The underlying premise of the three colour rule is to not combine more than three colours in your outfit at any one time. The exception being black and white, which are technically not 'colours' but tones, and can be intermixed as a fourth colour in your outfit.
In the traditional red, yellow, blue color wheel, the complementary color combinations are as follows: red and green. yellow and purple. blue and orange.
The rule of 3 colors is simple: pick one primary color. Then, pick two other complementary colors.
Two colors can make eight different combinations. So all together, using yellow and red, we already have 8 different combinations we could make. If we had 3 colors, we could make 27 combinations. Three colors can make 27 different combinations.
Primary colors include red, blue and yellow. Primary colors cannot be mixed from other colors. They are the source of all other colors.
The primary colors of light are red, green, and blue. If you subtract these from white you get cyan, magenta, and yellow. Mixing the colors generates new colors as shown on the color wheel, or the circle on the right. Mixing these three primary colors generates black.
three-col·or ˈthrē-ˈkə-lər. : being or relating to a printing or photographic process wherein three primary colors are used to reproduce all the colors of the subject.
According to a study, the secret to a calming room is navy blue—and there's science to prove it. The University of Sussex and British papermaker G.F. Smith did research that found navy blue is a calming color—in fact, the most relaxing color in the world.
There's lots of research on color theory, but here's the bottom line: dark colors are more intimidating than light colors, and black's the most intimidating of all.
Red and orange seem to be the clear winner when it comes to eye-catching colors. These colors tend to stand out and are therefore used on many warning signs or safety equipment. Yellow is another color that comes in a close second to red and orange in popularity.
White has been one of the most popular living room colors as of late because it goes with all.
Green. Green is considered a neutral color since, like the green found in nature, it goes with almost everything.
One formula I've found helpful to add color while still looking chic and put-together is the 3-color rule. Aim for 3 colors in an outfit, and yes, your neutrals count. Above, I've used 3 colors: tan/camel for the pants and shoes, red sweater, and light peach blazer. (My personal preference is 2 neutrals + 1 color.
The three primaries of yellow, red and blue can be mixed to produce any colour of the rainbow.
Additive mixing
A simulated example of additive color mixing. Additive primaries act as sources of light. The primaries red, green, and blue combine pairwise to produce the additive secondaries cyan, magenta, and yellow. Combining all three primaries (center) produces white.
Three Primary Colors (Ps): Red, Yellow, Blue. Three Secondary Colors (S'): Orange, Green, Violet. Six Tertiary Colors (Ts): Red-Orange, Yellow-Orange, Yellow-Green, Blue-Green, Blue-Violet, Red-Violet, which are formed by mixing a primary with a secondary.
When used in interiors, yellow and blue can make for a strong clash. Located diametrically opposite each other on the color wheel, the pairing has the backing of color theory. Introduce this clashing scheme subtly through texture to achieve impact.
According to the basic color theory, blue is a primary color and therefore cannot be made by mixing any other colors together. However, using the cyan model, it is possible to make blue by mixing cyan and magenta.
How many colors should you use in a room? According to the 60-30-10 rule, you should only use three colors in any room – although you can successfully incorporate many different tones of these three colors.
Analogous colours are groups of three colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel, such as blue, blue-green, and green, your blue-green mix should be an even mix of the two for a balanced look. They usually match well and create comfortable designs.
It's a classic decor rule that helps create a color palette for a space. It states that 60% of the room should be a dominant color, 30% should be the secondary color or texture and the last 10% should be an accent.