This blog post is the first installment of our Back to School series- where we break down the lexicon of designers. This is our way to make sure our clients feel included and knowledgeable, as they are the most integral part of the design process. It's a way to make sure we are all speaking the same language in order to meet the same goals.
What is Color Theory?
Each individual color is a universe in itself.
Johannes Itten
Color theory (or modern color science) can really be separated into two distinct groups- 1) the way that colors react with each other
and
2) the way that humans perceive color, and what emotions they provoke
This post will focus on color combinations, and we will explore emotional reactions to color later in this series.
Have you ever noticed that a color you love in the store doesn't sing the same way when you get it home? Or that choosing the best white paint color can seem as complicated as learning calculus? This is color theory.
No matter how long it's been since elementary school, most of us will remember the color wheel below. Its purpose is to show that all colors stem from the primary colors of red, yellow, and blue, and therefore, all colors on the spectrum are come combination of the three.
The colors directly across the wheel from each other are complimentary colors, which means they make the other color seem brightest (think Christmas red/green or the LA Lakers purple/yellow).
If you are looking to incorporate more colors, look to make a triangle or square around the color wheel, sticking to colors that have the same intensity. Analogous color schemes stick to the same side of the wheel. Examples are below.
(Source: Wikipedia)
The next part is where it gets interesting- with three more terms.
HUE - Hue refers to the origin of the color we see. Think of the Hue as one of the six Primary and Secondary colors. In other words, the underlying base color of the mixture you're looking at is either Yellow, Orange, Red, Violet, Blue or Green.
VALUE - Value refers to how light or dark a color is. A color with a high value is very light, while a color with a low value is very dark. White has the highest value, and black has the lowest.
SATURATION - Color saturation refers to the intensity of color in an image. As the saturation increases, the colors appear to be more pure. As the saturation decreases, the colors appear to be more washed out or pale.
(Source: Medium)
How Does This Relate to Kitchen Design?
A well-executed kitchen begins with answering two questions.
What functionality do you require?
How do you want it to make you feel?
Calm and tranquil? That's one side of the color wheel. Bold and fresh? That's a different place to begin. It ends up being more specific, because saying "I like white kitchens" has many, many interpretations.
This is also the reason we recommend finding a stone countertop that you love early on in the process- as its underlying hues will determine the cabinet and wall colors.
(Source: Forbes)
(Source: Real Simple)
Next up in the series? How Lighting Affects Color Perception
Extra Credit:
If you'd like a deeper dive into this subject, the links below are tremendously helpful.
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