How to Select and Use Color. Part 4 in a 4 Part Color Series


So, you have a project and you are ready to go but you can't decide on a color palette. What do you do?

Do you surf online? Do you stroll through shops and look at existing merchandise? Do you look at past work, magazines, watch TV?

Color can be wonderful and overwhelming at the same time.

Here are 5 go-to tips and tools for selecting and combining colors. See if any of them can help you.

1. The Voice of Color® Color Game offers you your own personal set of colors for all the design elements in your room or space. All you do is answer a few questions and select images that resonate with you.This is geared more towards interior colors you personally might like to be surrounded by but I figure if they are colors you like, you will enjoy creating with them. I played the game a few times and it was very accurate for my personal color preferences. CLICK HERE to try The Voice of Color® ColorGame.

2.Adobe has a really useful online tool called Adobe Kuler Color selector. You can create color schemes with the color wheel or browse thousands of color combinations from the Kuler community. It is set up to automatically create combinations based on your selection of a color rule. That way you don't even have to know color theory! It does it for you. CLICK HERE to try Adobe Kuler

3. Coolors was a fun, free color palette generator that I enjoyed using and will incorporate into my design arsenal. It has a quick tutorial that explains how to use all of the features and save your combinations. I really liked the over sized color swatches. I was able to easily and quickly generate some color combinations that excited me. They also have a page with existing color combinations from other users. CLICK HERE to try Coolors.

4. Pinterest is a great place to discover and save new color combinations. There is a never ending supply of inspirational color palettes for all of your creative, design projects. Just search keywords (like seasonal, feminine, vibrant, neutral) along with the words "color palettes" and see what you discover. It's also a great place to create color stories and inspiration boards. I can spend way too much time on there! To see some of my favorite color combinations, CLICK HERE to follow me on Pinterest.

5. Lastly, a great option is taking a course in the study of color theory. There are many online workshops or you can check your local community college if you prefer to learn in person. A little basic knowledge can really help build your confidence where color combining is concerned. There are also books and color wheel tools that you can find at your local art and craft store.

Do you have tools or tips on creating color palettes?

Until next week,
Pam

CLICK HERE to read part 1 in the color series
CLICK HERE to read part 2 in the color series
CLICK HERE to read part 3 in the color series

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