What is Color?

Before we can delve into the various methods and procedures for selecting the proper color scheme, we must first start with the basics of color. Namely, "What is Color?"

Defining Color
The perception of color is a phenomenon of light - a form of energy with its own frequency and wavelength. Shine a light through a prism and you'll see it divide into six color families: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. White light is the combination of all colors, while black is the absence of all colors. We perceive color due to the pigments in a given object. A blue pillow appears blue to our eyes because the pigment in the pillow is absorbing all the colors of the light except for the color blue reflecting back to us.

Color and Light

Have you ever tried to match a color swatch in a store only to find it looks like a completely different color when you bring it home? You've just experienced metamerism, the occurrence of colors seemingly changing when viewed under different light sources. Some colors are more prone to this phenomenon than others, including tans, taupe's, grays, grayed-blues, mauves, lilacs, and grayed yellow-greens such as celadon. View color swatches in the actual space and lighting conditions in which they are being used.

Color and Space

Space affects how we perceive color, so keep proportion and scale in mind when making your color selections, along with whether you want the room to feel intimate or open. Consider elements such as ceiling height, visible wall space, furnishings, and large pieces of artwork, along with the number of windows and doorways in a room.

One of the first steps in a Manor Works Color Consultation is to "Define the Space". What we mean is we need to decide how various rooms will be split or grouped together. For instance, off a Foyer is typically a Stairwell and a Hallway. These items are usually grouped together, however an adjacent Living or Dining Room might not be grouped with the Foyer. Part of this decision relates to the overall size of the spaces to be painted.

How Colors Affect Other Colors

Colors that surround a given color affect how we perceive that color. An off-white wall can appear pink when paired with a vibrant red carpet. Complementary colors, such as red and green, enhance each other's color quality. Two squares of the identical shade of gray will appear to differ from one another when one is placed against a white background and the other against black.

During a Manor Works Color Consult we "Define the Space" to also determine how many colors we will select. This is an important criteria to d etermine prior to looking at colors as the higher the number of colors utilized, the more important it is to address how one color will affect the other.

Why Does A Gallon Of Paint Vary So Much In Cost?

Paint Ingredients and Specialty Paints

How Many Coats Of Paint Do I Need?

4 Creative Ways To Split Colors

how do i add color to a room?