Understanding colour basics
From temperature and tone to lighting and hue — there’s more to colour than meets the eye. Master the basics and learn the intricacies to perfect colour combinations in your home. Artwork: Peering in (Canopy) by Clare Brodie. Colours featured: Dulux Pencarrow and Te Aroha (walls).
How To Guides
Temperature
Colour temperature is all about warm and cold tones. The colours you decorate your home with can not only impact the mood of your overall space, but also its perception making it look bigger or smaller.
Warm
Reds, yellows and oranges are warm colours, and remind us of things like the sun or fire. Warmer colours tend to draw attention and become a natural focal point.
Cool
Cool colours, such as blues, greens and purples are softer to the eye and can recede, creating a larger perception of space.
Tone
Tone is what we refer to when describing the lightness or darkness of a colour. Put simply, lighter tones have more white while darker tones have more black. Light tones are fresh and airy, and make a room appear larger, where dark tones create a lush, opulent space with distinct sophistication.
Hue
Hue is the colour group or collection recognisable to the eye, for example greens or blues. We can break hue down into three levels: primary (red, blue and yellow), secondary (mixes of two primary colours), or tertiary (combination of primary and secondary colours). Colour schemes can also include colours across different hue groups to help you achieve unique combinations.
Chroma
Chroma, or saturation, refers to the intensity of colour and how vivid it is. High-chroma colours are bright and bold, best used for feature walls or accents in smaller volumes to create a striking focal point that pops.
Lighting
Have you ever noticed that your room looks and feels different at various times of the day? That’s because light — both natural and artificial — has a significant impact on the way colours are represented. Rooms that see lots of natural light work with whites, including cooler whites as well as neutral tones and warm and cool colours. However, if you are looking to add brightness to a darker room, explore warmer whites and neutrals or warm colours such as yellow and orange.
Wall
Natural White™
Natural White™ is the lightest of warm whites and also one of our most popular. Loved by home renovators and interior designers alike, this versatile white will brighten any space. It is perfect for main walls inside and out and ideal for exterior features. It never fails to impress.
Once you’ve chosen your colour — don’t risk the result. The only way to bring your favourite hues to life at home is to mix Dulux colours with Dulux paint products. With Dulux Wash&Wear®, you’ll get exact colour accuracy as well as a finish that will look freshly painted for longer.
Get the look
Cabinets and Wall
White on White™
White on White™ is a clean, minimalist white that brings a sense of energy and vitality to your home. This cool white with a slightly cool blue undertone is perfect for a bright space in a contemporary setting.
Wall
Ruski
The versatility, and often chameleon-like qualities, of grey makes it a great choice for almost every style of home from contemporary to traditional. From welcoming warm greys through to cooler shades, explore the depths of this colour to find the perfect combination for your space.
Door
Evening Blush
Evening Blush is beautiful, warm clay-coloured pink that pairs well with soft neutrals such as Beige Artefacts. It can be used as an accent colour such as on a feature wall or used as an all-over wall colour to add a sense of warmth and drama to any space.
Wall & Ceiling
White on White™
A clean, minimalist white that brings a sense of energy and vitality to your home. Give your space both a timeless essence and a contemporary feel.
In-home Colour Consultation
Colour Design Service
Save time and gain colour confidence the smart way with personal guidance from an expert Dulux Colour Consultant. Enjoy a home refresh sooner with our In-home and Online Colour Consultations.
Choose from our wide selection of licensed and insured painters to find the right one for your job.
Our friendly Help and Advice team can help you order exactly what you need. Call 13 25 25 and speak to one of our team members or submit an enquiry via our online form.
Book now to have an online or in-home colour consultation with a qualified interior designer.
