Colour Rules

1.  Consider intensity, value and contrast when developing colour schemes.

• • Be careful when using sharp contrasts and loud colours.
  • The more intense the colour, the smaller the area it should cover.
  • The more intense the colour, the softer the second colour should be. Do not combine two or more strong colours without changing the value or intensity.
  • Do not paint large areas in strong colours.

2.  Match the colour scheme to the merchandise on display.

• • Use a neutral colour, or one of the main colours of the merchandise for the floor, walls, and background.
  • Use soft tints rather than saturated hues.

3.  Associate the value of the merchandise displayed to the choice of colours in the display.

• • Display lower-priced merchandise is in a colour scheme of vivid hue.
  • Use a more-refined colour scheme with the more exclusive merchandise. Colour schemes seen in current fashion are acceptable.
  • Do not mix high-priced and low-priced merchandise in a display. Price and design should group items.

4.  Light tints are pleasing to the eye.

• • Light tints deepen the window space, increasing the window size.

5.  Dark shades bring the background to the fore, shortening the perceived window space.

6.  Colours are labelled as either warm or cool.

• • Warm colours are yellow, orange, red and their combinations with black and white. All these hues please the eye, enhance the appearance of the merchandise, and optically push it to the front of the display.
  • Cool colours are blue and green. These colours are calming, soothing and balanced. They create the illusion of enlarging the window.

7.  Colour contrasts are welcome, but dangerous.

• • Watch for colour clashes.
  • Be careful about confining strong contrasts to small accessories.
  • Bold combinations can be highly effective, if done in good taste.

8.  More than two principal colours can be grouped proportionately in one display. Greater effort must be made, however, to achieve harmony. Pastels go well together.

Certain colour combinations work because they have been traditionally accepted. Consider new colour combinations carefully to avoid shock or offense through an inappropriate use of a familiar colour. One way to learn about colour is to visit some of the newer stores and see what colour combinations have been used in the different departments.

Click here to download a handout the explains how to put colours together.