Colour and colour combinations for House Designing

Colour and colour combinations

 

The appeal of colour is universal. It enhances the beauty of objects and gives satisfaction to the mankind. Each colour has got its own characteristic such as irritating, charming, boring, welcoming or repelling. Because of these effects, colour affect the atmosphere of the home and we react emotionally to different colours.

Dimensions of colour

 

Colour has three qualities or dimensions. They are hue, value and intensity.

 

Hue: hue indicates the name of the colour. Examples are red, yellow, blue etc.

Value: Value indicates the lightness or darkness of a colour. The value of the colour can be changed by adding white or water to make it lighter and black or more colour to make it darker than the normal colour. A value that is lighter than the normal hue is termed as tint and a value darker than the normal hue is termed shade.

 

Example: Red is a normal hue. Pink is tint of red and maroon is shade of red.

 

Dr. Denman W. Ross has given nine degrees of value scales ranging from white to black. While is the highest of all values and no colour can be as light as white. Black is the lowest of all values and no colour can be as dark as black. When black and white are mixed, we get seven different scales of grey namely highlight, light, lowlight, middle, light dark, dark and low dark, based on the amount of black and white present in the grey colour.

 

Ross Value Scale

 

White

High Light

Light

Low Light

Middle

High Dark

Dark

Low Dark

Black

 

Intensity

 

This indicates the brightness or dullness of a colour. It indicates the purity or strength of a colour.

Classification of colours

 

Prang colour chart: According to Prang colour chart, there are three primary colours. They are yellow, blue and red. They are called primary colours because these colours cannot be produced by mixing other colours.

When two primary colours are mixed in equal proportions, we get

secondary colours.                      

Yellow   +       Blue  =       Green.

Blue       +       Red   =       Violet or Purple.

Red        +       Yellow        =       Orange

 

The primary and secondary colours together are called basic colours.

 

When a primary and an adjacent secondary colour is mixed an intermediate colour is produced. There are six intermediate colours.

They are                            

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 colours, three secondary colours and six intermediate colours form the outer circle of the Prang colour chart.

 

When two binary colours are mixed a tertiary colour is produced. There are three tertiary colours. They are

Green     +       Orange        =   Grey Yellow or Smoky Yellow.

Orange   +       Violet          =       Grey Red or Old brick Red.

Green     +       Violet          =       Grey Blue or Slate Blue.

 

When two tertiary colours are mixed a quaternary colour is produced. There are three quaternary colours.

They are                            

Smoky Yellow +       Old Brick Red =  Grey Orange or Buff.

Smoky Yellow +       Slate Blue   =       Grey Green or Olive Green

Old Brick Red +       Slate Blue   =       Grey Violet or Prune.

 

The three tertiary and three quaternary colours form the inner circle of the prang colour chart. Grey colour is in the centre of the Prang colour chart.

 

When we draw an imaginary vertical line in the centre of the Prang colour chart, the colours will be divided into two large groups. The colours on the right side of the prang colour chart closer to blue are cool colours and the ones on the left side, closer to red and orange are warm colours. Red and Orange are the warmest colours and Blue and Blue Green are the coolest colours.

 

Warm colours make the objects appear bigger and closer where as cool colours make the objects appear smaller and far away. Warm colours are cheerful and stimulating where as cool colours are calm and restful. Light values increase the size of the objects and dark values reduce the size.

Colour combination or colour harmonies

 

Colours should be combined effectively to create beauty, pleasure and satisfaction. They produce a sense of unity in colour combinations. Colour combination or colour harmonies can be classified into related and contrasting colour harmonies.

 

Related colour Harmony: They are obtained by using colours which are similar. They are classified into monochromatic and analogous colour harmony.

 

Monochromatic colour harmony: This is also known as one hue or one mode harmony. In this only one colour in different values and intensities is used. Example. Dark blue and light blue. In a monochromatic colour scheme, charming effects can be obtained through contrast in textures of the materials used.

 

Analogous colour harmony: In this colour scheme the colours which are lying adjacent to each other in the prang colour chart are used. They provide interesting variety than monochromatic harmony. The colours should be of different intensities and values.

Examples: Yellow, Yellow Green, Red, Red Orange, Orange.

Contrasting colour harmonies

 

Complementary colour scheme: Two colours that are directly opposite in the Prang colour chart are combined. Example: Yellow and Violet, Blue and Orange.

Double complementary colour harmony: Two adjacent colours and their opposite colours In the Prang colour chart are combined. For example: Yellow, Yellow Green, Violet and Red Violet.

 

Split complementary colour harmony: In this a primary or an intermediate colour and the two colours that lie on either side of its complementary colour are combined. For example: Yellow, Blue Purple and Red Purple.

 

Triad: In this, three colours which are at equal distance in the Prang colour chart are combined. We get four triads namely primary, secondary and two intermediate triads.

 

Primary Triad - Yellow, Blue and Red. Secondary Triad - Green, Orange and Violet. Intermediate Triad -

Blue Green, Red Purple and Yellow Orange

 

Yellow Green, Blue Purple and Red Orange.

 

Tetrad: This is formed by any four hues equidistant. on the Prang colour chart. Example : Green, Yellow Orange, Red and Blue Purple.

 

Factors to be considered while planning colour scheme:

The expected effect in size, shape and direction of the room.

 

The mood to be created in the room. Example: Masculine, feminine, traditional, formal, etc.

Individual preference of the family members.

The activities to be carried out in each room.

 

Colours of other existing furniture and furnishings in the house.

 

Only one colour should dominate.

 

The basic colour should occupy atleast 60-70% of the whole colour scheme. Second hue should be used in lesser quantity and if a third colour is used, it should be used in least quantity.

 

Follow 'Law of areas' that is, larger the area lighter the colour and smaller the area brighter the colour.

The current trends and fashions.