Ever need to mix or pair colors? The secret lies in understanding color theory – and believe it or not, we learned the basics back in grammar school!

A quick refresher: There are six primary – pun intended – ways to pair colors so they work in harmony with each other. Remember the color wheel? Let’s take a look.

1.) Complementary:

These are colors that are directly opposite from one another on the color wheel. For example, orange and purple pair nicely, or blue and orange as shown above in the header graphic.

2.) Analogous:

Analogous color schemes use colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. They usually match well and create serene and comfortable designs.

3.) Triadic:

A triadic color scheme features three colors that are evenly spaced and form a perfect triangle on the wheel. For example orange, purple and green work well together.

4.) Split Complementary:

Split complementary colors use colors on either side of the complement color. These can give you a wider range of interesting combinations.

5.) Tetradic or Rectangle:

A tetrad color scheme forms a rectangle on the wheel and typically consists of two complementary color pairs. It is best to let one color dominate and let the other colors accent.

6.) Square:

The square color scheme is similar to the rectangle, except that all four colors are spaced evenly around the color circle. The square color scheme works best if you let one color be dominant.

Need help selecting harmonious colors for your brand identity? Call me for a complimentary color chat!