Color Schemes

Color schemes are the result of turning color combinations into a set of rules for an interior
palette. Grounded in color theory, the designer can creatively select and organize color in
harmonious combinations. In the abstract—that is, when color is not tied to a material—there
are six “classic” combinations of color: monochromatic, analogous, complementary, split
complementary, triadic, and tetradic. The examples below use a full-saturation color wheel,
but the designer can vary both saturation and brightness.

Monochromatic Analogous Complementary

Uses a single color in a variety of Uses colors directly adjacent to the High-contrast scheme developed
saturations and lightnesses to unify chosen color. The prime color serves as by paring the chosen color with that
a scheme. the dominant color in the scheme. directly opposite on the color wheel.

Split Complementary Triadic Tetradic

Variation on the complementary Uses colors equally spaced around the Uses two complementary color pairs.
scheme that pairs the chosen color color wheel. Produces high-contrast Proportions of colors must be chosen
with two adjacent colors. schemes. carefully to maintain balance.

APPLYING RULES OF CONTRAST TO INTERIOR SPACE

In the seven variations on color contrast that Itten identified,

contrast was considered as a range of differences between the
compared effects of color interaction. The projects that follow
explore the practical application of Itten’s system to an interior
project—whether at the scale of a room or a building. As with
any system, continued exposure to and examination of the ef-
fects of each set of relationships will deepen understanding.