Exploring Color Theory: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
Tags: webdev, design, css, beginners
Published: 2023-01-16 08:51:33


Colors play a major role in designing and marketing. Different colors have different meanings, connotations, and psychological effects. And knowing how to choose the right colors is a big differentiator between a **_noob_** and _**pro**_ designer.

So how does one choose the right colors? Well one Practical answer is using the color wheel. Yes, the one invented by _Sir Isaac Newton_. Basically he mapped the color spectrum in a circle which is now called the color wheel and is used by designers to find harmonious color combinations.

_Color wheel by Sir Isan Newton_
![design, CSS, color thoery, principles of design](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/s709sfeoqonp54n1uiav.jpg)


**Choosing harmonious colors**
Color Harmony is basically combinations of color, when put together looks aesthetically pleasing to our eyes. There are some combinations derived using the color wheel.

**1.Complementary colors**
Complementary colours can be found typically on opposite sides of the colour wheel,  one is a primary colour and the other is a secondary colour. Blue and orange, red and green, and yellow and purple are the three primary complementary colours.

![design, CSS, HTML, javascript, frontend ,complementary colors, color wheel](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/g6hksgpc35up3si6onyy.jpg)



**2.Analogous colors**
Analogous colors are basically the three colors next to each other. One of them is the a dominant color, the other is a supporting color and the third one is either the mix of two, or something that pops. 
_ref_-[_blog by BY LUCIA TONELLI_](https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/color/a27793858/analogous-color-scheme/)


![design, CSS, HTML, javascript, frontend ,analogous colors, color wheel](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/hzie3a95vii5dtc2cn9p.png)


**3.Triad**
Lets say you have an Equilateral Triangle, now placing it in the middle of the color wheel we get three vertices pointing towards three colors. Those three colors form the Triad. This combination are use for intense and striking effects.
_ref-_[_a blog on triadic combinations by Jeanette Lynton_](https://blog.closetomyheart.com/2018/04/17/color-theory-triadic-color-combinations/)


![design, CSS, HTML, javascript, frontend ,triadic colors, color wheel](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/pvqpq2coqlu0dpf2u75o.png)


**4.Achromatic**
Achromatic colors have no saturation or hue in them. They are different shades of black ,grey and white. These color combinations give a monotonous harmony depicting seriousness in a artwork or design.


![design, CSS, HTML, javascript, frontend ,achromatic colors, color wheel](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/jsv3x5n82budbkikv0w3.jpg)


**5.Monochromatic colors**
This color harmony uses darker to lighter shades of only one color or hue. This means one color is used with different amounts of black and white. This combination has a contrast but unified effect on the artwork or design.


![design, CSS, HTML, javascript, frontend ,monochromatic colors, color wheel](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/xd87mg0gyjzotp18mopu.jpg)


**recomended Reading**

_- [What Is Color Theory? Meaning & Fundamentals by Will Fanguy](https://xd.adobe.com/ideas/process/ui-design/what-is-color-theory/)_

_- [Color and Marketing (have sub topics)](https://www.colormatters.com/color-and-marketing)_