Colour Matching in Interiors 🎨
At Plank Hardware, we understand that many of you aspire to transform your homes into awe-inspiring spaces, like a screenshot pulled straight out of Architectural Digest. Of course, as with most things — it’s not always as easy as it looks.
The Science of Colour 🧪
Lack of scientific knowledge shouldn’t stand in the way of creating the most beautiful living space for your needs. Colour matching can be daunting, especially for those of us who don’t have a natural eye or necessarily know what mood or vibe we want our rooms to portray.
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In reality, any room’s transformation requires a little artistic ingenuity and a substantial dose of scientific know-how— which is where our handy, interactive colour matching tool comes in. Our free tool was created to empower people to successfully make their own interior colour choices, without the need for an expensive third party. Plus, the satisfaction of knowing you’ve been your own project manager and creative lead is unbeatable.
What To Consider When Using Our Colour Match Tool
1️⃣ How do you want your room to make you feel?
There’s plenty of research out there proving the impact of colour on mood and emotions, so before you even start, consider how you’d like to feel in a room. Energised and productive, or calm and relaxed? This will help steer the colour matching process.
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2️⃣ Be true to yourself.
Your home is an extension of your personality, which shines through in the interior décor. If something doesn’t quite feel right from that first swatch, it probably isn’t — save yourself time and energy later down the line by making sure the colours are right for your individual style.
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3️⃣ Trust the process.
These colour combinations have been expertly matched using insider knowledge, colour theory, art and science. You’ll be amazed at the professional finish they give.
How To Use Our Colour Matching Tool
We've designed our colour matching tool based on the four shades featured in our new Colour Pop Drop hardware collection.
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To get started, simply select the colour you’re initially drawn to for your personal taste and the space you require it for, then you will be led to a selection of complementary colours for you to consider. Not only will you get a good idea about the colours that work together, but you’ll get the colour hex codes so you can get the exact ones you like from the paint shop 🎨
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These complementary colour palettes include monochromatic, analogous, complementary, split-complementary, neutrals, triadic and tetradic, all based on the art and science behind the colour wheel theory. Definitions of these colour schemes can be found below ⬇️
COLOUR MATCHING TOOL
🤏 Pick a Pantone swatch to get started
Monochromatic
A colour scheme that revolves around a single hue or colour. It involves using different shades, tones, and tints of the same colour to create a harmonious and cohesive look. To create monochromatic paint shades, you start with a base colour and then adjust its value (lightness or darkness), saturation (intensity or purity), or both. By manipulating these elements, you can achieve a range of shades within the same colour family.
Analogous
A colour scheme consisting of colours that are adjacent to each other on the colour wheel. These colours share a similar undertone and are often found in nature, creating a harmonious and visually pleasing combination. To create an analogous colour scheme, you select a base colour and then choose the colours on either side of it. For example, if your base colour is blue, the analogous colours would be blue-green and blue-violet. Similarly, if your base colour is yellow, the analogous colours would be yellow-orange and yellow-green.
Complementary (contrasting)
Complementary colours, also known as contrasting colours, are pairs of colours that are positioned directly across from each other on the colour wheel. These colours create a strong visual contrast when placed together, as they are composed of wavelengths that are far apart.
Split-complementary (one base)
Split-complementary colours are a variation of the complementary colour scheme. In this colour scheme, instead of using a single complementary colour, you use the two colours adjacent to its complement on the colour wheel. This creates a visually interesting and balanced colour combination while maintaining a level of contrast. The split-complementary scheme offers more variety and flexibility compared to a traditional complementary scheme.
Neutrals
Colours that are considered to be low in saturation and do not strongly lean towards any particular hue or colour family. They are often seen as subdued, toned-down, and lacking in vibrancy. Neutrals are typically created by combining complementary colours or by adding black, white, or grey to pure hues.
Triadic
A colour combination that involves three colours equally spaced around the colour wheel. These three colours form an equilateral triangle on the colour wheel and create a vibrant and visually appealing contrast. The term "triadic" comes from the Greek word "triadikos," meaning "consisting of three."
Tetradic (four colours, equally spaced square on colour wheel)
Also known as the double complementary or rectangular colour scheme, involves the use of four colours that are evenly spaced around the colour wheel. These four colours form a rectangle or square shape on the colour wheel, creating a visually balanced and harmonious colour combination. The term "tetradic" refers to the number four and the geometric arrangement of the colours.
What is Colour Theory?
Our colour matching tool uses colour theory as one of the determining factors on colour matches.
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Colour theory combines art and science, and delves into the intricate understanding of how humans perceive colour, as well as the impact of blending, contrasting and matching colours.
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To pick the perfect combination of colours every time, interior designers and other creatives often use a colour wheel and refer to extensive collected knowledge about human optical ability, psychology and culture.
Colour Matching in Your Home 🏡
Whether your personal style is moody and monochromatic, or energetic and colourful, a lick of expertly selected paint (as identified using our tool) and the addition of colourful hardware can be transformative, not only to your mood but to your relationship with the space too — which often isn’t given enough credit.
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Our colourful collection consists of a palette of trending shades, curated by our in-house design experts; cobalt blue, sage green, lemon yellow and soft lilac — all of which have gained popularity within interiors in recent months.
So, why not breathe new life into your home by using your newly acquired colour match knowledge and transform your room to match your style and mood? Watch out AD 👀