Color is an essential aspect of any design. Whether decorating your room, painting a work of art, or even choosing an outfit, you should consider your color scheme. Most people have a basic idea of which colors go well together, but using color in design is more than just choosing a few aesthetically pleasing hues.
Let’s look at some common color mistakes that people often make. You might be doing some of these things yourself without even realizing it, but by being aware of them, you can start using colors more effectively in all areas of art and design.
1. Forgetting About Lighting
The way light hits a color can affect how it looks. Dull light could make white paint look dirty or an orange dress look brown. So, think about how much light will be on that color to decide if it’s a good fit. For example, if you’re painting a wall that’s near a window, sunlight will probably be on it regularly. You’ll want to paint it a color that looks great without being overpowering as the sun shines on it and makes it more vibrant.
If you want to ensure the color of your outfit, art, or another item looks good in photographs, make sure it’s well-lit to enhance the colors (unless you think it looks better in dull lighting).
2. Using Too Many Different Colors
If you love colors, it can be easy to get carried away when decorating something. Using lots of colors can work great in some situations, but in most cases, it’ll make the object hard to look at. When it comes to interior design, you definitely don’t want to make the colors of your room overpowering. So, instead of forcing all your favorite colors into one design, choose a few colors that go well together and design them thoughtfully. You can use a different color scheme for each room if you want to make sure all the colors you love are used.
Excessive color use can also be a problem in other contexts. Having too many colors in one outfit can draw lots of attention toward you, but not necessarily in a good way. Having too many colors on an art piece you’re working on can make it hard to look at, which could prevent people from fully appreciating it.
3. Always Using the Same Color
Most people have a favorite color, but you may want to vary the colors you choose from time to time. Monochromatic color schemes using tints and shades of one color can look good in certain contexts. However, when it comes to interior design, using mostly one color, such as blue, in every room of the house could be a lot to take in. You should at least use some neutral colors to create variety and break up the color a bit.
While varying the colors that surround you can help bring some balance to your life, it may not be necessary in all areas. For example, if you’re an artist who’s known for using a certain color, you may want to stick to a monochromatic color scheme of that color. If you like wearing the same color every day, that could just be your style, but it may be a good idea to have other colors in your closet in case you need to dress up for a specific event or themed party.
4. Mixing Too Many Colors Together
If you’re creating a colorful work of art, you likely mix paint colors together frequently to get your desired hue. However, if you’re not used to mixing colors, it’s easy to mess up and get a color that’s far from what you imagined. Adding too many colors to the mix will typically give you a gross brown or gray color.
Following a color mixing guide can help you with the basics of mixing paint. However, in general, you should remember that adding white to a paint color will make it lighter, while adding a hint of black will make it darker. Mixing two colors next to each other on the color wheel (like blue and green) will give you a tertiary color (like blue-green). Mixing colors on opposite sides of the colors wheel will often give you unsightly colors like brown and black. Using different amounts of each color in your mixture can give you unique colors as a result.
5. Not Creating Enough of a Color Mixture for Art
When you’re painting a work of art, you’ll likely want some consistency in the colors you choose. If you want to avoid wasting paint, you may only mix small amounts of paint to create new colors. Yet, that could result in you running out of your color mixture before you finish painting. Creating the exact mixture again can be tricky, causing the shade to look slightly different next to the original color.
So, don’t be afraid to create a big mixture of your desired color. Even if you have lots of it left over, you can store it in a container and use it for a different art piece in the future.
6. Thinking That Mixing Lights Is the Same as Mixing Paint
When most people think of mixing colors, they think of subtractive color mixing, which is what is used for paint. However, mixing colored lights involves additive color mixing, which will give you different results. For example, mixing red and green with paint gives you an unsightly brown color, but mixing red and green with lights gives you yellow. Expecting colored lights to give you the same colored mixtures as paints will cause a lot of confusion.
7. Not Starting With a Sample Swatch for Painting Walls
Choosing a paint color for your walls is a huge commitment because that’s the color that will surround you. Even if the color seems perfect, you should paint some sample swatches on the wall first. Let it dry and sit there through different times of day to make sure you’re certain about it. If you just start painting without a sample swatch, you may realize afterward that the color isn’t right for you. Then, you’re either stuck with a color you don’t love, or you’ll have to repaint everything, neither of which are ideal options.
8. Not Letting Your Eyes Rest
For many people, it’s easy to collect lots of colorful home decor items or fill a canvas with colorful shapes. Yet, you need to provide some empty spaces in your designs. Otherwise, your eyes won’t get a chance to rest. You’ll constantly be looking all over the place, trying to take everything in. This is true for all types of designs, whether it’s a room or a painting. If a room has too many color patterns and not enough neutral space, it can be difficult to relax in. If a piece of art is too cluttered with colors, it may be difficult to look at.
To ensure your design isn’t overwhelming, consider the layout and where the focal point is. There should be a balance between interesting aspects that draw your eyes and empty spaces where they can rest.
9. Using Too Many Bright Colors
Of course, bright colors are fun, but they can also be difficult to look at in large quantities. If you love bold, vibrant colors, make sure you don’t go overboard with them. Don’t paint an entire wall a neon color. Also, avoid wearing too many different bold colors at once unless you want to be the center of attention. Instead of adding lots of bright colors, use them sparingly for the parts of the design that you want to stand out the most.
10. Avoiding Neutral Colors
When people choose colors to design with, they often forget about neutrals. Most designs should include some neutral colors, such as black, white, brown, and gray. If used too much, people might perceive the design as boring, but when used in moderation, they can help create balance and break up the more vibrant colors. Most designs need some white, black, and/or brown, so don’t forget to consider them.
11. Rushing It
Don’t rush any art form, but it’s especially true for painting your walls a new color. If you finish painting the first coat of your walls, give yourself plenty of time before starting a second coat. Touching your walls before they’re dry could ruin the first coat, making you have to fix your mistake and wait even longer. You should also take your time while painting every layer to ensure the paint doesn’t look messy. Adding color to any surface takes time, so be patient with the process.
12. Not Considering the Emotional Aspect
In many cases, the psychology associated with your chosen colors plays a significant role. When it comes to art, emotions are important, so you should use colors that evoke the feelings you want to portray. You probably wouldn’t use warm colors for a piece that’s supposed to be somber (of course, there are always exceptions).
Considering the emotional effects of your colors is equally important in interior design. For example, you may want to use calming colors like blue in rooms you want to relax in, such as the bedroom and bathroom. Then, you can save high-energy colors like yellow for rooms that people commonly socialize in, such as the dining room and entertainment room.
