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Home , Color psychology, Color scheme

Module 04: Use of in Interior

Summary/What you will learn:

Why you need to understand the role played by color in interior design Color and its application in interior design Using neutral tones and color schemes How to use the when decorating an interior Classic color “rules” and their rationale

4.1 The role of color

Color is a crucial design element when it comes to planning a space.

In this module, you will discover precisely why color is so important. You will learn about the psychological effects of color and how they can set a mood for various kinds of interior. Although it is up to an individual designer to choose a room’s , there are certain “standard” rules and guidelines that professionals tend to follow and we will address these in this module.

Simply changing the color of a room is to give it a complete overhaul. Remember that color does not just apply to the walls of a room – the accessories, furnishings and even the should be chosen with color in mind. Color serves the following purposes:

It can serve to hide flaws in decoration and structure Ideally, every designer would be able to work with well- constructed, well-maintained spaces. In reality, many projects will entail concealing existing problems, such as uneven walls, or windows that are positioned in such a way that the room is darker than it needs to be. The judicious application of color can divert the eye away from many problems. A cramped room can be “fixed” with a well-chosen color .

It can make a space appear bigger or smaller than it really is In general, make a room appear airier, brighter and larger. This is useful when decorating rooms that are naturally deprived of light.

On the other hand, dark colors often “shrink” a room. This is not necessarily an unfavorable outcome

For example It can make a space feel cozier when executed with competence. In addition, color can change the appearance of objects within a room. Dark colors give the impression that objects are smaller than they really are, whereas light colors create an illusion of increased size and closer proximity.

Light colors create the illusion of more space Dark colors can make a space seem smaller It can trigger a particular mood in people using the space The psychology of color has been studied extensively and we know that the color of a room plays a role in shaping the mood of those within it. We will look at the most common associations between color and mood states, later on in this module.

It can be used as part of a certain style or period scheme If a client wants to recreate a particular style or draw on inspiration from a bygone era, a designer will have to make use of colors that reflect the period being recreated.

It can provide a focal point in an otherwise conservative or “standard” interior Sometimes, a client may want a fairly neutral color scheme, but still, want to include a couple of elements that catch the eye.

Using color carefully – such as on a feature wall or within soft furnishings within a room – can produce good results, without “overloading” the space with bright colors. Colors can also highlight an interesting or valuable piece of furniture or artwork.

How exactly does color influence the appearance of space? Applying the same color to all walls, ceilings and even floors within a space will give the impression that it is larger or smaller than it is in reality. This is referred to as “volumizing” a space. The end result will depend upon the chosen and tone of the selected color.

This technique yields especially good results when applied to integrated spaces that flow into one another, such as rooms connected by hallways and doors. If the color of furniture and fittings matches the color of the walls and ceilings, this will amplify the effect even further.

A key principle to bear in mind is that a block of color will encourage the viewer to perceive one area within a room as a single space. You can take advantage of this technique to highlight a focal point, such as a piece of artwork or special item of furniture.

For example Painting two adjoining walls in a single color will encourage the eye to “sweep” the space in a particular direction, guiding it to a defined endpoint. Color can be used to create a smooth aesthetic transition between rooms. This does not mean that two or more adjoining rooms have to be colored in exactly the same way – you can use that soften as the viewer moves between spaces. Alternatively, you can use color to actively highlight transitions.

For example Painting a door frame so that it contrasts with its surroundings makes a bold statement and forces the viewer to acknowledge that they are entering a different room or subspace. Applying color in large horizontal sections to a room’s walls can create a sense of balance in an oddly-proportioned space and can also create an attention-grabbing backdrop for the display of furniture and artwork.

For example A client may wish to redesign their living room in such a way that highlights their collection of framed artwork. Painting the top and lower halves of a wall will result in a clear “line”, which can form a gallery-type space above the line or a focal point for furniture placement below. If a room has a particularly high ceiling, it can be made to appear lower with the application of color to its upper regions. 4.2

Certain colors have common “meanings” in art and design.

You need to bear these in mind when choosing a color:

White is associated with cleanliness, religiosity, purity, new beginnings and clinical procedures. True, or “brilliant”, white is striking, reflecting a great deal of light and adding a sense of space to the surrounding environment. A white space feels fresh and uplifting, but some people can find it rather impersonal.

Room design utilizing white as the main color

Cream Cream is often used as a softer alternative to white.

For example A client may like the idea of using white in a nursery in order to produce a soothing, neutral atmosphere, but find that it looks a little too cool. A shade of cream would be a good choice in this scenario, providing all the benefits of a neutral color, while retaining some warmth.

Room design utilizing cream as the main color Most people associate yellow with sunshine and by extension, energy, happiness, and optimism. It is well-suited for high- traffic spaces within the home – it is considered an upbeat, sociable color. Room design with a yellow theme Blue is generally perceived to be a calming color, with grounding properties that promote psychological strength and stability. It has long been seen as a masculine color in popular culture and is therefore regarded as the most suitable choice for a boy’s room. However, blue can have a positive effect on people of all genders.

It is a popular choice for bathrooms, as it carries connotations with cleanliness, water, and the sea. Warmer can also be pleasing in bedrooms. As a color with close ties to nature, it encourages the mind to settle.

Rooms designed around a blue color scheme

Red is associated with excitement, stimulation, and even danger. It can quickly become overpowering if used inappropriately, but in skilled hands, it can produce lively spaces in which people feel creative and inspired.

For instance Red can be a good choice for a feature wall. It is also linked with passionate love and leadership, so can be useful in decorating both bedrooms and office spaces.

Sparse use of the color red can liven up a room

Green is widely found in the natural world and research has demonstrated that merely being in the presence of the color green results in feelings of wellbeing. At the same time, we often associate green with new life, such as plants budding in the spring. This means that green also has energetic connotations. It is, therefore, a good choice in rooms that need to encourage calmness and productivity, such as offices. Just like blue, it is a popular option for bedrooms.

The use of green can bring energy to a room or outdoor space

Purple Strong are associated with boldness, creativity, and psychological energy. They can be very effective in large rooms that can accommodate its shrinking effect, i.e. the tendency of strong colors to make rooms appear smaller.

Studios and other areas in which people produce creative works often benefit from a -dominated color scheme. Pale purples and fuchsias are often linked with femininity and so are popular choices for female’s bedrooms.

Rooms that incorporate purple create a bold look

Orange For many people, is synonymous with brightness, optimism, and activity. It encourages the inhabitants of a space to set goals and work towards achieving their objectives. Orange, especially in bright tones, can be rather overwhelming, particularly in small spaces.

A softer orange, broken up by neutral colors, maybe a more appropriate way of incorporating this color into an interior. Alternatively, a darker or “burnt” orange, such as terracotta, maintains the overall energizing effect, without causing overstimulation.

Try not to use too much orange in small spaces Grey is a neutral color that can be used with almost any other color, or with any other neutral tone. Used in large quantities, it can create a sophisticated atmosphere but can appear too “cool” or industrial if unaccompanied by brighter colors. A light grey can lift a room by making it appear larger, but a dark grey can rapidly cause a space to “shrink.” However, dark greys can be useful in creating cozy spaces.

Sophisticated themes created with the use of grey

Pink has long been seen as a “girly” color and for this reason, is often chosen for girls’ nurseries and bedrooms. It carries connotations of romance, daintiness and an old- fashioned gentleness. It is a good choice for interiors that need to be soothing, without appearing too sterile or cold.

Examples of rooms designed around a pink theme

Black As a general rule, copious amounts of should be avoided. Although black is associated with wealth and sophistication, it can also appear morbid. Black is also linked with gothic subcultures and death in popular culture and so is unlikely to have an uplifting effect for people using the space. Black is perhaps best used in a limited way,

For example As a feature wall or within a few well-chosen accessories. It can be effective if used with white.

Examples of rooms that incorporate some black Brown, especially in lighter shades such as , is sometimes considered to be a neutral color. However, some are deep and striking, so are used in much the same way as other colors.

For example A rich chocolate color would be used to add a sense of warmth to a room. Brown, being the color of earth, is a soothing color that reminds most people of the great outdoors. Hence, a good addition to restful rooms. Keep in mind that and associations are primarily shaped by cultural conditioning and personal experience.

Rooms that use brown create a sense of warmth For example While people in the West associate white with cleanliness and purity, it carries associations of death and mourning in some Eastern countries. Do not assume that a client shares your perspective on a particular color or shade. It is worth asking not only whether they like a color, but whether they have any associations that render it appealing or distasteful. Keep in mind too that some people are color blind and this may mean that they “see” color in a way that is at odds with your own .

Primary, secondary and tertiary colors Designers and artists often refer to three main types of color – primary, secondary and tertiary.

Primary colors consist of yellow, blue and red. Their defining characteristic is that they cannot be made from any other color.

Secondary colors can be made by combining equal proportions of primary colors. Blue and yellow mixed together results in green, red and blue together produce purple and red combined with yellow yields orange.

When a is mixed with a in a particular ratio, the result is referred to as a . The mixing ratio is 2:1, meaning that twice as much primary color is used.

For example Mixing blue with green will result in a turquoise color.

Color Wheels

There are a few pieces of color-related terminology you need to learn. When reading about color, you will come across the term “hue.” This can be used interchangeably with “color.”

When you mix black with any color on the color wheel (see below), the result is referred to as a “shade.” The more black you add, the darker the resulting shade will be.

You will also learn about “tints.” A tint is simply a mixture of white, plus one of the colors on the color wheel. The more white you add, the paler the tint will be. Tints are also known as “pastels.”

Pastel Colors

If you were to add both to color, the resulting mixture would be a “tone.” This term describes the intensity of a hue. Since white and black produce grey when combined, the process of adding both are known as “greying down”. Tones are used in most everyday interiors.

“Value” refers to a color’s darkness or , whereas “saturation” describes a color’s intensity. This is because the more pigment a color contains, the more intense the final result.

Using color as an accent Sometimes, a designer will use a small amount of a particular color to add a focal point or overall “lift” to an interior. An accent color will work well as part of a simple color scheme, which may include neutral colors. Ideally, it should be a bold, striking color, which is complementary to the key colors used in the overall color scheme.

Using color as an accent Neutral colors Neutrals are sometimes referred to as “non-colors,” as they do not appear on the well-known color wheel (see below).

They include white, black, all shades of grey and some people also include browns and in this category. Neutrals are easy to work with, as none of them will clash. On the other hand, they can be perceived as “boring” or “impersonal.”

New buildings and those designated as rental properties are often decorated in neutral tones because they rarely leave a bad impression. Those looking to use the space often find it easy to visualize their own furniture and color scheme, which can make a property more appealing. Fact

The U.S. paint and coatings industry sold 1.57 billion gallons of paint and coatings product in 2005.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Take a Quick Recap Test

4.3 Making use of the color wheel in interior design

A color wheel is a useful tool that provides you with a quick and easy way in which to ascertain in advance how well particular colors will fit together.

When you are considering whether to put two colors in close proximity, you need to decide whether the end result will be complementary, harmonious, or toning. are positioned opposite one another on the color wheel. If you choose to use complementary colors, the outcome will usually be a look that is eye-catching and dramatic, without appearing garish.

For example Red and green are complementary colors, as are purple and yellow. Intuitively, it may seem as though these pairs would not be aesthetically pleasing, but consider what is usually seen in nature – apples are rendered in red and green, whereas flowers often feature “clashing” colors.

Using the color wheel in interior design

When working to create a complementary color scheme, begin by selecting your favorite or dominant color on the wheel. Next, locate the opposite color – now you have a first and second color. It is unwise to try and use both colors “equally” because doing this will only result in two colors that are both unable to command a person’s complete attention. It is not a good idea to try and use more than three colors, as the final effect is likely to be overpowering.

If you or your client dislike the idea of using a particular complementary scheme on the walls of a room, begin by experimenting with using the colors in accessories such as cushions, rugs and wall art. You should introduce a couple of neutral colors, to provide a sense of balance.

Using lots of strong colors can induce a feeling of sensory overload and make it hard to focus on other design elements such as lighting and furniture. If you find two clashing colors that you find aesthetically pleasing, it may be possible to make them work by using colors that are of similar strength. If one is of a significantly stronger or weaker tone than another, it can quickly become “drowned out” and the overall effect will become unbalanced. If a client likes the idea of a complementary color scheme, but is afraid to use a bold color scheme, then using complementary colors at a more subtle level can be a good alternative.

For example The use of contrasting accessories against the backdrop of neutral walls. You can create a harmonious color scheme by using two colors that are next to one another on the wheel.

For example Blues and purples are positioned next to one another and they can easily be used as the basis of a harmonious scheme. To maintain the overall balance within a space, it is best to use colors of similar intensity. To return to the example of blues and purples, a deep blue next to a pale purple would theoretically be a harmonious pairing but would give a visually striking result that may not be quite the restful, easy to live with the environment the client or designer had in mind.

Finally, a toning color scheme is created by choosing two or more shades (or “tones”) from within the same color. For example In the wheel above, you can see that each color is represented by two distinct tones. In reality, there are dozens of potential shades of a single color – the diagram is simply communicating the overall concept. Choosing several tones of the same color is a good way to create interest and depth, without deviating from an appearance that is neutral overall.

Activity 1: The Colors in Your Home

Estimated Time: 5+ minutes

Go through the rooms in your home and make a note of the main colors used on the walls, floors, and ceilings.

Are the colors complementary, harmonious, or tonal?

Now think about how they make you feel – calm, stimulated, happy, cold?

If you could choose any kind of color scheme for the room, what would it be and why

4.4 Other considerations when choosing colors for interior design

Colors can look different, depending on the time of day.

You will need to consider the main sources of light within a room and how they interact with the intended color scheme. Remember to think about both natural and artificial lighting. With regards to the latter, the color and style of the bulb used can make an appreciable difference.

For example A bright light bulb can make a clean, neutral color seem stark, or even clinical. The “traffic” passing through a space can determine how much of a risk a client or designer is willing to take when experimenting with a daring or bold color scheme. An adventurous design may be too overpowering for an open-place space that receives a lot of daily use, such as an open-plan family room, but it may be effective in a relatively quieter area such as a hallway or downstairs cloakroom.

The visual temperature is another factor.

The color wheel is usually divided into “hot” and “cold” colors. The right side is made up of colors that heat up a room, such as oranges and . The left side consists of hues that provide a more tranquil atmosphere. These include blues and cool purples. There is no absolute set of rules that must be followed when choosing a color scheme – it depends on a client’s preferences and how the space is to be used.

For example

A bathroom is likely to be painted in and blues because these are arguably more soothing and fresh than bright orange.

It is also worth taking into account the “cleanliness” of certain colors. White is notoriously hard to keep in pristine condition, particularly on furniture and walls. If a client has children or pets, white is not usually a good choice. Stains and scratches detract from the effect of a white wall to a much greater degree than on a surface painted in a green or brown hue.

Finally, it is important to remember that while you or your client may be keen to try a recent color trend, most clients will not have the time or money to update their interiors on a frequent basis. Before following a trend, make sure that it is truly compatible with a client’s preferences, personality, and lifestyle. Always take advantage of the tester pots offered by DIY stores and paint suppliers – even designers with great imaginations need to test how a hue will appear on a wall. If in doubt, it is better to err on the side of a classic and timeless style.

Fact

The average cost of painting one room can range from $380 to $790, depending on the side of the room. This estimate does not typically include the cost of the paint.

Source: realsimple.com

Activity 2: What to Remember when Choosing Colors

Estimated time: 10 minutes

Aside from the issue of complementary versus harmonious colors, what other factors should you think about when deciding on a color scheme for interior space?

Assignment

Use of Color in Interior Design

Time: 30+ minutes

Hopefully, you took in as much of the information in this module as possible. To find out how well you have done, complete the following worksheet.

Download the worksheet below and complete.

Download Worksheet (PDF)

Module Summary

Color plays a central role in interior design. It can lift a room, hide flaws and make a space appear much more inviting. There is no way to avoid making color choices – even if you decide on a neutral color scheme, this still constitutes a decision!

Designers need to be aware of , understanding the roles of primary, secondary and tertiary colors.

A color wheel is a common tool for those looking to devise a color scheme. Showing the color spectrum is a way by which designers can locate color pairings that are harmonious, complementary, or tonal.

They need to have a solid grasp of color psychology and how color exerts a significant effect on the mood and activity levels of those using a space.

They need to understand how color can affect the apparent proportions of a room and the ways in which accessories can add to, or detract from, the finished effect.

Lighting, traffic levels and the purpose of the space all need to be accounted for, when deciding on the final color scheme.

Ultimately, there are no absolute rules when it comes to deciding on a color scheme – a client’s preferences should always remain a priority, with standard color guidelines serving primarily as a starting point.

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