Value

Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color, ranging from pure white to pure black. It's independent of hue (red vs. blue) and saturation (vivid vs. muted)—you can have light values of any hue and dark values of any hue. Value is perhaps the most important aspect of color when creating successful spaces because value contrast affects readability, drama, and spatial perception. Understanding value is key to avoiding common color mistakes. Rooms with all similar values feel flat and lifeless regardless of hue variation. Conversely, extreme value contrast creates drama and visual interest. Most successful spaces use a range of values, with larger surfaces at lighter values and accents at darker values to create depth and visual hierarchy.