Colour Theory for Creatives - Part 3: Colour Harmonies That Make Design Sing

Colour Theory for Creatives 

 

Part 3: Colour Harmonies That Make Design Sing 

Your colour wheel is your instrument, colour harmonies are the chords. 
 
They’re the tried-and-true combinations that designers and illustrators use to make colour choices feel intentional, balanced, and powerful. And the best part? You don’t need to guess. The colour wheel already has the answers. 

 

What Are Colour Harmonies? 

Colour harmonies are specific groupings of colours that look good together. They’re based on the geometry of the colour wheel. Think opposites, neighbours, or evenly spaced colours. 
 
Let’s explore the most useful ones. 

 

1. Monochromatic 

One hue, many values and saturations. 
This harmony sticks to a single colour and explores its variations. 
 
Good for: Minimal, modern, clean designs 
Example: Light blue, sky blue, navy 
 
Action to consider: Use contrast in value (light vs dark) to avoid a flat look. 

 

2. Analogous 

Colours that sit next to each other on the wheel. 
Think red-orange-yellow or blue-blue-green-green. 
 
Good for: Natural, soothing visuals 
Example: Forest green, olive, chartreuse 
 
Action to consider: Choose one as your dominant colour and let the others support it. 

 

3. Complementary 

Use olours directly opposite each other. 
High contrast, high drama. 
 
Good for: Bold statements, logos, calls-to-action 
Example: Blue and orange, red and green, yellow and purple 
 
Action to consider: Let one dominate and use the other as an accent to avoid a visual fight. 

 

4. Split-Complementary 

One colour and the two neighbours of its complement. 
It offers contrast without the intensity of straight complements. 
 
Good for: Friendly, balanced palettes 
Example: Blue with red-orange and yellow-orange 
 
Action to consider: Great for illustrations where you want contrast but not too much tension. 

 

5. Triadic 

Three colours evenly spaced around the wheel. 
Think triangle. 
 
Good for: Playful, vibrant compositions 
Example: Red, yellow, blue or green, purple, orange 
 
Action to consider: Adjust the saturation to keep things harmonious — three bright colours can overwhelm. 

 

6. Tetradic (Double Complementary) 

Two complementary pairs. 
This gives you a rich palette but, it can get chaotic fast. 
 
Good for: Complex compositions or character-rich illustrations 
Example: Blue & orange, green & red 
 
Action to consider: Stick to one dominant pair and tone the others down. 

 

Want to See These in Action? 

Try pulling sample harmonies from film stills, paintings, or even your wardrobe. You’ll start to see harmony and, once you do, you can recreate it on your own terms. 

 

Coming Up Next: The Psychology of Colour 

In the next post, we’ll go deeper into what colours mean and how they can affect your audience emotionally, culturally, and even subconsciously. 

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