Any combination of colours can be made either pleasant or unpleasant, by varying values and intensities rather than using as they are found on the colour wheel.
Colours usually appear best when they are kept in the same value relationship as that in which they are found on the value scale (natural order of values).
A colourharmony should have a dominant colour, light or dark effect warm or cool effect, and or a combination of these.
All light and bright values give a very weak, immature, and uninteresting effect while all dark values may appear depressing and old.
A very bright colour and a very dull colour, both the same value, are seldom very attractive when used together.
A group of colours in which all colours are of pure intensity often looks unrefined and primitive.
The more contrast in value makes “exciting” and “dramatic” the combinations but too much contrast results in confusion and lacks in unity.
When it is impossible to match exactly the hue, value, and intensity, a slight variation of hue, value, and intensity is preferable.
The most unifying colours are the colours of light – yellow, yellow-orange, and orange.
The grayed warm hues, which are somewhat advancing, have a tendency to unify the colours placed against them while the cool hues, which recede, have a tendency to separate colours seen against them.
Background colours should follow the principle of the Law of Areas; intense colours should be used as small accents i.e., the smaller the area, the brighter the colour may be.
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