. You don't have to be an artist to use color theory in your home design. Check out the rest of the website for more helpful home improvement articles!
