What are some tools and resources that help you with color selection and visualization in architecture?

1 Color theory basics

Before you start experimenting with colors, it is important to understand some color theory basics, such as the color wheel, the color harmony, and the color psychology. The color wheel shows the relationships between the primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, and how they can be combined to create different schemes. The color harmony refers to the balance and contrast of colors that create a pleasing and coherent effect. The color psychology studies how colors affect human emotions, behaviors, and associations. By learning these concepts, you can make informed and intentional choices about the colors you use in your design.

2 Color palette generators

One of the easiest ways to create a color palette for your design is to use a color palette generator. These are online tools that allow you to generate, explore, and save color combinations based on various criteria, such as hue, saturation, brightness, temperature, or mood. Some examples of color palette generators are Coolors, Adobe Color, and Paletton. You can also use these tools to extract colors from images, such as photos of your site, your inspiration, or your client's branding.

4 Color testing methods

Before you finalize your color choices, it is advisable to test them in real life, as colors can appear differently on screen than in person. You can do this by printing your color samples on paper and comparing them to your materials and finishes, using paint chips or swatches to observe how they look on different surfaces and under different lighting conditions, painting a small area of your wall or floor with your chosen colors to observe how they change throughout the day and night, or creating a mood board with your colors, materials, images, and text that represent your design concept and style.

5 Color inspiration sources

If you need a bit of creative inspiration for your color selection and visualization, you can explore a variety of sources. From books and magazines that feature architectural projects, case studies, and trends, to websites and blogs that curate and review architectural works, such as ArchDaily and Dezeen. Social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Behance are also great for discovering architects, designers, and influencers. Additionally, online galleries and databases like Architizer, Archilovers, and Archinect can help you find collections of architectural images that are categorized for easy searching. With these tools and resources at your disposal, you can sharpen your color selection and visualization skills to create more expressive and impactful designs.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?