Understanding colour schemes from the colour wheel can greatly enhance your ability to create visually appealing designs and artwork. Colour can evoke both positive and negative feelings and emotions in the garden. If you've ever looked at a garden and found the colours jarring or awkward, the chances are the colour wheel has been ignored.
Conversely, if you have visited a garden where the colours have made you feel comfortable and intrigued, then clearly, the garden designer has worked with the colour wheel in choosing plants and materials.
Choosing colours for your garden sounds simple, right? You pick your favourite colours, and off you go.
Sadly, as many beginner gardeners find out, it's not that simple.
This is because most people have multiple favourite colours and end up with a pick-and-mix garden with a rainbow of colours all competing and clashing with each other. That is fine if you like that feeling for the short term, but it can be too chaotic for a long-term effect and make the garden feel restless.
That is why colour theory is so important. It's about understanding and working with colours that go together or evoke certain sensations in the garden. For example, warm colours make you feel hot and bright, whereas cooler colours make you feel more introspective and calm.
By using the colour wheel in your garden design and planting plans, you can avoid garden fails and create a harmonious garden space, whether it's meant to be exciting, calming, invigorating or restful. Colour plays a key role in achieving that dream garden! So, let's take a look at the colour wheel and how we can use it in garden design.
The colour wheel is a circular diagram visually representing the relationships between different colours. Think of it as a rainbow wheel in which each colour has its own place. It is a foundational tool in colour theory used by artists, designers, and anyone working with colour to understand how colours interact, mix, and complement each other. It is a one-stop visual cue to see how colours would work together and which do not!
Before jumping into which colours work well with each other, we need to understand colour theory. Colour theory is a framework that explains how colours interact, combine, and affect visual perception. It encompasses the principles and guidelines for using colour effectively in art, design, and other creative fields. It's split into different temperatures or degrees of colour.
Within the colour wheel, we have hues, which are red, blue or yellow, primary colours, but then saturations or values of these and every colour in between. For example, orange may be vibrant or pastel, heavily saturated or washed out with a value.
Ok, now we have discussed why the colour wheel is important and the different characteristics of colours let's discuss the options you have when selecting various colours for your garden plants, structures, buildings and objects in your design. When applying colour into any garden there are 3 colour types usually followed to create amazing spaces. These colour types avoid pick and mix or mismatch planting and designs.
The 3 types of colour combinations in design are known as analogous, monochromatic, and contrasting colours.
Analogous colours are groups of three colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel. They usually match well and create serene and comfortable designs. See below how yellow, orange and red sit next to each other?
Characteristics
Usage
Analogous colour schemes are often used in designs to create a harmonious and cohesive look. They are great for creating a calming and serene environment.
Monochromatic colour schemes are based on different shades, tints, and tones of a single colour. See the silvery blue Erngiums and Corokia are all the same blue base colour?
Characteristics
Usage
Monochromatic schemes are often used for minimalist designs and can convey a clean, elegant, and uniform look. They are also useful when you want to avoid colour clashes and focus on texture and form.
Contrasting colours (often referred to as complementary colours) are pairs of colours that, when combined, cancel each other out. This means that they produce a grayscale colour like white or black when combined. They create the strongest contrast and reinforce each other when placed next to each other. The orange Geum below contrasts dynamically with the 'Blue Hobbit' Erngium.
Characteristics
Usage
Contrasting colour schemes are used to create a high-impact and vibrant look. They are effective for grabbing attention and creating visual interest. This is why they are often used in logos, advertisements, and sports team colours.
Another important part of great garden design is using colours that represent the gardens purpose or function. For example in a calming part of the garden you don't really want massive colour clashes or bright hues of primary colours. Whereas in exciting areas of the garden you don't want monochromatic blocks of white or soft colours either.
When it comes to colour theory, there are two more key tricks that any decent garden designer or plant person will follow. The first is to avoid overcrowding colours, making them seem frantic, and the other is the garden designer's favourite principle of repetition.
While it can be tempting to use many colours, too much variety can make a garden feel chaotic. Stick to a cohesive colour scheme to maintain harmony. If you end up squeezing in too many plants and colours the garden doesn't have enough space to 'breathe' or 'sway.
Repeating colours throughout the garden can create a sense of unity and flow. For instance, if you have yellow flowers in one part of the garden, consider using yellow elsewhere to create a visual connection. The rules of 3, 5 and 7 apply to this principle where you plant in groups or drifts of 3, 5 or 7 around the garden to bring unity and repetition.
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Remember, your garden is your canvas, and the colour wheel is your guide to painting it with vibrant, harmonious hues. Whether you're aiming for a peaceful retreat with cool analogous colours or making a bold statement with complementary contrasts, the colour wheel empowers you to make the most of your garden’s palette.
By understanding the principles of colour theory and the colour wheel, you're making more informed choices about your plant selections and positions. Meaning your design is more informed than simply guess work!
Don't be afraid to mix things up before you plant out your garden and try new combinations—each season brings new opportunities to refresh and reinvent your space if something hasn't quite worked. So dig in, have fun experimenting, and let your garden flourish with colour and personality!
Happy gardening.
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