Your go-to guide for understanding color terminology.

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  Primary colors: The three primary colors are red, yellow and blue. Any color can be created from primary colors but primary colors can't be created from other colors.

   
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  Secondary colors: Secondary colors are created from combining two primary colors. Secondary colors are orange, green and violet.

   
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  Tertiary colors: Combining primary and secondary colors creates tertiary colors. These colors are red-orange, red-violet, yellow-green, yellow-orange, blue-green and blue-violet.

   
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  Monochromatic colors: Colors from the same color family tend to look great together. Monochromatic color schemes use tints and shades of the same color to create a sophisticated and elegant look.

   
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  Analogous colors: Developed from colors next to each other on the color wheel, analogous color schemes offer more nuances while retaining the elegance of the monochromatic scheme. Usually, one color is used as a dominant color while others are used to enrich the scheme.

   
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  Complementary colors: Contrasting colors are opposite from each other on the color wheel add drama to any room. Complementary colors enhance the temperature of each other, which adds interest and energy to the décor. To get the most out of this scheme, use a warm color against a cool shade or add contrasting accessories to highlight the color of your walls.