Interior designers often refer to primary, secondary, and tertiary colors when selecting palettes for spaces. Primary colors are red, yellow and blue. Secondary colors are created by mixing two primary colors together, resulting in orange, green, and purple. Tertiary colors take mixing a step further by combining a primary and secondary shade. The result is a more complex, nuanced palette with up to six additional color options.
Understanding how to use tertiary colors allows designers to choose sophisticated, cohesive schemes for interiors. When combined thoughtfully, these shades add visual interest and dimension to any room. By learning the basics around mixing and matching tertiary hues, even beginners can make appealing selections. Read on to learn more about what defines a tertiary color and how they are used in interior design.
What Are Tertiary Colors?
As mentioned above, tertiary colors are created by mixing one primary and one secondary shade. For example, red and orange make red-orange. The same concept applies for yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-purple, and red-purple.
| Primary Color | Secondary Color | Tertiary Color |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Orange | Red-orange |
| Yellow | Orange | Yellow-orange |
| Yellow | Green | Yellow-green |
| Blue | Green | Blue-green |
| Blue | Purple | Blue-purple |
| Red | Purple | Red-purple |
The proportions used when mixing determine where the tertiary color lands on the color wheel. A tertiary made with more primary will shift closer to that original shade, while more secondary moves it toward that side. This flexibility allows interior designers to fine-tune a color scheme.
For example, a red-orange with more red than orange will have a deeper, bolder look. More orange yields a brighter, lighter version. Both are considered tertiary colors, even though the appearance differs based on the mixing ratios.
Tertiary colors possess the same pigmentation strength as primary and secondary hues. However, they showcase far more diversity. Just think about the range from subdued blue-green to vivid yellow-orange. This complexity means tertiary shades add incredible flair when planning interior color schemes.
How Are Tertiary Colors Used in Interior Design?
Interior designers rely on tertiary colors to create stylish, multifaceted color palettes. Here are some of the most popular ways these shades are used in interiors:
Add Nuance to Primary Color Schemes
Utilizing straight primary colors can look unsophisticated and flat. However, pairing primaries with analogous tertiary colors inserts subtlety. For example, soft blue-purple infuses interest into a bold red and blue living room scheme. The tertiary hue is clearly related yet distinctive enough to add appealing variation.
Build Gradient Color Flows
Progressively transitioning between tertiary shades generates a smooth, gradient palette. For instance, an open kitchen and living room might begin with yellow-orange near the entryway. Moving through the space flows into yellow, then yellow-green, finishing with green in the sitting area. This gradient creates a cohesive journey.
Complement Neutrals
Neutral backdrops like white walls or wood furniture allow tertiary colors to take center stage. Vivid hues enliven muted tones and materials without competing. A red-orange throw pillow delivers a burst of energy against a creamy sofa. Green-blue artwork pops on a soft gray wall, drawing the eye while not overwhelming the neutral scheme.
Tie a Monochromatic Scheme Together
Monochromatic interior schemes utilize the same base color at various saturation and lightness levels. While visually cohesive, monochrome palettes risk feeling one dimensional. Tertiary versions of the main hue mix things up. For example, a peach and pink bathroom gains interest with the addition of red-orange towels and rugs.
Bridge Transitional Spaces
Transitioning between color schemes in adjacent rooms requires finesse so the change does not feel jarring. Tertiary colors share aspects of their adjoining hues, naturally forming a bridge. If a blue kitchen opens into a green dining room, injecting blue-green accessories makes the flow seamless.
Showcase Personality
Vibrant tertiary colors infuse personality into a space unlike neutrals. The choice makes a statement. A teen’s bedroom could feature vivid red-purple walls or an eclectic living area with bright yellow-orange and blue-green accents. Tertiaries avoid primary predictability.
Set a Mood
The bold, stimulating qualities of tertiaries like red-orange and yellow-orange enliven a room. They bring feelings of energy, cheerfulness, and warmth. Tranquil tertiaries such as blue-green evoke relaxation and serenity. Interior designers carefully select tertiary hues to affect the desired ambiance.
Liven Up Small Spaces
Deeply saturated tertiaries inject energy into compact rooms. A tiny entryway gains life with a radiant yellow-orange front door. An undersized bathroom transforms with blue-green glass tile as an accent. Vibrant tertiaries maximize the visual impact in limited square footage.
Create Focal Points
Teritary hues attract attention, making them ideal for key focal points. Red-orange pillows on a neutral sofa become the room’s centerpiece. Vivid yellow-green framing a window ensures all eyes look towards the view. Strategic use of energizing tertiaries orchestrates emphasis.
Complement Other Colors
The limitless variety of the color wheel means tertiaries coordinate with more than just their parent primaries and secondaries. Red-purple pairs beautifully with yellow-green because they share the same intensity while providing enough contrast. Seek creative color combinations to make interiors shine.
Tips for Using Tertiary Colors
While tertiary colors open up exciting possibilities, restraint is necessary to keep interiors stylish. Here are tips for effectively utilizing tertiary hues:
Use Tertiary Colors Sparingly
These shades pack a punch, so a little goes a long way. Limiting tertiaries to smaller accents and artwork prevents overwhelming a space. Too many bold hues compete for attention. Apply the “20-60-20” rule: Up to 20% tertiary accent colors, 60% neutral backdrop, 20% secondary shades.
Select 1-2 Tertiary Colors
Restricting the tertiary palette provides focus. Choosing related hues, like blue-purple and red-purple, makes the scheme cohesive. Additional tertiaries risk muddying the interior’s direction. Edit down to key players for the strongest statement.
Balance With Neutrals
Abundant neutral tones in furniture, walls, floors are crucial when using vivid tertiaries. They give the eye a place to rest between the bursts of color. Too many competing colors overwhelm, while neutrals prevent that visual fatigue.
Consider Light Reflection
Light changes how colors appear. Blue-green may read bold and stimulating in daylight but recede into a moody teal in dim evening lighting. Test tertiary swatches at varied times of day to understand how light impacts the vibrancy.
Reference Nature’s Colors
Notice tertiary hues in the natural landscape outside. Red-orange poppies, yellow-green meadows, blue-purple water—nature perfects color combinations. Bring those outside inspirations in.
Repeat Tertiary Colors
While most of the interior sticks to a neutral plan, repeating pops of accent tertiaries creates consistency. Scatter yellow-orange throw pillows around a space to unify the design. Echo blue-green from artwork in the decorative bowls on a coffee table.
Change Tertiary Colors by Room
Limiting each space to no more than two tertiary hues avoids visual chaos. Bedrooms may features red-purple and blue-purple accents, while living areas utilize yellow-orange and red-orange for an energetic feel. Define each room’s tertiary identity.
Select Vibrant Tertiaries for North Rooms
Areas without much natural light require lively tertiaries like red-orange or yellow-orange to feel bright and cheery. Deep blue-greens can make dark, northern rooms feel dismal. Intense tertiaries compensate for the lack of sunlight.
Use Calming Tertiaries in South Rooms
South-facing spaces will experience plentiful sunshine. Cool tertiaries like blue-purple and blue-green counteract the heat and prevent overwhelming. Their receding nature balances southern light intensity for comfort.
Consider Personal Preference
Ultimately, comfort dictates interior design. An energized yellow-orange dining room suits some personalities but may overstimulate others. Calm blue-greens can be serene or depressing depending on individual taste. Design tertiary schemes around the inhabitants’ sensibilities.
Conclusion
Tertiary colors provide interior designers access to a broader, more nuanced palette. Mixing a primary and secondary hue generates fresh, stimulating shades that exist between the well-known standards. Red-orange, yellow-green, blue-purple—these vivid tertiaries introduce diversity, visual interest, and personality into interiors when thoughtfully applied. By following basic principles around proportion, placement, balance, and restraint, even beginners can effectively utilize tertiaries. Just keep accent colors limited, build off neutral backdrops, and choose hues that inspire positive emotions. The result will be stylish, cohesive interiors that move beyond the basics into exciting new color frontiers.
