Primary colors: red, blue and yellow. These are the colors that cannot be mixed using any other colors. Secondary colors: Green, orange and purple. These colors are made by mixing primary colors in different combinations. Secondary and tertiary colors: Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green and yellow-green. These are created by mixing a primary color with a secondary color.
Bold primary colors are often associated with young children, tropics, and sports teams. However, there is no reason you cannot play with darker or lighter hues. If you want your project to look more sophisticated, you might want to consider using just one or two of the primary colors, rather than all three. A red, blue, and yellow outfit might look a little juvenile, but a yellow and red combination be more sophisticated.
Complementary colors of the same brightness and hue will always work well together. Popular complementary combinations include blue and orange, purple and yellow, and green and pink.
For instance, a denim skirt with a light blue T-shirt and indigo scarf will likely go together well. Pick a favorite color and match it with a color to the immediate right or left. Red goes with pink, yellow with orange, and so on. Any gradations in the same family will match as long as they are the same hue, brightness, and so forth.
For example, if you mix basic purple with red, you end up with a warm, vibrant reddish purple. If you mix purple with blue, you end up with a cool, calming violet purple. When it comes to matching colors, temperature matters. [3] X Research source When creating a color palette to use in your wardrobe or to decorate a room and you want a coherent effect, pair warm colors with other warm colors, and cool colors with other cool colors. For example, you might choose a rust-colored dress, a creamy mustard yellow scarf and a cognac purse. Mixing warm and cool colors in the same palette results in an effect that can be either fun and funky or a little jarring, depending on how you look at it. [4] X Research source
These are natural, muted colors that match most other colors. They are reminiscent of natural elements like sand, soil and rock. However, they also encompass colors like off-white. Black, white, and tan or khaki are often considered neutrals in fashion. They will usually always go together with any color. An example is a black pair of pants with a bright pink blouse. In fashion, blue denim often is treated as a neutral. A pair of blue jeans will go with any colored shirt, for instance. When you are deciding what neutrals match your color palette, you need to take color temperature into account. For example, if your color palette is cool, your neutral could be a bright white or a blue black; warmer neutrals would clash. For a warmer palette, you might choose a brownish grey or cream. White and black are neutrals, but be aware that they are rarely absolutes. An off-white wall may have an undertone of yellow, for instance. Or a black shirt may have an undertone of blue. Neutrals are not boring! People sometimes mistakenly think neutral means boring, bland colors. The strength of neutral colors is that they work well in group and work well with primary or secondary colors. For example: A white t-shirt with blue jeans. Khaki pants and a black sweater.
This needs to be done with some care. A black dress, heels and purse may be gorgeous, but also could accidentally come off as a person in mourning, a Gothic look, or a hairdresser. The whole outfit needs to have consideration, not just color! The key to making a monochrome look work is finding items in the exact same color. Wearing a bright white top with cream pants is going to clash, but if you find two pieces in the same color, you’re golden. To make a monochrome outfit look less extreme, break it up with some neutrals, like beige heels or a brown belt.
If you’re wearing a black suit, try a red or turquoise camisole or blouse. If you’re wearing a navy suit, try a yellow or pink camisole or blouse. A common mistake people make is being afraid to take risks with color. Don’t be afraid of bright colors. [6] X Expert Source Nejla ReneeFashion Stylist & Image Consultant Expert Interview. 7 August 2020.
If you are wearing a print, generally try to match it to a solid. If you have a black skirt with a small floral print, pair it with a green top that matches the color of the leaves. While you can mix prints, it is a tricky thing to do. Wearing colors that pop also can help you out with your wardrobe style. Try Purple, Orange, and yellow. A purple shirt, An orange skirt, and yellow tights would look very nice. Maybe try it with a zebra print. Match two prints with the same color. A bit more difficult, but it produces striking results. The key is to find one like color across two prints. For example, if you have an orange-striped blouse, you can match it with a leopard-print skirt that has the same color. Match prints in the same color family. You can match prints that do not have the exact same color by playing within the same color family. A pair of ikat shorts with beige and cream tones can go with a chocolate brown polka-dotted blouse.
Denim. Blue jeans go with any color top, and that goes equally to denim in skirts, jackets, dresses, or jeans. Just remember to take the wash into account. A saturated dark wash may match different colors than a light blue faded denim. Camel or brown. Perfect for a muted, earth-toned palettes. Navy. Looks beautiful with jewel-toned hues. Navy always pairs wonderfully with white and red. Navy tends to be less severe-looking than black, and tends to flatter skin more. Navy can also add a nautical flair when paired with red, khaki, and stripes. [7] X Expert Source Nejla ReneeFashion Stylist & Image Consultant Expert Interview. 7 August 2020. White and cream. Brightens any outfit, as long as you keep the temperature in mind. Gray. Gray pairs well with every color, and tends to express sophistication. Black. Black naturally goes with everything. It is also slimming. Be aware too much black can come across as severe, a person in mourning, or certain professions. White. White also goes with everything. Be aware that white will naturally draw the eye. Wearing too much white can come across as bridal.
You do not have to select all the colors off the palette or collection. If you do not like the green, but everything else works for you, simply do not use the green. You also do not have to use all twelve colors; just use what works for you and your space. You do not have to buy any paint to use the color in your house. For instance, you may like a little orange in your house, but painting a whole room orange may be too extreme for you. Instead, bring in that orange color with throw pillows, or a bedspread, paintings, curtains, and so forth.
Go with colors in the same family. If you have a blue wall, try a blue-green couch. If your wall is yellow, choose a red and orange color scheme for the furniture. The colors will harmonize instead of canceling each other out. Or choose a contrasting color for a bigger splash. Buy an overstuffed violet armchair to put in your sunny yellow room, or try a bright coral sofa to offset your light turquoise walls.
Saturated colors can have a strong effect on your emotional state. A bright red room might make you feel nervous, and a dark grey one might give you the blues. However, strong colors can affect a person positively. An orange room might make a person feel joyful and creative, and a dark grey one feel focused and sophisticated. Different people react differently to the same color in the same space. Pick a smaller wall in the room, like the area around your front door or above the kitchen counter. Paint it a bright color that matches the room’s neutral. Or use a contrasting color for the trim. Painting borders in a contrasting color gives a room an eclectic, fun look. You could also create a stenciled trim in a different color. Keep in mind that color temperature can affect a room’s mood. A soft purplish-pink wall color on a bedroom is romantic. But a bright fuchsia bedroom may come across as a bit too much. You can use nearly any intense color, but use just an accent. This can give the room the feel you want without being overwhelming. For example, if you love intense fuchsia in the bedroom, consider having such colors in the pillows, bedspread, and some paintings. If you are a homeowner, keep in mind that if you do choose very bright or saturated colors, you may well have to re-paint before selling. You may enjoy turquoise walls, but most home buyers may not. This can affect the re-sale value.
Pick colors in the same family. Have a few decorations that match each other so that the room looks pulled together. For example, try a bookcase painted green, a pair of sea-green vases on the mantel and a collection of turquoise and green throw pillows and blankets. Avoid using too many colors in the same room, though. As a guideline, three is the maximum: main color, accent color, and trim color. Keep things simple, or else the room may take on a mismatched or chaotic appearance.
