coLor
mAs distinguished from tone, results from the hues of
the spectrum.
mit may be inherent (colored by nature}
iit may be applied (painted or decorated)
The HUES ofthe spectrum are:
PRIMARY COLORS ~ red, yellow, blue
‘SECONDARY COLORS - orange, green, violet
TERTIARY COLORS ~ red-orange, yellow-orange
yellow-green, blue-green, blue violet, red-violet
THE DIFFERENT COLOR SCHEMES
*MONOCHROMATIC- uses one color in different
shades or tints
-COMPLIMENTARY- colors opposite each other in
the color whee! ( Yellow and violet)
*SPLIT-COMPLIMENTARY- a color and the two
‘colors besides its compliment ( yellow, biue-volet,
red-vilet)
sANALOGOUS- 3 or mote colors beside each other
on the color wheel
“TRIADS - uses three colors
PSYCHOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF COLORS
Roc-orange — heat, stimulation, activity, richness,
splendor and dignity
‘Pink ~ daintiness, gaiety, animation
Yellow, yellow-green — dryness, crispness,
relaxation, warmth, light, cheer
Green-blue ~ coldness, spaciousness, passivity,
tranquility
Violet - coolness, limpness, dullness, daintiness,
reservation, femininity
s=Brown — warmth
DECORATIVE USES and EFFECTS of COLORS
‘Red: stimulating or cheering to the melancholy or
lazy; upsetting to the nervous or overactive; attention
compelling (use in dining room, library and kilchen in
small quantities)
Blue — soothing to the nervous; depressing to the
morose. Inseparablo mentally with limitabilty- the
old immensity of space, infiniy. It has an intellectual
appeal, Symbolially, it is the color of truth, which is
the resuit of calm reflection and never of heated
argument
‘Yellow- in certain hues, the sensation of glory,
cheerfulness; in other variations, cowardice,
cheapness. Connotes splendor, radiance, vividness. It
is of great healing value to the brain, (use in masses
‘or small quantities, where ight is poor.
-Green ~ cooling, not productive of extreme reaction,
Symbolic of serenity and rebirth; suggestive of hope.
Orange - associated with lite, wellbeing, energy,
{avoid bright orange in messes)
-Browmn (tan-golden brown) depressing if used alone;
best combined with orange, yellow, gold. (use
‘sparingly to avoid drabness, in living room, brary)
Purple (plum, mauve, orchid) - associated with
heroism, or with passion and mystery, pomp,
gorgeousness, it has a soothing influence, (use
sparingly in living room, library.
-Lavender, violet - (may be used in bodrooms)
-Pink — slightly stimulating. (use in masses, or in
bedroom or nursery)
‘Black, white, gray ~ intensify colors in a room
COLOR USAGE
1sTo create a cool or warm atmosphere
wTo create a spacious ora small ora small space
ssTo create a dark or bright room
mTo denote as code of function and safety
ssTo stimulate or reduce excitability
COLOR as an EXPRESSION ELEMENT of DESIGN
‘=Uiform color of the four walls of a room
Spreading Effect
Ares effect
‘mColors on non-uniform background
miradiation Effect (Iilsions)
COLOR BRILLIANCE
1812 steps of gray from white to black and the hues in
matching briliance
PALETTES.
Primary Colors
Primary & Noutral Colors
Secondary Colors,
sTinis and Shades
Primary with B & W
smBlack and White
ssMonochromatic Scheme
Tints
Shades
Mixture band Splitcomplimentary pairs
‘sComplimentary pairs and mixtures
ssMixture of two complimentary pairs
Shades and tones of Colors,
THE CONCORD OF COLORS
Harmony — implies balance and symmetry of force
ve tt
3016. 258
slaversion of Proportion
ssColor against cold and warm colors
‘=Contrast of warm and cold colors
‘=Cold warm modulation of colors
INTENSITY OF COLORS
Colors against W & B
‘mColors against warm, cold or neutral colors
SIMULTANEOUS CONTRAST
sGray- each gray seems. fo be tinged with the
complimentary background, the simultaneous effect
becomes intense, the longer the principal color is
viewed
«Gray with bluish fink is intensified by the
simultancous effect
“Neutral gray suffers simultaneous modification
‘Gray with admixture of orange fails to be mosified
APPLICATIONS.
"Offices ~ cool and pastel
mindustrial Plants- red for fre equipment, yellow for
danger areas, green for first-aid station
mResidences- varies according fo function
mCommercia-stimulating and exciting ales im
lobbies, neutral in coridors
institutional — pastel colorsApplication #4
Textured surfaces absorb and reflect light differently
from flat surfaces, subtly changing the perfection and
feel of applied color. Found chairs, catefully sanded
and painted to hide wear and tear, appear creamy.
The colors seoms soft, By contrast, the painted fence
derives its visual interest from the rough-hewn surface
thal suits its natural and earthly hues,
Application # 2
It is believed that blue, particularly dark shades,
enhances the ablity to remember dreams. Bright
accent colors and 2 white duvet cover keep this
predominantly blue palette from overwhelming the
smell room
Application #3
‘The Architect and Interior Designer highlight a mostly
glass bedroom wall with a soft wash of green paint
‘The treatment adds just enough prominence to the
wall’s horizontal proportions to keep it from being lost
beneath the room's high ceiling
Application # 4
«The palette and patterns of this dining room designed
by artist Anne Kelly are slight variation on those of the
adjacent living roam, creating the ilusion of 2 room
within a room. Blue and pink borders imitate the look
‘of chair rails, an architectural detail usually seen in
more traditional rooms that protects the wall from
being scraped by chair backs
Application # §
Although they are unusual shades of yellow and
green, the duet of color on the checkerboard wall
hammonize and fit the whimsical feel of this family
‘oom designed by architects Hank Koning and Julio
Eizenberg
Application # 6
The dining room's muted walls are the perfect
background against which to showcase a collection of
colorful Riviera dinnerware
Application # 7
Color and texture enhance the rich neutral palette of
this craftsman-style dining room by Archt, Larry Totah
The thin band of rus-brown, which is composed of
hammered copper sheets, reflects ight differently from
the mottled wal treatment located beneath it
Application #8
A pearly off-white is 2 subtle backdrop to vintage
furnishings. Small amounts of warm yellow, reds, of
brown mixed into white paint wil create a warm, soft
shade of oftwhite
Application #9
The palette in Holly wood set designer Jeremy
Railton's ining room is dramatic and bold, but
because red, blue, and gold are prominent colors in
Chinese culture and lore, it is appropriate for the
COfiental décor. A white ceiling helps to open up the
color scheme and the room.
Application # 10
sin Archt, Jose de Yturbe's weekend home, potted
geraniums cascade down a specially designed,
stepped wall in an all-white breakfast room. The
flower's red and green palette, spotighted by surtight
creates a dramatic, naturally appealing color scheme,
Application # 11
A dream inspired Murphy to suspend cightecn
radiant red chandeliers from the ceiling of his white
living room, After removing the crystals, he painted
various materials- metal, plastic, copper- a fat white
for a consistent base color. His monochromatic color
scheme unifies the myriad of siyles, shapes, and
sizes
Application # 12
sin this room designed by Anne Kelly, the
Continuation ofthe celing color onto the top portion of
the walls shrinks the vertical dimensions by meking
the celing appear lover and the walls shorter. The
thin ochor band visually attaches the bottom of the
room to the top.
Application #13,
Color and design meld past and present influences in
a remodeled family room. Archt Scot! Johnéon and
Margot Alotsin painted cubbies of to wood clsplay
cases in hues that complement the decorative glass
‘and ceramics that they contain, Presenting the palette.
in 2 cifferent pattern within each bookcase adds
variety and interest without tipping the room's
balanced design. From e distance, the bookcase
appear as small beads of colar that help lowor the
perceived height ofthe cathedral caling
Application # 14
A technique known as faux marbling, which imitates
the luxurious look of marble, carves out a stunning
fireplace in colors new to Mother nature's quarries
The imaginative switling and rich colors add texture
and drama fo the fireplace, makingit a focal point for a
decorative accessories and furnishings. Arist Steve
Shrivers artful shading of the gole-painted accents on
the the mantel gives the illusion of dimension,
Application # 15
Architects Craig Hodgets and Ming Fung use
contemporary palette fo complement the structure and
design ofthis moder hilside home
Application # 16
in an ironic statement, the palette chosen for this
funky desert house symbolizes the basic colors found
in nature: the powder-blue buiidng represents the st,
the yellow chirmey evokos the sun, the green center
structure suggests grass, and the small orange
building mimics the color of clay found in deserts and
dry environments
Application # 17
Many Victorian homes are as memorable for thoir
inerplay of color and architecture as for their
distinctive shapes. This home in Aspen, Colorado, is
no exception. Touches of yellow, shades of violet, 2
bright white emphasize ‘rim and other decorative
details
Prepared by
‘ARCH, WILLA, SOLOMON
College of Architecture, UST