Everywhere you look, there is color. Whether you are indoors or outdoors, color is everywhere to be seen, and many seem to underestimate how much of an impact it can have in influencing style and design.

When it comes to color, think about particular colors and how you associate them with certain things. This is obvious in brands and logos that have made their companies unique by using certain colors to stand out from others. Knowing that colors can be used as a signature trait to make brands distinct from others, colors can have a lot more power than you would think.

As a matter of fact, there is even a particular field of study that solely focuses on how color influences the mood and behavior of individuals. Perhaps you may have heard of it in passing, but there is validity to the whole concept of color psychology, and it can often be referenced in the realm of interior design.

Color psychology is formally defined as the study of colors in relation to human behavior. You may notice that some colors are more often used in certain objects and rooms, but it is likely because there is a psychological association to a given color that has influenced that selected color.

Colors are a very important aspect to consider when it comes to decorating. Aesthetically, some colors are better suited to use in a room to create an overall design. But psychologically, as previously mentioned, colors can have an impact on the mood of a person as this element directly affects the appearance of a space.

Much like natural vs. artificial lighting, colors can dramatically alter a room. Of course, it is important to note that without light, there would not be any color, but this is why when it comes to interior design, it is important to pair them strategically to create a design that is both stylish and functional.

At Stewart-Schafer, we understand the importance of color in interior design. When used properly, using certain colors can tie a room together in harmony. Although many may think that they have a solid grasp of what colors to use, it can be overwhelming for some, knowing the many options that are available to use.

But before considering which colors are best used in certain rooms, it would be useful to gain a basic understanding of the types of colors that are out there, to get a better idea of how color functions, and the thought-process that interior designers often consider before deciding on a swatch of selected colors to use in a room.

Understanding the Types of Colors of Interior Design

Colors can be categorized into different types. Perhaps you may vaguely remember this from art lessons in school, but believe it or not, these concepts are quite important when it comes to choosing the right color in a given space.

Below are the three main types of colors that you should know about.

Primary Colors: Perhaps the most basic to understand, there are three primary colors and they are red, blue and yellow. Primary colors are the source of other colors, meaning that any color that is not red, blue or yellow must be derived from one or more of these three colors.

Secondary Colors: Followed by primary colors are secondary colors. They are composed of three colors: orange, green, and purple. These colors are a result of a combination of two different primary colors.

Complementary Colors: In the RYB color model, complementary colors are a combination of both primary and secondary colors, and it is the two colors that complement each other, hence the name. The pairs are red/green, yellow/purple, and blue/orange. But if you are looking at modern color theory, the colors would be red/cyan, green/magenta, and blue/yellow.

Now that you have a general understanding of the type of colors, this is the stepping stone to help guide you in deciding which colors work best in an interior design. Often, these basic principles are what guide some interior designers to choose certain colors for a given design.

Hues, Shades, Tints, and Tones: What Are They?

In interior design, colors have to be used strategically in a decorated room in order to make the best use of it. But when it comes to color, it’s not just limited to a single option. For instance, the color red will not just have one option, it will have plenty of different options with varying shades, tints, and tones.

If you have ever looked at the selection of wall paints, you may notice that they always offer color swatches. These come in an extensive variety of colors, and there are plenty of options to choose from. Depending on the given room, lighter or darker colors may work better, but it is important to understand the differences between shades, tints, and tones to get a better idea of how these affect the colors that you may select for designing.

Hues: One of the main properties of color, hues are what make a color distinct from one another. Primary and secondary colors are both considered to be hues. For example, red, yellow, and green are all hues. Hues are the purest form of color.

Shades: A hue where the color black is added. All colors come in a variety of shades, and depending on how much of the color black is added to a base color, will determine how dark a color is, and the shade of a given color.

Tints: Similar to shade, tints are the opposite. It is a hue where the color white is added instead. Depending on the amount of white added, this will determine how light a color is, and thus resulting in the tint of color.

Tones: Derived from hues, tones are the result of hues being mixed in with grey. Tones are lighter or darker in shade compared to hues, and when it comes to interior design, tones are often used as they are more pleasing to the eye compared to hues.

While this may all sound very technical and specific, color selection can sometimes come down to a science, in the sense where these technicalities are what guides skilled interior designers to determine which color to use in a specific room.

Selecting the right color for a room can be a challenge, and sometimes it may require the skills of a seasoned interior designer who is well-versed in understanding color theory and color selection for a room.

If you have an interior design project in New York or Connecticut that requires some professional expertise, contact us today! We offer no obligations phone calls to answer any of your questions or concerns.

Stewart Schafer is an Interior and Architectural firm based in New York and Connecticut, click here to view some of our past projects and see how we can help.