If you are looking to put together a wardrobe, decorate a room or create a work of art, it will be useful to know which colors enhance each other and which are more pleasing to the eye. You can start with the color wheel and learn which colors look more beautiful when matched. Experimenting with different combinations will help you understand which colors go well and which ones create unsightly contrasts.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Developing the Color Eye
Step 1. Get to know the color wheel
The color wheel is a diagram that offers a useful illustration of which colors match well and which ones don't work well together. The first color wheel was developed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666, and variations of his version have been used as the foundation of traditional color theory ever since. The color wheel is divided into the following parts:
- Primary colors: red, blue and yellow. They are the colors that cannot be obtained by mixing other colors.
- Secondary colors: green, orange and purple. These colors are made by mixing the primary colors in the different combinations.
- Tertiary colors: yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green and yellow-green. They are colors created by combining a primary color with a secondary one.
Step 2. Match the primary colors with other primary colors
The concept of matching is also called "color harmony" and is achieved when colors create a pleasant effect. Yellow, red and blue always create harmony. They are bright and eye-catching colors, and they never go out of style. If you are trying to find a color scheme for your wardrobe or if you are painting the walls in your dining room, you can rely on primary colors to give your colors a cheerful and bright look.
- Bright primary colors are often associated with children, tropical locations, and sports teams. There is no reason not to try darker or lighter shades.
- If you want your project to be more sophisticated, you might consider using only one or two of the primary colors and not all three. Red, blue and yellow clothing might look childish, while a red and yellow combination will be more sophisticated.
Step 3. Match complementary colors
Look at the color wheel and pick a color, then place your finger on the opposite color. The opposite colors on the wheel are complementary. If you combine them, they enhance each other and the combination is nice.
- Complementary colors of the same brightness and hue always go well together.
- The most used complementary combinations include blue / orange, yellow / purple and green / pink.
Step 4. Match similar colors
The concept in this case is to stay within a color family to achieve harmony. These are the colors that are adjacent on the wheel, such as blue and indigo. Using various shades of colors from the same family you can create a gradient look that has a beautiful and pleasant effect.
- As an example, a denim skirt with a light blue shirt and indigo scarf is a great match.
- Choose your favorite color and match it with a color to its immediate right or left. Red goes with pink, yellow goes with orange and so on. Any gradation in the same family can be combined as long as it has the same hue, brightness, and so on.
Step 5. Consider warm and cool colors
Warm colors like yellow, orange and red are on one side of the color wheel and cool colors like blue, green and purple are on the other side. All colors can have a cold or warm element depending on what is added.
- For example, if you mix purple with red, you get a warm and vibrant reddish purple. By mixing purple and blue, you will get a cool and calm violet. To match colors right, temperature matters.
- When creating a color scheme for your wardrobe or to decorate a room and want to achieve a consistent effect, combine warm colors with other warm colors and do the same with cool colors. You could, for example, choose a russet dress, a cream mustard yellow scarf, and a cognac bag.
- Mixing warm and cool colors in the same match can give funny and funny or unsightly effects, depending on your perspective.
Step 6. Consider "earth tones" or "neutral colors"
Earthy tones are not found on the color wheel, and they are colors that are not easy to define. These are colors that are based on fashion rather than science. They are often dull colors such as: brown, cream, white, gray and slate (greyish blue).
- These are natural, dull colors that match almost everyone else. They recall natural elements such as sand, earth and stone. They also include colors such as off-white.
- Black, white and tan or khaki are often considered neutral colors in fashion. They usually go well with all other colors. An example is a pair of black pants with a bright pink blouse.
- In fashion, blue jeans are also often treated as a neutral color. A pair of blue jeans, for example, can be paired with sweaters of any color.
- When deciding which neutral colors match your color palette, you need to consider the color temperature. For example, if your color scheme is cool, you can choose deep white or blue-black as neutral colors; warmer colors would clash. For a warmer pattern, you can choose a brownish gray or cream.
- Black and white are neutral colors, but be careful, as you will rarely find these colors in their absolute form. A whitish wall might have a yellow hue, for example. A black shirt, on the other hand, could have a blue tint.
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Neutral colors Not they are boring! People often mistakenly believe that neutral color means boring and monotonous. The strength of neutral colors is that they work well in groups and pair well with primary and secondary colors. For instance:
- A white t-shirt with blue jeans
- Khaki pants and a black sweater
Part 2 of 3: Matching the Colors of Your Wardrobe
Match Colors Step 7 Step 1. Try a solid color look
Wearing the same color from head to toe produces a strong effect. The classic monochromatic look is all white or all black, a sophisticated choice that gives an air of elegance to your outfit. If you really want to grab attention, try a monochromatic look with a more vibrant color, like red or green.
- In these situations you need to proceed carefully. A black dress, heels, and purse look can be great, but you may also inadvertently give the impression that you are in mourning, have a gothic look, or are a hairdresser. You have to consider all clothing, not just color.
- The secret to making a solid color look work is finding identical colored garments. Wearing a bright white shirt with cream pants isn't a good match, but if you find two pieces of the same color, it's a different story.
- To make a monochromatic look less extreme, break the monotony with neutral colors, like beige heels or a brown belt.
Match Colors Step 8 Step 2. Wear a color accent
If you are attending a formal meeting that requires you to wear a black or navy suit, you can still give your look personality with a color accent. Just make sure you choose a similar temperature accent to the base of neutral colors. For instance:
- If you're wearing a black suit, try a red or turquoise shirt or blouse.
- If you're wearing a navy blue suit, try a yellow or pink shirt or blouse.
Match Colors Step 9 Step 3. Learn to match motifs
Once you get some confidence in your color matching skills, you can start creating truly trendy looks by pairing unlikely garments. Don't just mix and match plain-colored garments. Experiment and start combining stripes, polka dots, floral and animal prints to completely reinvent your wardrobe.
- If you are wearing a garment with a pattern, generally combine it with one in a solid color. If you have a black skirt with a small floral print, combine it with a green top that recalls the color of the leaves. While it is possible to combine multiple motifs, actually doing it is not an easy thing.
- Wearing colors that stand out can also help you make the most of your wardrobe. Try purple, orange, and yellow. A purple top, orange skirt, and yellow stockings are a great look. Maybe try them with a zebra pattern.
- Combine two motifs of the same color. This is a more difficult technique, but it produces excellent results. The key is to find a similar color in two different patterns. For example, if you have an orange striped blouse, you can combine it with a leopard print skirt of the same color.
- Match motifs from the same color family. You can combine motifs that are not the exact same color but from the same family. A pair of ikat shorts with beige and cream tones can be paired with a brown polka dot blouse.
Match Colors Step 10 Step 4. Learn to use neutral colors
These are versatile pieces that you can wear with everything. Neutrals are easy to integrate, but you should still put some effort into making sure they match your other clothes. Here are some popular neutral garments:
- Jeans. Blue jeans go well with tops of any color and this applies equally to skirts, jackets, dresses or jeans. Just remember to take hue into consideration. A very dark color will go better with different colors than lighter jeans.
- Camel or brown. Perfect for dull and earthy tones.
- Dark blue. Beautiful with jewel tones. Dark blue tends to have a less austere appearance than black and also make the skin tone stand out better.
- White and cream. They make any clothing brighter, always taking into account the temperature.
- Grey. Gray goes well with all colors and tends to give a sense of sophistication.
- Black. Of course, black goes well with everything and also streamlines. Be aware, however, that too much black could be perceived as austere, bereaved, or associated with certain professions.
- White. White also goes well with everything. Be aware that this color tends to attract attention. Wearing too much white can make you think of a wedding dress.
Match Colors Step 11 Step 5. Use the accessories to play with colors
If you're new to color matching, try experimenting with accessories. Discover the combinations that work by wearing multiple belts, heels, jewelry and scarves. Using accessories also allows you to learn how to match patterns better without spending too much on clothes that might clash with the rest of your wardrobe.
Part 3 of 3: Choosing Colors to Decorate the Home
Match Colors Step 12 Step 1. Choose predefined color schemes or palettes
If in doubt, it's always a good idea to start with the advice of the professionals. Most home improvement and paint stores offer a selection of colors that work well together. They often include a fill color that will also save you from choosing which shade of white to use.
- You don't necessarily have to choose all the colors from the palette or collection. If you don't like green, while everything else pleases you, just avoid using that. You don't have to use all twelve colors; use only the ones you prefer.
- You don't necessarily have to buy paint to use that color indoors. For example, you might want a little orange in your house, but painting a whole room orange might be too extreme for you. Instead, add that pop of color with pillows, pictures, curtains, bedspreads and so on.
Match Colors Step 13 Step 2. Choose slightly different colors for paints and fabrics
Do not combine a wall with a sofa of the exact same color. While these items are technically "matched", they will not enhance each other and look their best. Both colors will appear muted instead. Here are some ideas you might try:
- Choose colors from the same family. If you painted the wall blue, try a blue-green sofa. If the wall is yellow, choose red and orange furniture. The colors will create beautiful harmonies instead of canceling each other out.
- You can also choose contrasting colors for a stronger effect. Buy a purple upholstered armchair to put in your sunny yellow room, or try a bright coral sofa that contrasts with the turquoise walls.
Match Colors Step 14 Step 3. Consider painting a wall a different color to give it some sort of accent
Many people don't want to paint an entire room in a vibrant color, as this is a bold and risky move. A colored wall, however, gives you the opportunity to experiment, without having to paint the whole room in the color you choose. Here's how to do it:
- Saturated colors can have a strong effect on your emotional state. A bright red room can make you feel nervous, while a dark gray can make you feel sad.
- But strong colors can influence a person positively. An orange room can make you feel joyful and creative, while a dark gray can make you feel focused and sophisticated. Different people react differently to colors.
- Choose the shortest wall in the room, for example the area around the front door or above the kitchen counter. Paint it a bright color that matches the neutral color of the room.
- Or, you can use a contrasting color. Painting the edges of a room in a contrasting color gives it an eclectic and fun look. You can also create finishing touches with a stencil.
- Keep in mind that a room's color temperature can affect its atmosphere. A soft pink wall in a bedroom can add a touch of romance, but painting it a bright fuchsia could be overkill. You can use any deep color, but only as an accent. This allows you to create the atmosphere you want without becoming too stuffy.
- For example, if you particularly like fuchsia in the bedroom, consider using fuchsia elements instead - pillows, bedspreads and paintings.
- Also keep in mind that if you've used too bright colors around your home, you may need to repaint if you plan to sell it. You may particularly like having blue walls, but many don't prefer it and this could have a negative impact on the selling price.
Match Colors Step 15 Step 4. Experiment with colorful decorations
If you don't want to make the commitment to paint your walls pink or buy a yellow sofa, you can still add color to your home with decorations. Pillows, vases, clocks, flowers, bookcases and other knick-knacks can add bursts of color and liven up a room. Consider the following when choosing decorations:
- Choose colors from the same family. Get some decorations that match well, so that the room looks tidy. For example, try a green bookcase, a couple of sea green vases above the fireplace, and a collection of turquoise and green pillows and blankets.
- Avoid using too many colors in the same room. As a general guideline, three colors are the maximum: main color, accent color, and finish color. Choose simple styles or the room might look poorly arranged and rather chaotic.
Advice
- It is a good idea to check the color that meets the tip of your color swatches on the color wheel.
- Choose according to your preferences. If you believe that the colors you have paired go well together, and if you have revised your pairing based on the tools provided in this article, opt for the combination you like best, especially if it is something as personal as the your home, your artwork, or your wardrobe.
- Use an online tool to help you figure out which colors can be matched. Since the color spectrum includes far more hues than a simple color wheel, try using an online resource to help.
