Color Combinations

Explore beautiful color palettes for your designs

Classic Color Combinations

Create Your Own Combination - Click to Change Color

Analogous Combinations

Complementary Combinations

Triadic Color Schemes

Famous Brand Combinations

Pastel Combinations

Bold & Vibrant Combinations

Earthy/Natural Tones

Modern Web Color Palettes

Psychology-Based Combinations

Sunset & Sunrise Inspired

Winter Inspired

Spring Inspired

Summer Inspired

Autumn Inspired

UI/UX & Web Color Palettes

Culturally Inspired Palettes

High Contrast for CTA

Cute & Aesthetic Combos

Experimental/Artsy

Print Design Combinations

About Color Combinations

Color combinations are carefully selected groups of colors that work harmoniously together to create visually appealing designs. Professional designers use color theory principles to build effective palettes for websites, branding, and digital media.

How Color Combinations Work

Effective color combinations are created using color harmony rules from color theory. The color wheel serves as the mathematical foundation, where colors are arranged by hue relationships. Key formulas include:

  • Complementary: Colors opposite each other (180° apart)
  • Analogous: Colors adjacent (30° apart)
  • Triadic: Three colors 120° apart
  • Tetradic: Two complementary pairs

The Science Behind Color Harmony

Color combinations are calculated using HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) values:

  1. Hue values range from 0-360° on the color wheel
  2. Saturation (0-100%) controls color intensity
  3. Lightness (0-100%) controls brightness
  4. Combinations maintain consistent saturation/lightness while varying hue

Example #1: Complementary Colors

Blue (#3498db) and Orange (#e67e22):

These colors are 180° apart on the color wheel, creating maximum contrast while remaining balanced. The hex values represent:

  • Blue: HSL(204, 70%, 51%)
  • Orange: HSL(24, 79%, 52%)

Example #2: Analogous Colors

Teal (#1abc9c), Green (#2ecc71), and Blue (#3498db):

These colors are within 30° of each other on the color wheel (hues 168°, 145°, and 204°), creating harmonious, low-contrast palettes ideal for smooth transitions.

Common Applications of Color Combinations

  • Website Design: Create visual hierarchy and brand identity
  • Logo Design: Convey brand personality and values
  • Data Visualization: Improve readability and comprehension
  • Marketing Materials: Evoke specific emotional responses
  • UI/UX Design: Guide user attention and interactions

Color Combinations FAQ

How many colors should a combination have?

Most effective palettes use 2-5 colors. A common approach is the 60-30-10 rule: 60% dominant, 30% secondary, and 10% accent colors.

What's the difference between complementary and analogous colors?

Complementary colors create high contrast for emphasis, while analogous colors provide harmony and cohesion.

How do I choose accessible color combinations?

Ensure sufficient contrast (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text) using WCAG guidelines and test with color blindness simulators.

Can I use color combinations from nature?

Absolutely! Nature provides excellent color harmony examples. Photographs can be color-sampled to extract natural palettes.