Design Basics: Working with color wheels

Color can be so confusing. For something routine and ever-present in our lives, color proves to be complex and even a bit mystical when you try to tame it. After all, you’re really dealing with light, electromagnetic radiation from the worlds of Albert Einstein and Sir Issac Newton.

Sir Issac, in fact, invented the color wheel, used every day by every home design expert.

What is color? Think of it as light. The measure of light reflectance value (LRV) shows how light or dark a shade will be. Lighter colors reflect more light than darker colors, making small rooms seem larger. The reverse with darker colors in the same hue. If you want to lower a ceiling, for example, paint it darker to discourage reflection.

Primary colors exist in their own worlds. They are not the products of combining colors. Typically, primary colors are red, green and blue (RGB). “Pure colors” (or “ideal) usually are listed as red, green, blue and yellow with black and white thrown in for practicality.

Secondary colors are produced by combining two primaries.

Tertiary colors combine primaries and secondary hues.

Another important concept is that of “additive color” and “subtractive” color.” Subtractive begins with white and adds degrees of darkness as it moves to black.

Additive color method begins at black and moves to white. Colors are thus “added” as black is the absence of light.

Warm colors usually are from red through yellow with browns. Cool colors are blue green through blue violet.

These dynamics all play out on color wheels.

About designers’ color wheels: Modern designers and artists use color-circle software for complicated work. There are various color systems and color wheels for different activities, such as painting or printing. All web site designers use online-friendly color circles and “hex codes.” Interior design consultants use them daily.

The color wheel is attributed to Sir Isaac Newton, although the concept has been expanded and adjusted in every century since Newton’s days. The history of color wheels stretches through the centuries.

One way of using a color circle is to draw a straight line between a color on one side of the wheel and its 180-degree match on the other side. These colors are complementary. That relationship can produce harmony or strong, tense contrasts, depending on the situation and your viewpoint. You as an individual have your own sense of “complementary colors,” so the result of this wheeled geometry may not be ideal for your home.

Medium contrasts are achieved by picking colors that result from a tight triangular pattern (split complementary). Colors that are next to each other on the wheel offer the lowest contrasts and are the least problematic to match, although the results may not be particularly vibrant.

The more you know about colors and their relationships, the more likely you’ll be able to successfully direct your custom furniture builders.