Think back to art class in elementary school. We learned the basics of color theory using the color wheel. The color wheel shows the relationship between colors. In class we were taught about primary and secondary colors, warm and cool colors, and more. Later on in school we were taught color schemes, symbolism and, the difference between tints, shades and hues. All of these lessons, whether we realize it or not, influence our color choices. From picking out an outfit, to decorating our home or building a color palette for event; we *typically* like to pair colors that look good together. And that's called color harmony.
We use a lot of color theory here at A-1 when we are designing. While we don't necessarily pull out the color wheel during the process, it's always in the back of our minds. This the first of many posts involving color theory. Color theory is essentially a combination of art and science that’s used to determine what colors look good together.
Each post will be centered around a different color scheme. This first being complementary colors. These are two colors that are on opposite sides of the color wheel. This combination provides a high contrast and high impact – together, these colors will appear brighter and more prominent. We opted to use tints of the hues found on the color wheel: blue & orange, red & green, and yellow & purple.
BLUE & ORANGE:
We used Carolina Blue rattan for the tablecloth and Shrimp standard poly napkins. The typical primary and secondary shades of blue and orange just scream "sports!" so we opted for the pastel versions. To continue with the color scheme we used an arrangement of coral poppies, coordinating menus and rose gold wire chargers.
GREEN & RED:
For this color scheme, we used a Sage matte satin tablecloth and Ruby matte satin napkins. The centerpiece incorporated various shades of red, green and pink giving it an almost tropical, Palm Springs vibe. Rose gold accents and clear chairs finished the look.
PURPLE & YELLOW:
This table has a bit more contrast than the others due the the linens. We used a Buttercup panama tablecloth and Eggplant standard poly napkin. The rich purple was accented with white and lavender flowers to lighten the look.
Color theory may be based on art and science but there is no wrong way to interpret it either. Some of the most popular color schemes we see for events are some version of a color wheel color scheme. Take a look at our Pinterest board for more inspiration!
Keep an eye an out for the next post in this series: Analogous Colors.
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