Room Color Scheme Calculator
Color Harmony Is Just Geometry on a Circle
Every widely used color scheme — complementary, triadic, analogous — is defined by a fixed angular relationship on the 360-degree color wheel, not by taste or trial and error. Pick a base hue and a scheme name, and the remaining hues are pure arithmetic: rotate by a set number of degrees and you have a palette guaranteed to follow the same logic professional colorists use.
The Formula
Complementary: base + 180°
Triadic: base + 120°, base + 240°
Analogous: base + 30°, base − 30°
Split-Complementary: (base + 180°) ± 30°
Tetradic: base + 90°, base + 180°, base + 270°
Triadic: base + 120°, base + 240°
Analogous: base + 30°, base − 30°
Split-Complementary: (base + 180°) ± 30°
Tetradic: base + 90°, base + 180°, base + 270°
Hues are positions on the 360-degree color wheel, where 0° is red, 120° is green, and 240° is blue; all results wrap around so they stay within 0–360°.
Where This Calculation Matters
- Starting from a fixed element — if a room already has a fixed-color feature like tile, stone, or existing furniture, entering its hue generates a matching palette built around it rather than working from scratch.
- Choosing scheme intensity — complementary and triadic schemes create bold, high-contrast rooms, while analogous schemes produce a calmer, more cohesive look; picking the scheme type sets that mood deliberately.
- Translating to paint and fabric — the resulting hue values give a starting point for shopping, though saturation and lightness still need to be adjusted to taste once a base hue is chosen.
- Multi-room consistency — using the same base hue with different schemes in adjoining rooms can create variety while keeping an underlying color logic across a home.
Example Palettes by Base Hue
| Base hue | Complementary | Triadic | Analogous |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30° (orange) | 210° | 150°, 270° | 60°, 0° |
| 120° (green) | 300° | 240°, 0° | 150°, 90° |
| 210° (blue) | 30° | 330°, 90° | 240°, 180° |
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the Base Hue (0–360 degrees) — the anchor color for your palette.
- Choose a Scheme: Complementary, Triadic, Analogous, Split-Complementary, or Tetradic (Square).
- Select Calculate to see the resulting hue value(s) that complete the scheme.
Related Calculations
Once you've settled on a palette, estimate the paint needed with the Paint Quantity Calculator, or size window treatments to match with the Curtain Fabric Calculator.