This simple tool can help you choose color combinations that work well together.
The color wheel is a simple tool for picking paint colors anddeciding which hues go together.
There are three primary colors, three secondary colors, and six tertiary colors.
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Primary colorsare red, blue, and yellow.
Secondary colorsare orange, green, and purple.
Tertiary colorsare formed by mixing a primary color with a secondary color next to it on the color wheel.
Credit:Max Kim-Bee
Tertiary colors include:
Refer to the color wheel chart to distinguish primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
There are four common types of color schemes derived from the color wheel.
Thinkpale blue, sky blue, and navy.
Credit: James Nathan Schroder
Make a monochromatic palette work by including a variety of shades and textures to make the room stand out.
You could also use small accessories for a pop of a brighter tone.
Finally, a knit throw and woven rug add textural variety to the narrow color scheme.
Credit:Photographer: Carmel Brantley / Design: Kemble Interiors
Monochromatic palettes are more interesting when you mix in accent pieces that have undertones of neighboring colors.
Neighboring hues work well because they share the same base colors.
Pick one shade as the main color in a room.
Credit: David Tsay
Then, choose one, two, or three shades to be accent hues.
The pink and blue accents share the same purple undertones, so they suit the color wheel design.
Awarm gray wall colorrounds out the room.
Complementary Colors.Credit: Barb Gordon
Thesecomplementary colors work well togetherbecause they balance each other visually.
A bright shade of orange offers warmth and brightness that balances a deep cobalt blue.
The key is not letting one color overtake the other.
Secondary Colors.Credit: Barb Gordon
As the wall color, blue appears more prominently, while orange serves as an accent.
The two colors appear on other elements throughout the space for a cohesive look.
Keep a complementary color palette in balance by choosing hues with similar undertones and intensity.
Primary Colors.Credit: Barb Gordon
This combination forms a color palette with vivid contrasts and balanced colors.
These vibrant schemes work well because theyoffer a happy, energizing atmosphere.
Use the three colors in varying shades and tints to create contrast or to soften the brightness.
Split Complementary Colors.Credit: Barb Gordon
Colors are considered warm or cool because of association.
For a balanced look, don’t limit your palette to all warm colors or all cool colors.
Let one dominate and set the overall tone of the room, but include elements that offer contrast.
Tertiary Colors.Credit: Barb Gordon
Analogous:neighbors on the color wheel such as yellow, yellow-orange, and orange.
These colors do not have high intensity or saturation and create a relaxing space.
Tint:any color with white added
Tone:a color’s intensity or its degree of lightness or darkness
