How to select your house colors effectively?

Colour is one of the basic elements of design, and its use greatly enhances the beauty of an object. It is widely appreciated and can bring decor to life. However, technically correct a painting may be, ‘its’ real charm lies in the use of appropriate colours in it. So, to understand about the appreciation of colours, the nature and language of colours is to be known.

Just as an object has three dimension- lengths, breadth and thickness, so colours have 3 features, Hue, value and intensity.

Hue means simply the name of the colour like red, blue and yellow. Value refers to the amount of lightness or darkness of a colour. It is achieved mixing either white or black with the basic colours. White is the highest value, no hue is as light as white. Black is the lowest value, as no colour is so dark black.

Intensity refers to the strength or purity of a colour. It is the brightness or dull of a colour. It is achieved by mixing it with its complement e.g. bright-blue, reddish brown etc.

Prang Colour Scheme or the Colour Wheel

There are several theories regarding colour. One of them is the Prang colour or the colour wheel. According to this system, all colours are obtained from the three or primary colours- Red, yellow, blue.

When two primary colours are mixed in equal proportion, a binary or seconds: colour results as:

Yellow + blue = Green

Yellow + Red = Orange

Red + Blue = Purple

All primary and secondary colours are commonly called as the standard colours.

When a primary and the neighboring binary colour are mixed, intermediate colour results as:

Yellow + Green = Yellow Green

Blue + Green = Blue Green

Blue + Violet = Blue Violet

Red + Violet = Red Violet

Red + Orange = Red Orange

Yellow + Orange = Yellow Orange

The three primary, three binary and six intermediate colours constitute the Outer Circle of the Plang Colour Wheel.

When two binary or secondary colours are mixed, a tertiary colour results as follows:

Green + Orange = Tertiary Yellow

Green + Purple = Tertiary blue

Orange + Purple = Tertiary Red

A mixture of two tertiary colours, gives a quaternary hue such as:

Tertiary yellow + Tertiary blue = Quaternary green

Tertiary blue + Tertiary Red = Quaternary purple

Tertiary yellow + Tertiary Red = Quaternary Orange

In the Prang Colour Wheel, colours are arranged in a circle with yellow at the top centre, blue on the right and red on the left side of the vertical line.

Colour schemes

In interior decoration, knowledge of the different combination of colours is very much essential. This can be achieved by experience and also by the use of certain colour schemes:

1. Harmony of Related Colours

2. Harmony of Contrasting Colours

Harmony of Related Colours

This colour harmony is obtained by using colours which are similar. There are two ways of doing this:

a. Monochromatic Colour Harmony

b. Analogous colour Harmony.

Monochromatic Colour Harmony

It consists of using one colour in varying value or intensity such as light-blue, navy blue and royal-blue. Here, the major colour is allowed to pre-dominate and the sequence of shade is gradual. It is often termed as monochromatic. However, charming effects can be obtained through a contrast in the texture of the materials used.

Analogues Colour Harmony

This colour harmony consists of colours, immediately adjacent to each other on the colour wheel. They provide a more interesting variety and are restful, because they contain a portion of the same colours. For example:

1. Yellow-green, yellow, yellow-orange or

2. Red-purple, purple, blue-purple and so on. In such a harmony, only one of the primary colours should be used.

Harmony of contrasting colours

There are four ways of obtaining contrasting harmonies. They are:

1. Complementary harmony

2. Double complementary harmony

3. Split complementary harmony

4. Triads.

Complementary harmony

This colour harmony is achieved by the use of two colours, which lie directly opposite to each other on the colour wheel. For example, yellow and purple, red and green, blue and orange. This combination is quite balanced, but only one colour should dominate and the other subdued. They are excellent for room and window displays.

Double complementary harmony

The use of two colours along with their complements is termed as double complementary colour harmony. One hue should be outstanding and it should be used in a large amount. For example- yellow and yellow-orange to blue and blue-violet.

Split complementary harmony

This harmony consists of the use of three colours. A single colour is used with the two colours lying adjacent on either side of its complement, on the colour wheel, for example- when yellow is used with red-purple and blue-purple.

Triads

In this harmony, any three colours which are equidistant from each other on the colour wheel are used. So, four triads are produced in this combination.

(i) Yellow, blue, red

(ii) Green, purple, orange

(iii) Yellow-green, blue-purple, red-orange

(iv) Blue-green, red-purple, yellow-green.

Triads form the richest of all harmonies and afford a pleasant variety of combinations.

Use of colour in interior decoration

Colour produces magical effect in interior decoration. Since, they can transform darkness into light, dullness into brightness, gloominess into cheerfulness and drabness into beauty. The home is a colorful place, with different coloured furniture’s and accessories such as draperies, rugs, pictures etc. It is of primary importance in the emotional life of the occupants.

Some colours produce certain characteristic effects:

Orange red and peach are stimulating.

Green blue are soothing.

Blue is serene and cool, but in excess causes depression.

Green is easy and cool symbolic of freshness and youth.

Yellow is vibrant and strong, cheerful and gay.

Violet is cold and the colour of royalty.

The left side of the colour wheel constitutes the warm colours- red, orange, yellow and the right side constitutes the cool colours- blue, green, and violet. White and black at natural colours.

There are some colours which create visual illusion and are termed as advance and receding colours. Warm hues seem to advance and cool hues seem to recede. Sol in interior decoration, warm advancing colours should be kept in the foreground, otherwise] room will look smaller. Whereas pale, cool, natural colours appear too reced and create the illusion of more space.

While planning the colour-schemes for various rooms of the house, the follow factors must be kept in the mind:

1. The room- its size, shape and exposure to light.

2. Activities to be performed in the room.

3. Personal choice of the person, who is going to use the room.

4. Current fashion.

5. Choice of floor and floor coverings.

An analysis of a room is the first factor in making colour schemes for it. If a room is small and dark, light and vibrant colours can be used, to make it appear larger and lighted. On the contrary, a large room will appear smaller and closer when warm colour is used.

Secondly, the use of a room influences its colour scheme to a greater extent] Colour can help to emphasize the purpose of a room. For example, bed-room is a place of rest and quiet. So, a colour which produces a peaceful atmosphere and brings tranquility! Should be determined for it, such as blue or blue-green.

Every individual is distinctive of its own particular preference. So, the personal choice of the inmate should be given due emphasis to bring maximum psychological satisfaction.

Lastly, the choice of floors and floor coverings need to be carefully chosen, so that| they do not upset the balance of colours in the room.

Hence, skillful use of colours is the best way of giving individuality to a room and| the house at large.