Choosing the right colors for any application is not just an art but also a science. The science of color theory can easily be explained with the help of a colour wheel.
Colors form an integral part of our life and are present in every aspect of it, be it in the nature around us, in food, clothes or other items of daily life. Why, we even have a festival called Holi that celebrates colors!!
Different colors evoke different psychological responses in us as the human brain reacts differently to each color.
Have you ever wondered why some color combinations seem striking and pleasing while our senses find others jarring?
Basic Elements of a Colour Wheel
Primary colors: Yellow, blue and red form the basis of the color wheel and are known as primary colors. Primary colors are not formed by mixing any colors.
Secondary colors: Green, orange and purple are called secondary colours as they are formed by mixing equal amounts of any two primary colours. So, we get green by mixing blue and yellow, mixing yellow and red gives us orange and a mix of red and blue forms purple.
Tertiary colors: When a primary color is mixed with a neighbouring secondary color on the color wheel, tertiary colors are formed. For example, mixing a primary color like yellow and a secondary color like green results in a tertiary color called yellow green.
Likewise, mixing red with orange gives us a tertiary color called red-orange and mixing blue with purple gives us blue-purple or indigo.
Tired of using only primary colors in your home interiors? Go ahead and experiment with secondary and tertiary colors and watch your interiors come alive.
Warm and Cool Colors
Did you know that colors can have ‘temperatures’? Yes, you read that right!
The hues of the color wheel are divided into ‘warm’ and ‘cool’ colors depending on the feelings and emotions they evoke in people.
Colors usually associated with the sun or fire are called warm colors. Lively and instantly noticeable colors like red, yellow, orange and their shades are warm colors.
Colors like blue, green and purple that are associated with water and the sky. As a result, they calm the mind and are soothing to the eye are therefore called cool colors. If you live in a cold place, using warm colors to do up your home promotes a sense of warmth and coziness. On the other hand, having blues and greens inside your home bring on a cool and relaxed feel, if you live in a warm and sunny place.
Before choosing to do up your interiors, consider the size of the room as warm colors in a small room could give out a stuffy feeling while cool colors in a large one could send out a cold, stark impression.
Neutral colors
So, where does this leave colors like white, black and grey? Well, these are called neutral colors since they blend in with any color scheme and do not stand out like other colors. Love minimalism and classical styles? Go neutral. Neutrals are timeless and never go out of fashion. For this reason, they are the ideal choice for formal interiors.
Hope you enjoyed reading this section on the color wheel. Stay tuned to learn more about colors and color schemes in the next part.
