In the RYB (or subtractive) color model, the primary colors are red, yellow and blue. The three secondary colors (green, orange and purple) are created by mixing two primary colors. Another six tertiary colors are created by mixing primary and secondary colors.

Secondary colors: These are color combinations created by the equal mixture of two primary colors. On the color wheel, secondary colors are located between primary colors. According to the traditional color wheel, red and yellow make orange, red and blue make purple, and blue and yellow make green.

Color Basics

• Three Primary Colors (Ps): Red, Yellow, Blue.
• Three Secondary Colors (S’): Orange, Green, Violet.
• Six Tertiary Colors (Ts): Red-Orange, Yellow-Orange, Yellow-Green, Blue-Green, Blue-Violet, Red-Violet, which are formed by mixing a primary with a secondary.

Classic Blue

Flores’s favorite whites include Benjamin Moore’s Glacier White, which is a bit warm; Clare’s Fresh Kicks, a stark white; and Farrow & Ball’s Dimpse, which is a gray that can read “taupey white” on the wall, she says. Guerin recommends Benjamin Moore’s Simply White or Balboa Mist, and for cabinets, White Dove.

Phew, so the consensus is that gray is still in style. But if you want to go painting every wall in your home in this long-loved versatile color, what types of grey should you be going for this year? The trend for a grey with warm or rich undertones changes the way we feel about them.

So, what colors make a room look bigger? For an optimum effect, go with soft tones like off-white, blues, and greens, and always remember that brighter rooms feel bigger and more inviting. And here’s another hack: Try painting your wall trim and moldings in a lighter color than your walls.

The Most Difficult Paint Colors To Work With

• Red. Red is difficult because there are many hues that simply aren’t made for wall space.
• Taupe. Taupe may seem like an easy shade, it’s simply a shade away from white, but it can be difficult when matching up with other things.
• Blue. Blue can end up being an overpowering color if you choose too bright.
• Gray.