CHOOSING COLOURS

Choosing colours is an important step when starting a new project. Your choices will have a huge impact on the finished look and even the smallest change in colours can make a dramatic difference to the overall look of the finished project. This need not make choosing colour intimidating though. With this introduction to colour theory, choosing colours for your next project can become an enjoyable experience.

Colour combinations can be found everywhere around us. Look around and notice attractive colour combinations in nature, art, homewares or even clothing. Keep a journal of colour combinations that please you for future reference.

The internet is also a valuable source of inspiration with many sites that have already created beautiful colour combinations for you.

The most useful tool you can have though, is a basic knowledge of the colour wheel and a few simple colour matching guides. Following are the basic colour matching guides, all tried and true formulas. All work well in their own way but a good place to start when choosing your colour scheme would be the Triad, as it produces a pleasing and harmonious set of colours that are hard to get wrong.

1. MONOCHROMATIC

• Various shades of the same colour
• Adds depth and visual interest when working with just one colour

2. ANALOGOUS

• Colours adjacent to each other on the colour wheel
• Low contrast

3. COMPLEMENTARY

• Opposite sides of the colour wheel
• These colours used together create high contrast

4. SPLIT COMPLEMENTARY

• Start with a base colour then choose two colours adjacent to its complement

5. TRIAD

• Three colours equally spaced around wheel
• Harmonious combination