People often struggle with creating a great color scheme. In my last few blog articles we have discussed how you could take your favorite color, blue for example and create different color schemes. We explored monochromatic, analogous, complimentary and diad color schemes. Today, lets look at a Triad!
A triad uses three colors with the equal distance between all colors on the color wheel, causing no clear dominance of one color.
So, let’s create a triad color scheme with the blue we have been working with in the last several articles. You can see the blue in the sofas. To catch up on these other color schemes see my articles Celebrate Your Favorite Color- Go Monochromatic and Create a Harmonious Color Scheme- Go Analogous, Opposite Colors Attract, Go Complimentary and Great Paint Color Schemes- Do a Diad. See examples of those color schemes below.
To create a triad with our blue (which is a blue/purple), we will add reds and greens.
The Design
With a triad, you are using 3 colors and have a large variety of tints, tones and shades to play with within those colors. You can get dramatic or keep it simple based on the colors you choose. For example, below I created a triad with our blue as in the sofas as the base color and incorporating reds in the rug and pillows and greens in the pouf, lamps, art, plants and wall color. I used saturated colors from each of the hue families. The deep rich wall color creates a more dramatic look.
If drama is not your thing, you can tone it down by changing the saturation of the wall color. Below, the only thing I changed was the wall color, which is still green, but with such low saturation levels it is approaching a gray. This more neutral colored wall creates a more serene atmosphere.
My design also incorporates some of my unique fractal art from my “Spring” Collection.
Shop the Look
Check out the pieces I selected for this design. Some include affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission for sharing at no additional cost to you.
I selected pieces of various materials with different textures and patterns within the 3 hue families.
Benefits of A Triad Color Scheme
- A triad color scheme is relatively easy to put together. Pick your favorite color and find 2 neighbors, equal distant apart on the color wheel.
- Triad color schemes can be really dramatic or relaxing based on the saturation and placement of the colors you choose. Very nice for living rooms, dining rooms and areas that you like to entertain. You could try the more relaxing color combinations in a bedroom, especially if you are using blues and greens.
- You can play with this color scheme for different effects by having one color as the dominant color and the other 2 as accents, or give all colors equal weights. Each color brings it’s own feeling to the space so highlight one over the others to get the mood you want.
Create Beauty with Color in Your Space
EACH MOMENT IN LIFE IS YOUR CHOICE.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH BEAUTY RIGHT NOW.
OR NOT, IT’S UP TO YOU.
EVERYTHING IS EASIER WHEN YOU LOVE YOUR SPACE.
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Great color series illustrations. I love how you show so clearly what changing one piece does to the mood and feeling of the room!
Thanks Janet! This series has been a lot of fun to experiment with. Changing color really does totally change the look and feel of a room so much!
This is a great post! I really appreciate how you so clearly illustrate the impact saturation of color makes in how a room feels. The renderings are a great way to do that.
Thank you Lisa! Yes, saturation can make a huge difference in how a room feels and also what colors play well together. Similar saturation or chroma levels help create color harmony.
How beautifully you explained by your expressive illustrations the concepts of the color wheel , Mary Ann. This goes back to color 101 for most of us but yet you raised the bar by your expert designing eyes to bring out the perfect examples to teach us how to implement it in our spaces. Well done!
Thank you so much!
What a lovely series showing how color can have such an impact!
Thank you so much Charmain!
Loved seeing how you were able to show the same room in different colors. The triad color system is helpful too.
Thanks Deborah, and it is so easy to figure out from the color wheel to help people come up with ideas for their spaces.
I am really enjoying this series and seeing your renderings! It’s great to see one room with so many different looks.
Thanks so much! It is fun to play with and just goes to show what a huge impact color has on a space. Paint color can often be the easiest and most inexpensive thing to change and that alone can transform a space.