Colour balance When a colour dominates its immediate surroundings in terms of hue, intensity or value, it may create imbalance. If we visualise colour in terms of weight, we can readily imagine that an area of dominant colour is ‘heavier’ than an equal area of subordinate colour. In developing a balanced colour scheme, it is important to take into account the ‘weight’ of each colour. These two colours (1) have the same intensity, but the blue colour is darker in value. Even if equal areas of both colours are used, blue will be dominant. If two colours have the same value (2), they may still be unbalanced if there is a difference in intensity of colour. Here the darker colour dominates. Proportion, contrast and effects with colour Use colour to create an illusion. Colour can highlight the good features of a room and camouflage defects. Different colours affect the way we view a room. Warm colours, such as yellows and reds, tend to advance and make the walls seem closer.They are therefore a good choice for large, uninviting rooms you want to make more intimate and welcoming. Cool colours, such as greens and blues, tend to recede and make the walls seem further away. This makes them a good choice for small, narrow rooms that you want to seem more spacious. The way you combine colours can also significantly alter your perception of a room. 1 2 Wall from bottom in Resene Blue Moon, Resene Frozen, Resene Breathless and Resene Solitude. Deck in Resene Woodsman Iroko, bench seat in Resene Smitten, and pots in Resene Freefall and Resene Skydiver. 14 |