UNDERSTANDING COLOR

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The color wheel is made up of 6 colors.
3 Primary: Red, Blue, Yellow
3 Secondary: Green, Orange, Purple

Primary colors cannot be mixed from any combination of colors. Secondary colors are combinations of the primary colors.

Red and Yellow = Orange
Red and Blue = Purple
Blue and Yellow = Green

Interior Design Color Schemes are based on one of 3 combinations:
Complimentary colors, Tertiary Colors or Monochromatic Colors.

Complementary colors are opposite colors on the color wheel. Use equal tones or intensity of 2 colors in a room: Example: Yellow walls and Blue Upholstery. Use yellow and blue accents such as pillows or lamps.

Red and Green are Complements.
Yellow and Purple are COmplements.
Orange and Blue are Complements.
Yellow and Blue are Complements.

Complementary colors work well together.

A Tertiary Color Scheme uses 3 colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. Yellow, green and blue is a lovely combination. By adding white, you can also create a color such as red and white makes pink. Pink, Red and Purple can work as a tertiary scheme.

A Monochromatic Color Scheme use different gradations of the same color. There are warmer and cooler tones of a color. Example: Beige, off white and tan- paint the walls off white and use varying textures of beige and tan for the upholstery, drapery and carpet. Accessories can be wood, tortoiseshell, stone, beads

TESTING PAINT COLORS
Benjamin Moore makes small test cans. Paint large sheets of oaktag with 2 coats of paint. Hang them with blue painter's tape and move to several locations in the room. The light in various sections of the room will change the color.

My favorite paints are from
Donald Kaufman Color (Donald Kaufman Color, 212-243-2766). Donald Kaufman is the foremost color expert in the US. His paints have many more pigments in them which give a richer color.

Schroeder (very expensive but great-it has more depth and body than most paint and dries with a harder finish). They can be used as a base and any Benjamin Moore color can be mixed.

Farrow and Ball has good paints.