Color schemes

Harmonious colors are colors that work well together, that produce a color scheme that looks attractive; the color wheel can be used as a valuable tool for determining harmonious colors.

Color theory analyzes only the relationships of pure colors; it does not take color lightness and saturation into account. While your color scheme can use any tints, shades, and tones, color theory pays attention only to the hue component.

Monochromatic colors

The monochromatic color scheme uses variations in lightness and saturation of a single color. This scheme looks clean and elegant. Monochromatic colors go well together, producing a soothing effect. The monochromatic scheme is very easy on the eyes, especially with blue or green hues. You can use it to establish an overall mood. The primary color can be integrated with neutral colors such as black, white, or gray. However, it can be difficult, when using this scheme, to highlight the most important elements.

A monochromatic color scheme is often considered for sites where content is of extreme importance, or when the opinions presented are of a moderate nature. It can give a site a clean and classic look, but also provides excellent opportunities to let full color photographs dominate. Monochromatic schemes are often appropriate for serious political and business sites such as those of some banks where instilling customer confidence in their experience. They are also highly suited to fashion sites where the understated monochromatic scheme supports the branding, but nevertheless allows the photographical elements to provide a focus.

Analogous colors

The analogous color scheme uses colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel. One color is used as a dominant color while others are used to enrich the scheme. The analogous scheme is similar to the monochromatic one, but offers more nuances.

An analogous color scheme can provide a truly harmonious feel to a site with a balanced visual experience. Using one of the colors predominantly will establish a solid base for your site layout, while the partnering colors maintain the soothing appearance. Examples of analogous themes are readily present in nature, from the blue-greens of the ocean to the red-browns of natural timber. Such schemes are useful in presenting resource companies as solid and hardworking, or environmental organizations as earthy and resourceful.

Complementary colors

The complementary color scheme is made of two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. This scheme looks best when you put a warm color against a cool color, for example, red versus green-blue. The complementary scheme is intrinsically high-contrast. When using the complementary scheme, it is important to choose a dominant color and use its complementary color for accents. Using one color for the background and its complementary color to highlight important elements, you will get color dominance combined with sharp color contrast.

Complementary color schemes can give sites a vibrant feel. Sites designed to appeal to children often use these themes to appear exciting and dynamic. Such choices also appeal to parents buying for their children, who understand that a lively environment can be a positive influence on a growing mind. A complementary scheme commonly used is the red and green combination invoked by retailers during the Christmas season. You should be conscious, though, of the way in which complementary colors can behave near each other. Color behavior is discussed at a later point in this chapter. These combinations can also present a subdued feel if de-saturated hues are used. Also, be aware that the screen space devoted to your main colors can substantially alter your final effect. As an example, a page that is almost entirely monochromatic, but with a slight addition of titles or features in a bright complement can create a punchy effect without looking like it is an entertainment site for children.

Split complementary colors

The split complementary scheme is a variation of the standard complementary scheme. It uses a color and the two colors adjacent to its complementary. This provides high contrast without the strong tension of the complementary scheme.

Triad colors

The triadic color scheme uses three colors equally spaced around the color wheel. This scheme is popular among artists because it offers strong visual contrast while retaining balance, and color richness. The triadic scheme is not as contrasting as the complementary scheme, but it looks more balanced and harmonious.

Sites employing the contrasting colors of triadic schemes still retain some sense of harmony, while bringing a lively feel to an online presence. If you are looking for a unique theme to create a stir for the site of an illustrator, a satirical magazine, or a quirky band, then one of these color sets is definitely worth a try. Also try de-saturating colors somewhat to maintain a unique look, but with a more restrained effect.

Tetradic colors

The tetradic (double complementary) scheme is the richest of all the schemes because it uses four colors arranged into two complementary color pairs. This scheme is hard to harmonize; if all four colors are used in equal amounts, the scheme may look unbalanced, so you should choose a color to be dominant or subdue the colors.