One of the best features of epoxy coatings and concrete staining from Nevada Custom Coatings is that they not only protect your concrete, but they look fabulous while doing it. A key factor in making them look so good is making sure they visually fit in with the existing color scheme. That doesn’t mean a concrete coating or stain needs to be the exact same color, texture, or pattern you already have in place. Your epoxy coatings can be a different shade, a different color, or even multiple different colors. This can add vibrance to the décor of your home or business. But how can you choose the right colors, so they don’t clash or become a chaotic mess? Nevada Custom Coatings helps our customers identify the right colors with the use of the color wheel.
The History of the Color Wheel
In early studies of color and light, many scientists identified and cataloged the color spectrum, but it was Sir Isaac Newton who put a circular angle on the subject. While studying prisms, Newton postulated that all the colors had a harmonious relationship, much like musical notes. So, he identified each color hue with a corresponding musical note and adjusted the list into a square. Further research led him to place the hues on a rotating disk instead of a square, which emphasized how the hues interacted visually. And so, the first color wheel came into existence. You can read Sir Isaac Newton’s own notes on the subject in his book called Opticks.
Since then, the color wheel has led countless individuals to explore and understand the relationships between different colors. Most color wheels today are set up with the same shades in the same sequence. Further use and exploration gave way to strategies that identified appealing color combinations.
Complementary Colors
Using a standard color wheel, pick a certain color and then draw an imaginary line to the color directly opposite. Since they are opposites, you might think that these colors would clash. But surprisingly, they almost always go well together! They complement each other, so they are called complementary colors. Such combinations include yellow and purple, green and red, blue and orange, and many shades thereof.
Analogous Colors
While complementary colors focus on opposites, analogous colors focus on neighbors. Pick a color like primary green, but instead of going to the opposite side, go to the next color to the left and right of green. These neighborly colors are yellow-green and blue-green. These colors are analogous (or similar) to green. Examples of analogous combinations include blue and teal or red and red-orange.
Color Triads
With so many colors in the spectrum, there’s no need to limit yourself to just two, right? Many color wheels come with a detachable, equilateral triangle to identify three colors on the wheel that are “geometrically” opposed. Amazingly, this method to identify three colors typically creates an appealing color combination. For instance, if you put one corner of the equilateral triangle on red, the other two corners line up with blue and yellow, making a color triad. Highlighting orange results in a color triad with green and violet.
Too Much of a Good Thing?
Some people have the idea that if a triangle matches three colors that work so well together, then a square or hexagon will really make the colors dance. We highly recommend you consult with Nevada Custom Coatings before making such a decision. Granted, there are plenty of examples in nature where dozens of colors appeal to human eye, but it rarely works in a production room or home décor. Too many colors often make the room too busy, reducing the possibility of relaxation or focus. (It also starts to get really expensive.)
Let’s Work Together on Concrete Colors!
Discuss the subject of colors with Nevada Custom Coatings. Tell us what you are looking for to improve the look of your concrete floor. We use color samples to show you solid colors, complementary ones, and analogous combinations. We can also add color flakes, micas, granules, and patterns to your epoxy coatings, enhancing their look and feel even further. To find out what color combinations would work for your concrete floor, give Nevada Custom Coatings in Reno a call, or schedule a free onsite consultation using our online form.
