Putting the Color Wheel to Work for Your Home

The color wheel, first developed by Sir Issac Newton in the 17th Century is a visual device that illustrates how colors relate to one another. It has proven to be an excellent tool for interior designers to help their clients understand how color families interact with one another.

Understanding Cool Versus Warm

One of the color wheel's most important features is to illustrate cool and warm colors. Drawing a line down the center of the color circle, from yellow-green to red-violet separates the warm and cool colors. Warm colors or active colors include yellows, oranges, browns, yellowish greens and orangish reds. These colors with a connection to the earth, sun and fire are full of energy, inspire socialization and often have a dominating presence. They can add intensity to small and boring areas of the home. They are also praised for the ability to inspire creativity and are often an excellent choice for the kitchen, dining room and office. Cool colors such as blues, greens, pinks, purples, blue-greens, magentas and blue-based reds remind us of the elements such as air and water. Passive or cool colors include purples, blues and greens. Unlike their active cousins, these colors have been designed to blend quietly into the background to encourage relaxation. Cool colors are often used in bedrooms, studies and bathrooms.

Creating Harmony

The color wheel can be used to help you create harmony, defined as something pleasing to the eye, in your room and home. Harmony engages the viewer creating a balance in the visual experience. On the flip side, a room lacking harmony will be either boring or chaotic. There are many theories for creating color harmony. The most basic formulas include choosing complementary colors, those directly opposite on the color wheel. Complementary colors, such as green and red, intensify each other when paired. Another basic harmony formula includes analogous colors, or colors adjacent on the color wheel. These pairings such as yellow and green, or blue and purple tend to create harmonious, low-contrast, mellow schemes.

Frank is pleased to offer complimentary color consultation with all signed contracts. So whether you have a flair for the dramatic or enjoy a more subtle decorating approach, Frank and his team of interior designers can help you achieve the perfect harmony you crave for your home. Estimates are always free so give Frank a call today at 544-8582 or contact him online.