It’s no secret that colors are a humongous part of interior design, and that there’s a theory governing them. But what is color theory? Color theory is defined as the body of practical guidance to color mixing and the visual effects of specific color combinations. As such, color theory has a significant impact on various fields such as art, exterior and interior design, and digital media due to its importance in visual aesthetics. Color theory is the most important factor in how we perceive these aesthetics; whether we see things as looking good or not.
Historical Development of Color Theory
Early Contributions
Color theory’s historical development can be traced all the way back to Sir Isaac Newton. In 1666, Newton ran an experiment involving passing sunlight through a prism which led to his discovery of the color spectrum. This led him to create the first color wheel. Many years later, in 1810, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe published a book titled “Theory of Colors” in which he explores the psychological effects colors have on our subconscious.
19th and Early 20th Century Advances
After some more time, in the later 19th century, an American physicist named Ogden Rood published a book titled “Modern Chromatics” which improved the link between the general public’s and the scientific community’s respective understandings of color theory. Later on, Albert Munsell came up with his own color system, which he aptly called the “Munsell Color System.” The Munsell Color System introduced the concepts of hue, value and chroma that we know today.
Further down the line, the German Bauhaus movement made significant contributions to color theory. Numerous artists who were part of the movement such as Wassily Kandinsky, Johannes Itten, Faber Birren and Josef Albers published writings that integrated color design principles with more empirical studies.
Fundamental Concepts of Color Theory
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors
Probably the most fundamental concept of color theory are primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. According to color theory, there are three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. They can be mixed together to create the secondary colors: green, orange, and purple. Any tertiary colors can also be created via color mixing. Additionally, there are two models used in color theory. Digital media uses the RGB (red, green, blue) model, while printing uses a CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, key (black). Physical printing and photography use the CMYK model since the paper and photo stock they print on is white.
Hue, Shade, Tint, and Tone
Hue, shade, tint, and tone make up another fundamental concept of color theory. Hue is defined as the pure pigment of a color, without any tint or shade. Shade refers to what you get as a result when adding black to a hue via color mixing. The result is a darker version of the original hue. Tint is the opposite, the result of adding white to a hue via color mixing, thus lightening the use. Finally, tone refers to the combination of adding both black and white to a hue. Color mixing for tones creates significant variations in color intensity and depth.
Color Models and Color Mixing
Additive and Subtractive Color Models
When it comes to color models and color mixing, it’s important to know about additive and subtractive color models. The RGB and CMYK color models were mentioned above and serve as great examples. The RGB model is used mainly in digital screens and works as an additive color model by color mixing red, green, and blue light to create other colors. On the other hand, the CMYK model is used in physical printing and serves as a subtractive model. CMYK subtracts light using cyan, magenta, yellow and black (referred to as “key”) to produce colors.
Color Mixing Principles
It’s also important to note some color mixing principles. Keep in mind that many traditional color mixing methods have some limitations, one of the most common of which being inaccuracy. This inaccuracy comes from the imperfect nature of pigments. However, there are many modern scientific approaches to color mixing that focus on more precise control over color absorption and reflection.
Color Harmony and Contrast
Color Harmony
Color harmony and contrast make up more important elements of color theory. Color harmony is defined as the aesthetically pleasing arrangement of colors, which finds a balance between visual interest and coherence. This is necessary due to our psychological need for balance in design, so more harmonious color palettes engage their viewers and instill a sense of order. Color harmony becomes important for interior design and interior home painting for these reasons.
Complementary Colors and Contrast
In terms of complementary colors and contrast, they are also key elements of color theory and color harmony. Complementary colors are defined as pairs of colors that cancel each other out when combined via color mixing. When they cancel each other out, they produce a neutral color such as white, gray, or black. Some examples of complementary color pairs include blue and orange, as well as red and green. Incorporating complementary color pairs in design can create vibrant contrasts and visual interest.
Practical Applications of Color Theory
Influence of Light and Surroundings
Now that you know the history behind color theory and most of it’s fundamental concepts, it’s time to learn about some practical applications, namely the influence of light and surroundings. Daylight from windows and artificial light sources impact the perception of colors greatly. There’s also a phenomenon of simultaneous contrast, in which colors appear differently depending on their surroundings. Another phenomenon is called metamerism, where colors can match under certain lighting conditions, but not others.
Use in Digital and Print Media
Knowing just how to leverage color theory in various forms of media such as digital and print is just as important. Remember, use an additive color model in digital media, and a subtractive color model in physical print media. Beyond that, you can leverage color theory in various applications such as UI/UX design, as well as branding and marketing. In UI/UX design, make sure to select appropriate color schemes to enhance user experience and accessibility. In branding and marketing endeavors, you can use colors to evoke certain emotions and establish a brand identity.
Putting it all Together
Color theory is by far one of the most important elements of design in all formats, both interior and exterior. Therefore, it’s important to understand the history behind the theory, fundamental concepts, color models, and practical applications of color theory. Now that you have some foundational knowledge, you can boost your design skills with further research and exploration into the world of color theory.