Basic Color Schemes
There are eight types of basic color schemes to choose from:
- Complementary: Complementary or opposite colors from the color wheel
- Split Complementary: Three colors—the main color and colors from either side of its complement
- Triad: Three colors from equidistant points on the color wheel
- Monochromatic: Different shades and depths of a single color
- Analogous: The main color and the colors from either side of it on the color wheel
- Neutral: Uses a color that has been reduced by adding black
- Achromatic: No color—just blacks, whites and greys
- Secondary: Green, purple and orange used together
Here are some of the most popular basic color schemes.
Complementary Color Schemes
The complementary scheme uses colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel. Examples include:
- Red and Green
- Red-Orange and Blue-Green
- Orange and Blue
- Violet and Yellow
Working with complementary colors can be tricky. Be sure to vary shades and saturation levels. Complementary colors of the same intensity can look like they are vibrating when placed next to each other. This can be disconcerting, to say the least.
Split Complementary Color Schemes
The color scheme uses three colors: A color and two other colors that are directly adjacent to the first color’s complement on the color wheel. This provides the visual interest of a complementary color scheme but without the vibration. It also allows the use of more color. Examples include:
- Red, Yellow-Green and Blue-Green
- Yellow, Blue-Violet and Red-Violet
- Green, Red-Violet and Red-Orange
Triad Color Schemes
This color scheme makes use of three colors that are equally spaced from each other on the color wheel. Examples include:
- Red, Yellow and Blue
- Yellow, Blue-Violet and Red-Violet
- Green, Violet and Orange
Monochromatic Color Schemes
This color scheme uses two or three colors from the same color family on the color wheel. Examples include:
- Dark Blue and Light Blue
- Dark Green, Grass Green and Light Green
- Purple and Lavender
Analogous Schemes
This scheme uses one color along with the colors on either side of it on the color wheel. Examples include:
- Green, Blue-Green and Yellow-Green
- Yellow, Yellow-Green and Green
- Yellow, Yellow-Green and Yellow-Orange