Color and rug floorcoverings

The actual color itself—for example, blue, red-blue, or green-blue—is called the hue.

The brightness or dullness of any hue is called the chroma or intensity. Olive green and lime green are both yellow green, but one has a low intensity, the other high.

The lightness or darkness of any hue is called the value. Pale pink and maroon are both red, but one is a very high value, the other a very low.

Not only hue, but intensity and value must be considered in planning a color scheme.

Full chroma or intensity is the pure vibrant color that you see in a rainbow. Obviously a room in which all the colors are as bright as possible would be unbearable, yet a room with nothing but colors of low chroma would be dull and dreary.

It is usually a good plan to have the largest areas—ceiling, walls and floor—of low intensity or a grayed hue; the medium-sized areas—upholstery and draperies—of medium intensity; and some of the small accents—pictures, lamps, ash trays, vases, and pattern in the wallpaper, floor covering or fabrics—of high to full intensity.