120 stunning color combination ideas

 120 stunning color combination ideas

We take you through the basics of combining colors and offer 120 stunning color combinations inspired by nature, wildlife, food & drink, and travel.

Your choice of colors can set the tone of your entire project, so choosing wisely is crucial. After all, you don’t want your colors conveying a mood that is opposite to what the project calls for and you certainly don’t want a color combination that is off-putting or confusing to the eye.

We briefly explain the science behind choosing the right mix of colors, and then give you 120 beautiful color combinations that you can start using immediately. Let’s jump right in!

The science of combining colors

Believe it or not, there’s a science to creating color combinations and it’s actually not complicated to grasp. All you need is the color wheel, and an understanding of five different combination styles that each has its own place in your bag of tricks.

Complementary color combination

Complementary refers to a 2-color combination where the colors are opposite from each other on the color wheel. The two colors complement each other through their contrast, which allows each color to stand out.  

Monochromatic color combination

Monochromatic refers to a combination of different shades, tones and tints of the same color, by adding black, white or grey to the original color. A monochromatic color combination is traditional and subtle.

Triadic color combination

Triadic colors refers to a 3-color combination that forms a perfect triangle on the color wheel. There’s not as much contrast as there is with complementary colors, but there’s enough to let each color do its thing.

Analogous color combination

Analogous is another 3-color combination, this time colors that are adjacent to each other on the colour wheel. With this color combination, it’s best to make one color dominant and use the others as accents.

Tetradic color combination

Tetradic refers to a 4-color combination where the colors are placed in a perfect square around the color wheel (essentially two pairs of complementary colors). To achieve balance with so many colors, it’s best to keep one color dominant and use the rest as accents.

Color combination based on nature

Sometimes nature knows best. If you find a color combination that appears somewhere in nature, chances are it’s a winning combination, as you can see from the examples in many of the examples that follow.

Nature and Wildlife Inspirations

1.  Sunset Glow

Shutterstock/Mark Harpur

It’s hard to beat the spectacular color palette that a sunset creates. In this color palette, the fiery orange of the sun setting on a beach in Mexico adds a stunning contrast to the subdued purple of the sky and reflection on the sea. It’s the perfect color combination to use when you want to add vibrance to your designs.  

2. Purple Skies

Shutterstock/Vincentiu Solomon

This is the perfect dark and light color combination. The eye-catching image was taken in Cima d’Asta in Scurelle, Italy and features a range of purple tones and black edges, creating a subdued and sultry tone. The defined white streak of the shooting star adds a contrast to the softness of the colors in this palette, a perfect sultry combination.

3.  Restrained & Cool

Unsplash/Jeff King

Another dark and light color combination, this collection of dark ash grays and grayish blues creates a color palette that is restrained and cool. The darkness of this scene in Kula, United States is relieved by the shades of red in the centre, the touch of green in the foreground and the blue sky in the background. This color combination is perfect for a somber design theme.

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