Color Theory 101

Whether you love to play with color or prefer a safe beige, knowing a few simple terms can help you talk the talk.

Hue – Refers to the color or base color. A true hue is one that is found on the color wheel. Misuse – to describe lighter or darker a variation in color.

Tint–Put simply, a tint is a lighter variation of a color. Tints are created by adding white to colors. For example, pink is a tint of red. Misuse – to describe the application of color to something (e.g. blue-tinted hair).

Shade–A hue that has been made darker by adding black to it. Navy is a shade of blue. Misuse - when used to describe any color. Note: shades are darker than the base hue.

Tone – Created when gray is added to a hue, a tone is created. Tones are generally more muted versions of colors. Misuse – to describe any variation in hue.

Value– This term describes the lightness or darkness of a color. Colors with more white (tints) have higher value, and darker colors (shades) have lower value. Misuse – this term is often not used. Typically shade or tone is misused instead.

Saturation– The purity or intensity of a color is called saturation. The most-saturated colors are vivid and strong, where less-saturated colors can appear washed out or muted. Misuse – sometimes used to describe opacity.

With a better understanding of these color terms, you can easily choose color palettes for any application from walls to your wardrobe.

Look for more color tips to come.