Know Your Color Terms
So You Can Decorate Like an Expert

Today’s paints come in more colors than ever, making it easier to find one that you love. But how many times have you stood at the paint chip display and felt overwhelmed by all of the choices? Sometimes it can be hard just knowing how to get started.

According to the experts at The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute, knowing some basic color terminology will help you make sense of the paint chip counter, and to achieve a paint job that is fresh, interesting and exactly what you had in mind.

When Is a Color Not a Color?
Decorating experts refer to colors differently than the average do-it-yourselfer. A color is called a “hue.”

When you look through the color cards at the paint store, you’re really looking at many variations of the basic hues. These variations are achieved by adding white, gray or black to a hue, which changes how light or dark it is. That is called the hue’s “value.” When white is added to a hue to make it lighter, the resulting value is called a “tint.” When black is added to make it darker, it is called a “shade.” By adding gray to a hue, the result is a “tone,” a muted version of a pure hue.

Newton’s Theory of Colors
Did you know Sir Isaac Newton was the first color expert? He developed the color wheel, which shows how colors relate to one another. Professional decorators and designers use this invaluable tool to determine which colors look best together. You’ll find an interactive version on the Paint Quality Institute’s website, http://www.paintquality.com/color/index.html.

The color wheel makes it relatively easy to create attractive paint color schemes. It also makes it easy to understand color scheme terminology such as:

Monochromatic – Uses a single hue, but in more than one value.
Adjacent, or Analogous – Uses two or more hues that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel.

Complementary – Combines two hues that are opposite each other on the wheel.

Split-complementary – This scheme combines a hue with two hues adjacent to its opposite on the color wheel.

Double split-complementary – This scheme combines the two hues adjacent to colors opposite each other on the wheel.

Triadic – this scheme combines three hues that are equidistant on the color wheel.

Not So Black and White
Black, white and gray do not appear on the color wheel. That is because they are not technically regarded as hues. These three “neutrals” help to create contrast in various color schemes and also modify hues to create tints, shades and tones.

For great color ideas, visit The Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute online at http://www.paintquality.com/diy/content/
designmain.htm. You can see photos of various color schemes, learn about upcoming trends and sign up for a free DIY newsletter.