Color science: chromatic circle and harmony of internal spaces

In this article, the colorists of the color of the mural shop invite you to a short incursion through the psychology and the science of colors, addressing our attention, this time, in more technical aspects. That is to say about the theory of color and on the wheel of color well known – that tool that is very useful in the interior design, precisely because it will help you obtain chromatic harmony.

On the color of the color there are 12 colors that can be divided as follows:

• Primary colors: That is, the three colors – red, yellow and blue – that cannot be obtained from the mixes
• Secondary colors: Green, orange and purple: these are obtained by mixing two primary colors, in equal proportions
• Tertiary colors: obtained from the combination of a secondary color with a primary color (for example yellow-orange or blue-green).

Another way to look at the color wheel is also segmentation in warm colors OR Cold colors. This idea of ​​heat or cold of a color is known as «Color temperature«And, according to color psychology, different temperatures manage to arouse certain emotions or feelings. For example, it is said that a warm color inspires energy and a sense of comfort and familiarity, while a cold color will be associated with a feeling of isolation and sobriety.

Rules for obtaining harmony of color:

When choosing a palette of colors to paint a room or even the whole house, it is good to keep in mind that to reach chromatic harmony, you can consider some rules: scientific methods based on how colors are positioned on the colored wheel and on the relationship with each other.

Therefore, looking for these rules, you will obtain palettes of functional colors, which will guarantee the success of the agreement.

Complementary colors

These colors are opposed on the color wheel and their combination guarantees the most intense contrast and have a strong impact – and used together, these colors pairs support each other and a set are formed in perfect harmony.

Monochromatic colors

These colors are extremely versatile and easy to use to obtain harmony: they contain the same shade, in different tones. An example of monochromatic colors would be a light blue, pale blue, in combination with a celestial blue and an ultramary blue.

Analog colors

These colors are located next to the other on the color wheel, being a versatile combination, but also overwhelming, at the same time.

To achieve, however, a balance, we recommend you choose a main color, which you can use in a greater proportion and use the other two as accent colors.

Triadic colors

These colors are positioned in the triangle on the color wheel and represent intense combinations, with an increase in contrast, which leads to the formation of vibrant pallets.

Tethic colors

The tratic colors are pairs of four colors, placed symmetrically on the colored wheel, in turn offering palettes of intense and bold colors. This is the reason why it would be advisable to balance them by selecting a main color and (less visible) accent colors that support the entire chromatic ensemble.

In addition to the color wheel and these rules to combine them, there are three main aspects that you need to consider when selecting the colors, that is to say: shadow, saturation AND brightness.

The shadow refers to the real color, such as red, blue or green, while the saturation refers to the intensity. A greater saturation leads to a more vibrant color and a smaller saturation to a closer or more sterna. On the other hand, the brightness refers to the amount of light that a color reflects, the brightest colors will appear lighter and those in a dark palette will appear darker.