Finding acorrect color combination isone ofthe most important steps indesigning astylish and holistic look. This iswhy we’re offering you this cheat sheet, soyou’ll always hit the bullseye when choosing clothes and interior decor.
Scheme №1: Acomplementary combination
Complementary (also known assupplementary orcontrasting) colors are colors that sit opposite ofeach other onthe Itten color circle. The combination ofsuch colors creates avivid and energizing effect, especially atmaximum saturation.
Scheme №2: The triad— acombination ofthree colors
ATriad isacombination of3colors that are equidistant from each other onthe color circle. Itproduces ahigh contrast effect while preserving ’harmony.’ Such acomposition looks vibrant even when you use pale and unsaturated colours.
Scheme №3: Ananalogous combination
This isacombination of2to5 (ideally 2to3) colors that are ajacent toeach other onthe color circle. Itcreates acalming, likeable impression. Here’s anexample ofcombining analogous muted colors: yellow-orange, yellow, yellow-green, green, blue-green.
Scheme №4: The split complementary combination
Avariation onthe complementary color combination. Inthis case, you take one primary color and two complementary ones (the colors that lie onboth sides ofthe primary color’s antipode onthe color circle). The effect created bysuch ascheme isjust ascontrasting asthe one before but slightly less intense. Ifyou feel unconfident about using the complementary scheme, use the split complementary instead.
Scheme №5: The tetrad— acombination offour colors
This isascheme that includes one primary and two complementary colors, plus anadditional color that highlights the accents. Anexample: blue-green, blue-violet, orange-red, orange-yellow.
Scheme №6: The square
Acombination of4colors that are equidistant from each other onthe color circle. Inthis case, the colors differ from each other intone, but are also complementary. This creates adynamic, vivid, and playful effect. Anexample: violet, orange-red, yellow, blue-green.
Combinations ofindividual colours
- White: combines with everything, especially blue, red and black.
- Beige: combines with blue, brown, emerald, black, red, white.
- Gray: combines with fuchsia, red, violet, pink, blue.
- Pink: combines with brown, white, mint green, olive, gray, turquoise, light blue.
- Fuchsia (dark pink): combines with gray, yellow-brown, lime, mint green, brown.
- Red: combines with yellow, white, fulvous, green, blue, black.
- Tomato-red: combines with cyan, mint green, sand, creamy-white, gray.
- Cherry-red: combines with azure, gray, light-orange, sandy, pale-yellow, beige.
- Raspberry-red: combines with white, black, damask rose.
- Brown: combines with bright-cyan, cream, pink, fawn, green, beige.
- Light-brown: combines with pale-yellow, cream-white, blue, green, purple, red.
- Dark-brown: combines with lime-yellow, cyan, mint green, purple-pink, lime.
- Reddish-brown: combines with pink, dark-brown, blue, green, purple.
- Orange: combines with cyan, blue, lilac, violet, white, black.
- Light-orange: combines with gray, brown, olive.
- Dark-orange: combines with pale-yellow, olive, brown, cherry.
- Yellow: combines with blue, lilac, light-cyan, violet, gray, black.
- Lemon-yellow: combines with cherry-red, brown, blue, gray.
- Pale-yellow: combines with fuchsia, gray, brown, shades ofred, yellowish brown, blue, purple.
- Golden yellow: combines with gray, brown, azure, red, black.
- Olive: combines with orange, light-brown, brown.
- Green: combines with golden-brown, orange, salad green, yellow, brown, gray, cream, black, creamy-white.
- Salad green: combines with brown, yellowish-brown, fawn, gray, dark-blue, red, gray.
- Turquoise: combines with fuchsia, cherry-red, yellow, brown, cream, dark-violet.
- Electric colors: combines with golden-yellow, brown, light brown, gray, orsilver.
- Cyan: combines with red, gray, brown, orange, pink, white, yellow.
- Dark-blue: combines with light-lilac, cyan, yellowish-green, brown, gray, pale-yellow, orange, green, red, white.
- Lilac: combines with orange, pink, dark-violet, olive, gray, yellow, white.
- Dark-violet: combines with golden-brown, pale-yellow, gray, turquoise, mint green, light-orange.
- Black isauniversal colour— itlooks elegant inany combination, especially with orange, pink, salad green, white, red, mauvish, oryellow.
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