Planning & Design

Color Scheme Generator

Generate a color scheme using a hue family and a formal harmony method.

Project decision planner

Set the choices for this project for Color Scheme Generator

Method for this tool

What the Color Scheme Generator actually calculates

This generator calculates colors in HSL space. Each hue family has a base angle; analogous companions use minus and plus 30 degrees, complementary uses 180 degrees, split-complementary uses 150 and 210 degrees, and monochrome keeps the base hue. Muted, balanced, and vivid use saturation values of 25, 48, and 75 percent. The light dominant base uses 40 percent of that saturation; supporting, accent, and deep tones use different lightness values. Converted hex colors are screen references, not paint product matches.

The calculation path

Color-theory relationships produce coordinated role-based colors for dominant, secondary, and accent use.

Inputs that can change the answer

Starting hue: Select the applicable starting hue from the listed choices.
Harmony: Select the applicable harmony from the listed choices.
Saturation: Select the applicable saturation from the listed choices.

Checks that stay outside the formula

Use the 60–30–10 ratio as a starting point for distributing the scheme.

A practical order for entering the data

Choose a starting hue family that works with finishes you intend to keep.
Select a harmony option and saturation setting, then compare the four returned color roles.
Build physical samples before assigning the colors to large surfaces or purchasing paint.

Engine check using the prefilled sample

Planning example: starting hue = Blue, harmony = Analogous and saturation = Muted. These sample choices show the rule path only; use the options that reflect the room and priorities you actually have.

Results for these inputs

Dominant: Light base
#E3E6E8
Secondary: Supporting tone
#8FBCBC
Accent: Base-hue accent
#506B86
Contrast: Deep companion
#393960

Project-specific method

Worked example and purchase checks

The generator assigns a base hue angle in HSL colour space, applies the selected angular harmony, and combines those hues with defined saturation and lightness roles to produce dominant, supporting, accent, and deep screen colours.

Illustrative worked example

A balanced green split-complementary scheme is generated as a test palette for a room with finishes that still need physical comparison.

Exact inputs for this example

Starting hue	Green
Harmony	Split-complementary
Saturation	Balanced

Dominant: Light base
Secondary: Supporting tone
Accent: Base-hue accent
Contrast: Deep companion

How to read the result

Use the generated roles to build a sampling shortlist. Compare real material or paint samples beside fixed finishes in morning, daytime, and artificial light before assigning large surface areas.

Assumptions this example makes

The selected hue family is a useful starting direction for the room.
Hex values are viewed as screen references rather than matches to a paint brand or physical material.
The harmony describes hue relationships; it does not evaluate existing finishes or room light.

What this calculator does not prove

It cannot sample flooring, furniture, daylight, camera colour, undertones, gloss, texture, or metamerism.
Different screens and paint systems can display or reproduce the same hex value differently.

From hue rule to a physical sample boardSketch is explanatory, not to scale.

Starting hueHarmony anglesRole-based HSL coloursReal-room samples

Mistakes that change this result

Buying paint from an on-screen hex value without physical samples.
Treating a harmony as a fixed rule for equal colour proportions.
Ignoring undertones already present in stone, timber, fabric, or fixed cabinetry.