An estimated 300 million people experience some form of color vision deficiency, otherwise known as color blindness. For those who are not color blind, it can feel nearly impossible to comprehend how those who fall on the color blind spectrum perceive color. Understanding the different forms of color vision deficiencies is the first step to confidently determine what colors will best work in a color blind home.

This color spectrum chart shows how three different types of color blindness impact color perception

NOT QUITE BLACK & WHITE

The biggest misconception about people who are color blind is that they see all colors in black and white. The truth is that over 99% of color blind people can see colors, they just interpret colors differently. True black and white color blindness, scientifically referred to as monochromacy or achromatopsia, is incredibly rare and impacts less than 1% of the color blind community. Let’s look at three specific forms of color blindness and their impact on color perception.

Left: How Billiard Green appears to someone with normal color vision
Right: How Billiard Green appears to someone with deuteranomaly

DEUTERANOMALY

Deuteranomaly is the most common form of color blindness and is often referred to as “red-green color blind.” Deuteranomaly accounts for 62.5% of all color blindness. Individuals who experience this form of color blindness have reduced sensitivity to green light, meaning that while shades of green can still be seen, they are interpreted differently. Those impacted by deuteranomaly typically have a tough time differentiating the following colors:

• Greens from reds
• Light greens from yellows
• Pinks from light grays

Left: How Fireweed appears to someone with normal color vision
Right: How Fireweed appears to someone with protanomaly

PROTANOMALY

Protanomaly is a rarer form of red-green color blindness, with those experiencing it making up 12.5% of the color blind community. Individuals with protanomaly have reduced sensitivity to red light. Those impacted by protanomaly typically have a tough time differentiating the following colors:

• Mid-reds from mid-greens
• Dark oranges and dark red
• Orange from mid-green
• Purples from blue

Left: How Naval appears to someone with normal color vision
Right: How Naval appears to someone with tritanomaly

TRITANOMALY

Tritanomaly is commonly referred to as “blue-yellow” color blind, but it is anything but common, making up only around 1% of the color blind community. Those with tritanomaly have reduced sensitivity to blue light and may struggle interpreting all shades of blue and nearby colors on the color spectrum, including yellow, green and purple. Those impacted by tritanomaly typically find it nearly impossible to perceive any colors aside from red.

COLOR BLIND COLOR COLLECTIONS

Now that we have identified the potential problem colors for these three types of color blindness, let’s take a look at some curated colors that can be enjoyed in a color blind home.

DEUTERANOMALY-FRIENDLY COLORS

This color collection is a great for households that include someone who experiences deuteranomaly. Neutral colors like Extra White and Tricorn Black are great foundational colors that can be used either as the primary color or an accent, without any risk that they could be misinterpreted. For those who want to introduce some warm undertones, Alabaster and Navajo White can bring a cozy feel by leaning more yellow. Drift of Mist and Homburg Gray are cooler neutrals that stay away from any green undertones.

Yellow and blue tones are also great options for those with deuteranomaly, as long as you stay away from colors with green tints and undertones. Georgian Bay, Aleutian and Sleepy Blue provide a full scope of relaxing and calming blues. If you desire a warm and energetic space, Bakelite Gold, Dakota Wheat and Napery offer an abundance of cheerful charm.

PROTANOMALY-FRIENDLY COLORS

For the protanomaly color collection, these colors lean a tad cooler to stay away from warmer tones with reddish undertones. Cool whites and neutrals like Snowbound, Morning Fog and Iron Ore offer a variety of popular color options that work as a primary color or as an accent. If these colors feel too cool, Greek Villa has warm undertones and pairs beautifully with the other colors in the collection but is subtle enough that it won’t be confused with another color.

Naval, Calypso and Silvermist are excellent blue options that feature green undertones. The green undertones in these shades help stay far away from the red colors and shades that protanomaly struggle with. Green is also a great color, as long as you stay away from light and bright greens that may get confused with yellow. Dark greens and neutral greens such as Billiard Green and Evergreen Fog make for great options. Alexandrite is a vibrant shade of the green that pairs nicely with the blues featured in this collection and Greek Villa.

TRITANOMALY-FRIENDLY COLORS

For those with Tritanomaly, most colors are impacted due to the reduced sensitivity to seeing blue. This can drastically impact how a person perceives the blue and yellow undertones featured in many white and neutrals paints. Because of the absence of any undertones, Extra White and Tricorn Black make great options.

The color that is least impacted by tritanomaly is red. Consider one of Sherwin-Williams many vibrant reds, including Positive Red – the perfect color that falls right in the middle of the color spectrum. While red orange colors tend to lose their vibrancy, pink typically retains its color accuracy. This makes the dark, rich Blackberry and the vibrant Cheery good options.

BRING COLOR SAMPLES HOME

An important step in any color journey is to try colors in your home before you commit to a complete makeover. Colors can appear differently throughout the day due to ever-changing light conditions. For a color blind individual, this might not just cause a slight shift in tone, but a completely different interpretation of color. Make sure the entire household has honest conversations on what colors look like to them and what colors they like. Someone with deuteranomaly might love a shade of green even though they can’t fully interpret the color. Don’t forget, this is YOUR color journey, and the hue you choose is the one that’s perfect for you.

from TINTED – A Blog by Sherwin-Williams

Adding houseplants to your home is an easy way to breathe life, style and texture into your space. Grow the extra mile by pairing them up with the perfect coordinating colors that help your green goddesses stand out. Use our plant and color formulas to find plant design combinations that will have your houseguests green with envy. Plus, finesse your flora with our style tips to keep your plant babies looking super fresh.

MONSTERA + JOVIAL = BOHEMIAN BEAUTY

The ever-popular monstera is an absolute staple in many houseplant collections. With their vibrant green color and huge leaves that have swiss-cheese like holes, monsteras add funky flair to just about any room. Try a smaller plant on a bright kitchen table or go big with a statement-making floor plant. Complement your monstera’s carefree vibrancy with an equally bright pink hue such as Jovial for an all-eyes-on-me moment.

Style Tip: Go Boho. Complete your ode to an oasis by potting your monstera in a woven straw or wicker planter for adorable bohemian style. 

POTHOS + CHARTREUSE = PLAYFUL PARADISE

Your creativity knows no bounds, so match your imaginative spirit to your space with a bright punch of yellow-green Chartreuse. Reinforce the playfulness with a double hit of green found in the whimsical vining pothos. This hearty plant has mid-green heart-shaped leaves that come in dozens of variegated varieties that display striations of white, cream, yellow or pale green. Pothos look just as good cascading down a tall shelf as they do dangling freely from a hand-made macramé hanger.

Style Tip: Climb away! While pothos can’t naturally climb like ivy, you can train your plant to trail in any direction by carefully securing the vines to surfaces such as windowsills or walls with inexpensive adhesive clips. 

AIR PLANT + SHOJI WHITE = MINIMALIST MINDSET

Breathe in. Breathe out. Take a cue or two from the effortlessness exuded by the air plant. These peaceful plants are known as epiphytes, which means they obtain nutrients from their surroundings such as (you guessed it) air and rain. Air plants come in a wide range of greens, with many of them falling into a tranquil eucalyptus shade. Contrast their cool green with a timeless warm neutral such as Shoji White and get in touch with your inner cozy calm.

Style Tip: Keep it natural. Mimic the air plant’s in-the-wild environment by styling them on a found wooden platter or small artisan bowl.

FIDDLE LEAF FIG + NAVAL = ULTIMATE OPULENCE

The deep, sophisticated blue found in Naval deserves only the most sumptuous of accompaniments. That’s why the shiny, deep green violin-shaped leaves of the fiddle leaf fig make the perfect pairing.  These houseplants have been wildly popular for the last several years, and for good reason. Fiddle leaf figs add a flourish of luxury as the focal point of your living room or bedroom by grounding the space and connecting it back to nature.

Style Tip: Go retro. A gold metallic planter screams sophistication and offers contrast against the deep blue and glossy greens that would make even Gatsby jealous.

SNAKE PLANT + BLACKBERRY = MOODY MASTERPIECE

Do you suffer from a black thumb? Luckily, the snake plant’s easy-to-care-for vibe makes it a great choice for even the most novice of plant parents. The forest green, sword-like leaves of smaller varieties make a sharp statement sitting on your study desk, while a larger plant can add dramatic height to an otherwise empty corner. Pair your snake plant’s deep green color with an equally rich purple such as Blackberry for an enigmatic, scholarly aesthetic.

Style Tip: Dare to be dark. A moody aesthetic such as dark academia borrows materials from gothic architecture. Try potting your snake plant in textured, unglazed stoneware.