Leo Martínez
Paint colour undertones can be tricky to identify, but they can make or break a room. Undertones are the result of blending more than one colour together. For example, a blue with a black tint creates an indigo, while blue with a green tint makes turquoise. The dominant colour, or mass tone, is the colour you perceive. The undertone is the colour you don't see. Undertones can be warm or cool and can be affected by the lighting in a room. To identify the undertone of a paint colour, compare it to a true colour in the same masstone. For example, if you're trying to find the undertone of a red, compare it to a true red. This will help you identify if your red has more yellow or violet undertones. You can also place paint samples on white paper to help undertones stand out.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to identify undertones | Compare paint samples to look for differences. |
| How to compare | Place samples on white paper or poster board to identify undertones. |
| Choosing a white paint colour | Compare to the brand's whitest white to identify undertones. |
| Choosing a dark paint colour | Compare to the brand's blackest black to identify undertones. |
| Primary colours | Red, blue and yellow are the only colours not created by mixing colours and do not have undertones. |
| Lighting | The type of natural light a room gets can affect undertones. Blue northern light emphasises blue undertones, while golden southern light makes colours appear creamier. |
| Undertone colours | Undertones can be warm (orange, yellow, red) or cool (blue, green, purple). |
| Undertone impact | Undertones can cause a colour to look cool or warm. |
| Undertone examples | Beige can have undertones of green or pink. Blue can have undertones of green or violet. |
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What You'll Learn
Undertones are the result of blending more than one colour together
The primary colours (red, blue, and yellow) are the only colours that are not created by mixing colours together and do not have undertones. However, the vast majority of paint colours, even white, have an undertone of some kind. Undertones can be a wide range of colours, including beige, blue, green, pink, purple, or yellow.
Undertones can be difficult to identify, and they may not become apparent until after you have painted your room. They can be influenced by the lighting in the room, with blue northern light emphasising blue undertones, and golden southern light making colours appear creamier. Undertones can also be affected by the surrounding colours and materials in the room, such as cabinetry, flooring, or lighting, which can bring out surprising undertones.
To determine the undertone of a paint colour, it is essential to compare it to other colours, especially true colours in the same masstone. Placing paint samples on a piece of white paper can help the undertones stand out more. Comparing the paint colour to its darkest or boldest shade in the range can also make it easier to spot the undertone. By understanding the undertones of your chosen paint, you can ensure that it complements the other elements in your room and avoid clashing with fixtures, floors, or counters.
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Undertones can be warm or cool
Undertones are the secret code of every colour. When a colour is created by mixing two or more colours together, the undertone appears through the exact proportion of colour used. For example, if you're trying to find the undertone for a red, compare it next to a true red. This will give you an idea of whether your red has more of a yellow or violet undertone.
Undertones can be a wide range of tones including beige, blue, green, pink, purple, or yellow. An undertone can cause the colour to look cool or warm. For example, if your red has a violet undertone, it will look cool, whereas if it has a yellow undertone, it will look warm.
To determine whether an undertone is warm or cool, you can compare it to a colour that you know to be true in the same masstone. You can also place your paint chip on a piece of white paper. The stark contrast of the paper's white colour will help the undertones stand out more in your colour.
Another way to determine whether an undertone is warm or cool is to consider how your skin reacts to the sun. If you turn pink or burn easily, you likely have a cool undertone, whereas if you tan easily, you will have a warm undertone.
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Undertones can be identified by comparing paint samples
To identify the undertone of a paint sample, place it on a piece of white paper or poster board. This will help the undertones stand out more. If you are trying to identify the undertone of a red paint, compare it to a true red. This will help you determine if your red has more of a yellow or violet undertone. If you are choosing a white paint, compare it to the whitest white in a paint fan deck to see if it leans towards cream, ivory, or another shade of white. If you are choosing a dark paint, compare it to the blackest black to get a sense of its depth.
You can also compare paint samples to the fixed elements in your home, such as your furniture and accessories, to determine if they will clash or create a cohesive look. Undertones can be affected by lighting conditions, so it is important to consider the natural and artificial light in your space. Blue northern light will emphasise blue undertones, while golden southern light will make colours appear creamier.
By comparing paint samples and considering undertones, you can avoid choosing a paint colour that looks drastically different from what you expected and create a cohesive and harmonious look in your space.
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Undertones can be influenced by lighting
Undertones are the subtle influence of colour underneath the masstone, or the main colour that you see on the surface. Undertones can be a wide range of colours, including beige, blue, green, pink, purple, or yellow. They can make your chosen colour look darker or lighter, and they can also make your space feel warmer or cooler.
Undertones can be tricky to identify, but they are important to understand so that your paint colour doesn't clash with other parts of your room, like the floors or counters. Undertones can be influenced by lighting conditions, so it's important to check how the paint colour looks in the specific room you plan to use it in. Some rooms may have different levels of natural or artificial lighting, which can affect how the undertones appear. For example, a blue paint with a green undertone might look fine in one room, but in a room with strong afternoon sunshine, it could take on a more greenish hue.
To determine the undertone of a paint colour, it is best to compare it to a true colour in the same masstone. For example, if you are trying to identify the undertone of a red paint, compare it to a true red. This will help you see if your red has more of a yellow or violet undertone. You can also use a colour wheel to find the purest colour for comparison.
Another way to identify undertones is to place paint samples on a piece of white paper, as the stark contrast will help the undertones stand out. You can also move the samples around the room to see how they shift in different lighting conditions. If you've already painted your walls and the undertone isn't what you expected, try replacing the light bulbs with warm, cool, or natural bulbs to correct the issue before repainting.
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Undertones can clash with other colours in a room
Undertones are the subtle differences in shades that result from mixing different paint colours together. The exact hue of the undertone is determined by the amounts of each colour used in the mixture. Undertones can be a wide range of tones, including beige, blue, green, pink, purple, or yellow. An undertone can cause the colour to look cool or warm.
When choosing an undertone colour scheme, it's essential to consider the lighting in the room. Different types of light bring out different undertones. For instance, rooms with east-facing windows will experience morning light, which tends to emphasise cool undertones, while west-facing rooms will be exposed to evening light, which accentuates warm undertones. If the space doesn't receive much natural light, artificial lighting will highlight yellow or white colours, depending on the type of bulb used.
To avoid clashing undertones, sample a paint colour in your home before committing to it. Even if you've already painted the walls, try replacing light bulbs and lighting before repainting. Light bulbs can be warm, cool, or natural, and can correct undertone problems quickly and inexpensively.
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Frequently asked questions
The quickest way to find the undertone of a paint colour is to compare it to a colour that you know to be true in the same masstone. For example, if you are trying to find the undertone of a red, compare it to a true red. This will allow you to see whether your red has more of a yellow or violet undertone.
Undertones can cause a colour to look cool or warm. Therefore, it is important to know the undertone of a paint colour to ensure that it does not clash with other parts of your room, like the floors or counters.
To find the undertone of a white paint colour, find your brand's whitest white and compare it to that. This will help you see whether your white paint is pure white or has been blended to make cream, ivory, or another white shade.
