ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

Elements of design are “tools”. Just like the carpenter has a

hammer and saw, the designer has the elements.
There are 4 elements of design: Line, Form, COLOR, & Texture.

Color is a property of light. A color spectrum is

produced by a beam of light as it passes through
a prism. Although the number of colors is
unlimited…more than 10 million have been
identified, and several hundreds have been
reproduced by scientists.
 B lu e B lu e- v io let

B lu e- gre e n V io le t

Color Wheel
G ree n R e d- v io let

Y e llo w -gre e n Red

Y e llo w R e d- ora n g e

Y e llo w -ora n g e O ran g e

This color wheel system, based on three primary colors,

is known as the Brewster System. It was developed by
David Brewster. It is also called the Prang System. Each
color on the color wheel is a true “hue”.
 Primary Colors…
Red, Blue, and Yellow
B lu e B lu e- v io let

B lu e- gre e n V io le t

G ree n R e d- v io let

Y e llo w -gre e n Red Primary colors

cannot be man-
Y e llo w R e d- ora n g e made by mixing
Y e llo w -ora n g e O ran g e other colors
together.

A pigment is color from a biological source, which when used in housing

and design applications can be natural or synthetic (manmade).
 Secondary Colors…
Orange, Green, and Violet
Remember, it’s “violet”,
not purple.

B lu e B lu e- v io l et

B lu e - gr e e n V io le t

G ree n R e d- v io let

Secondary colors can be

Y e llo w -gre e n Red
“made” by mixing two
primary colors together.
Y e llo w R e d- or a n g e Blue and red make
Y e llo w -or a n g e O ra n g e violet; red and yellow
make orange; yellow
and blue make green.
 Tertiary Colors… Yellow-green,
Blue-green, Blue-Violet, Red-Violet,
Red-orange, Yellow-orange
B lu e B lu e- v io l et
The tertiary colors are also
referred to as the intermediate
B lu e - gr e e n V io le t
colors. Tertiary colors are made
by mixing a primary with a
G ree n R e d- v io let
secondary color… the primary
color is always listed first. For
Y e llo w -gre e n Red
example, when the primary
color of yellow is mixed with
the secondary color named
Y e llo w R e d- or a n g e
green, the new tertiary color is
Y e llo w -or a n g e O ra n g e
called yellow-green.

Tertiary colors can be expanded further, such as mixing blue and blue-
green together. The result would be the color blue-blue-green. Perhaps
we would name that color “teal” to be less confusing.
 Neutral Colors…
Neutral colors include black, white, and brown. They also
include all the tints and shades of black, white, and brown…
so include colors known as tan, beige, gray, cream, etc.

Neutral colors can be made by mixing:

black and white
complementary colors
all three primaries together (plus some black or white)

Neutral colors blend well with

all other colors.
Black is the
They enhance and strengthen
the other colors around them. absence of
“light”;
Stone such as slate, brick,
white is the
marble, etc.; metallics such as
brass, pewter, gold, chrome absence of
etc.; and glass fall into the “color”.
neutral category.
Complementary colors…

Complementary
colors are those
located directly
opposite each
other on the
color wheel.
“INTENSITY” OF COLORS
Intensity is the brightness or dullness
of a color. It is sometimes called
“chroma”.
The intensity changes by using the Place a hue beside
its complement to
complementary color. The degree of
make it appear
brightness is referred to as brighter.
“saturation”.
Add the complementary color to a hue to make the hue “dull”. When
complementary colors are mixed, grays and browns can result.

Saturated less saturated less saturated Saturated

 “VALUE” OF COLORS
In nature there are hundreds of different
steps in value that are sometimes not
easily distinguished by the human eye.

Value is the lightness or

darkness of a color. To
combine a hue with black is
called a SHADE. To combine a
hue with white is called a TINT.
To combine a hue with black
and white is called a TONE.

Remember… colors appear darker when placed on rough textures.

Paint appears darker when it dries on the wall. Artificial
incandescent and fluorescent lighting changes the appearance of
 There are certain groups of colors that work
together very well in interiors…they might
be referred to as Color Schemes or Color


Harmonies.
A color scheme can include hues, any Color Schemes
values (including tints, shades, tones), or
intensities of that hue, and any neutrals.
 Make sure when using color schemes to
select colors that you or your client likes.
 Color schemes of adjoining rooms may need
to be coordinated.
 Although some designers prescribe to the
idea that “beauty is in the eyes of the
beholder”, most prefer a “tasteful”
approach. Taste is defined as a cultured
appreciation for aesthetic quality or
sensibility.
 Monochromatic
 A color scheme using one
color, and tints, tones and
shades of that color.

B lu e B lu e -v io le t

B lu e -g r e e n V io le t

G re e n R e d -v io le t

Y e llo w -g re e n R ed

Y e llo w R e d -o r a n g e

Y e llo w -o ra n g e O ra n g e
 Analogous
 A color scheme using 3 or
more colors next to each
other on the color wheel.

B lu e B lu e - vio le t

B lu e - g re e n V io le t

G reen R e d -v io le t

Y e llo w -g re e n Re d

Y e llo w R e d -o ra n g e

Y e llo w -o ra n g e O r ange
 B lu e B lu e -v i o le t

B lu e -g re e n V io l e t

Complementary G re e n R e d -v i o le t

Y e l low -g re e n R ed

Y e llow R e d -o ra n g e

Y e llow -o ra n g e O ra n g e

 A color scheme
using colors
opposite each
other on the color
wheel.
 Double Complementary
 A Color scheme using two
sets of complementary
colors.

B lu e B lu e -vio le t

B lu e -g re e n V io le t

G re e n R e d -vio le t

Y e llo w- gr e e n Red

Y e llo w R e d -o ra n g e

Y e llo w- or a n g e O ra n g e
 Split Complementary
 A color scheme using one
color, and the colors on either
side of it’s complement. This
color scheme, along with the
double complementary are
more difficult to achieve in a
tasteful fashion.
B lue B lue -v iole t

B lue -g ree n V iole t

G re e n R ed -v iole t

Y e llo w -g r ee n R ed

Y e llo w R ed -o r an g e

Y e llo w -o ran g e O ra n ge
 Triad
 A color scheme using three
colors equal distance from
each other on the color wheel.

B lu e B lu e- v io let

B lu e-g re en V io le t

G ree n R e d-v io le t

Y ellow -g r een Re d

Y ellow R e d-or a nge

Y ellow -o r ang e O ran ge

 Neutral
 A color scheme using whites,
blacks, browns, grays and
beiges, etc.

B lu e B lu e - v io let

B lu e- gre e n V io le t

G r ee n R e d- v io let

Y e llo w -gr e e n Red

Y e llo w R e d- ora n g e

Y e llo w -ora n g e O r an g e

This scheme is often “accented” with a

small amount of another hue, and called
the ACCENTED NEUTRAL.
  Some designers base a room decor on a
Fad popular “theme” instead of a prescribed color
scheme. It should only be used if it reflects the
personality and preferences of the client.

The bedroom above is decorated

around a nautical “theme”,
disregarding any specific color This red, white, and blue color
harmony. combination is only acceptable for
those who prefer the patriotic “theme”.
 What doesn’t count…
As you put together or identify the background
and furnishing samples that make up your
color scheme, there are some items in the room
that do not have to be considered:
Books and
magazines.

The colors of a
Living things,
painting, although
such as pets,
the predominant
fresh flowers,
color, frame, and
and plants.
mat colors may be
considered.
Warm Colors
 Colors on the warm side of the
spectrum…red, yellow,
orange. They usually also
include the neutral black and
brown tones.
B lu e B lu e -vio le t

B lu e -g re e n V io le t

G re e n R e d -vio le t

Y e llo w- g re e n R ed

Y e llo w R e d -o ra n g e

Y e llo w- o ra n g e O ra n g e

Warm colors are especially good in rooms with northern exposures.

 Cool Colors
 Colors on the cool side of
the spectrum…blue, violet,
green. They usually
include the neutral white
and gray tones.
B l ue B lue -v io le t

B l ue -gre e n V iol et

G re e n R ed -v io le t

Y ellow -gre en R ed

Y ello w R e d -ora n g e

Y ello w -o ra ng e O ra n ge

Cool colors are especially good in rooms with southern exposures.

 Light Colors
“RECEDE”
When rooms are painted pastel
or light colors/neutrals, they
seem bigger. The colors
“recede” or appear to move
away from you. Remember when
selecting paint… the paint dries
darker on the wall.
Dark Colors “ADVANCE”
When rooms are painted
dark colors/neutrals,
they seem smaller. The
colors “advance” or
appear to move in closer
to you.
Large prints or very
“busy” prints may also
make a room appear
smaller.
 Choosing Color Schemes…
 Color schemes look best when one color dominates.
 Your dominant color should cover about two-thirds
of the room area. An equal split between dominant
and subordinate colors is less pleasing.
 Evaluate parts of the room that cannot be changed,
then consider color choices that will complement
existing furnishings.
 Base your color scheme on the exposure of the room
(choose warm colors for northern exposures and
cool colors for southern exposures; choose lighter
colors for small rooms and darker colors for large
rooms; choose colors you like; choose colors that
complement a particular fabric, wallpaper, work of
art, etc.
 Consider the psychological and physiological effects
of color…
 Physiological Effects of Individual Colors
Color creates powerful psychological and physiological effects.
Psychological effects are sensed in the mind; physiological effects actually
cause a change in the body. It is important to note that people may react
differently to the same color, based on their previous experiences or learned
behavior. Research studies have shown that:

Color affects eye's perception of weight and size. Dark and bright colors seem
heavier than light and cool colors. (However, it is interesting that the opposite effect is
true in fashion design. Dark colors tend to slim the figure, whereas light colors are usually thought
to make one look heavier.)

Color affects a person's perception of temperature. Studies have indicated

that body temperature actually fluctuates in response to various colors. For
example, red, orange, and yellow can raise one's temperature; cool colors
have the opposite reaction.

Color can cause feelings of boredom and calmness, or stimulation and

liveliness. Colors may cause the nervous system to become agitated, and the
body reacts in negative ways to this stimulus.

Colors can affect one's reaction to sounds, taste, odors, and time perception.

Colors can improve the rate of recovery of sick patients.

 Psychological Associations with Color:
Gray Elegance, humility, respect, reverence, stability, subtlety, timelessness, wisdom OR
boredom, decay, decrepitude, dullness, dust, pollution, urban sprawl
White Reverence, purity, snow, peace, innocence,
cleanliness, simplicity, security, humility, marriage, sterility, winter OR coldness, sterility,
surrender, cowardice, fearfulness, winter, unimaginative
Black Modernity, power, sophistication,
formality, elegance, wealth, mystery, style OR evil, death, fear, anonymity, anger, sadness,
remorse, mourning, unhappiness, mystery
Red Passion, strength, energy, fire, love, sex, excitement, speed, heat,
leadership, masculinity, power OR danger, fire, gaudiness, blood, war, anger, revolution,
radicalism, aggression, stop
Blue Seas, skies, peace, unity, harmony, tranquility, calmness, coolness,
confidence, water, ice, loyalty, conservatism, dependability, cleanliness, technology,
winter OR depression, coldness, idealism, obscenity, ice, tackiness, winter
Green Nature, spring, fertility, youth, environment,
wealth, money (US), good luck, vigor, generosity, go, grass OR aggression, inexperience,
envy, misfortune, jealousy, money, illness, greed
Yellow Sunlight, joy, happiness, optimism,
idealism, wealth (gold), summer, hope, air OR cowardice, illness (quarantine), hazards,
dishonesty, avarice, sissification, weakness Violet Sensuality,
spirituality, creativity, wealth, royalty, nobility, ceremony, mystery, wisdom, enlightenment
OR arrogance, flamboyance, gaudiness, mourning, profanity, exaggeration
Orange Buddhism, energy,
balance, heat, fire, enthusiasm, flamboyance, playfulness OR Aggression, arrogance,
flamboyance, gaudiness, over-emotion, warning, danger, fire Brown Calm,
 You will be completing a total of 8 pages for these two projects.
Color Projects The first 6 pages will each be set up to illustrate a neutral,
monochromatic, complementary, analogous, triad, and fad color
scheme according to the sample given. Include the title, your
name, and a color wheel that is suitably colored and labeled for
each page. You must find your pictures in catalogs or
magazines… not the internet. You may use a computer or your
templates for printing.
The 7th page will include a hand-painted value and intensity
scale, using the tempera paint colors of your choice.
On the 8th page, use colored pencils to color each picture in a manner that
illustrates the psychological associations of color.
Dull Hue Dull Complement
Hue Brown Complement
White 5 Tints True Hue 4 Shades Black

Red Value Scale Intensity Scale

 COLOR SCHEME: MONOCHROMATIC
BY YOUR NAME

This monochromatic
color scheme is based on
a single hue… red orange.
By mixing a small
amount of red-orange and
white, a peachy tone is
achieved.
 Dull Hue Dull Complement
VALUE & INTENSITY Brown Complement
Hue

OF COLOR
By__________
Value scale for the color:______________
Intensity Scale for the color: ___________

White 5 Tints True Hue 4 Shades Black

Name: ____________________
The psychological
associations of color…

A rose for your

sick relative in
the hospital.
A rose for your
The blanket of your true love!
favorite race horse.

Teen boys car.

The sofa in the dentist’s waiting room. A hat, perfect for the king’s
coronation or the college graduate.