:strip_icc()/sunny-light-blue-orange-kitchen-bfddbf03-9e68e5c063b9414eb07d27aa9172ef71.jpg "24 Complementary Color Schemes That Will Make Any Room Pop")
One of the best ways to quickly elevate a room is to implement complementary color schemes in your interior design. Using one of three complementary color pairings—red and green, purple and yellow, or blue and orange—is a foolproof way to transform an underwhelming room into a magnificent and mesmerizing interior space. Don’t be fooled by the seemingly limited choices of the three complementary color pairings—an impressive variety of complementary color schemes can be derived from different hues, tones, and saturations of the basic color wheel combinations.
Your Guide to the Color Wheel
Understanding the color wheel is key for successfully redesigning your home in complementary color schemes. The segments of the color wheel represent the science behind color and show how each color relates to the others. Because complementary colors are opposites on the wheel, they create a dynamic, contrasting look when they’re paired together.
Burnt Umber and Pacific Blue
David Tsay; Interior Designer: Dabito
In this rustic-industrial dining room, burnt-umber accents on the slipper chairs emphasize shades of bright tangerine in the window treatments. Rich Pacific blue also appears in the curtains, creating a bold, dynamic contrast with the hues of orange. Navy in the chair backings subtly contributes to the vibrant color scheme as well. The warm tones of orange continue in the wood flooring and a farmhouse dining table, and together, each element comprises a space with expertly balanced contrast.
Cherry and Emerald
Bold jewel tones give this white bedroom a colorful touch of glamour. A cherry-red sofa accents black-and-white bedding, and the juicy shade is further implemented via a subtle red accent pillow in the background. A plush green rug with an art-deco animal print lends worldly flair, and a complementary emerald velvet accent chair adds another element of vintage luxury.
Pale Cornflower and Goldenrod
Neutrals dominate this airy bedroom, but pale cornflower accents on the Euro shams and a goldenrod-colored blanket add eye-catching texture and depth. The soft complementary color scheme is reminiscent of a breezy summer day, which gives the bedroom a relaxed, inviting feel.
Magenta and Butterscotch
An attention-grabbing magenta bench matches the purple-red shades in this bed’s silky accent pillows. A warm, butterscotch yellow contrasts with the magenta in the pillows and repeats on the bed frame. Surrounded by neutral walls and furnishings, the complementary color scheme is the star of this primary bedroom decor.
Robin’s Egg and Red-Orange
This kitchen enlists a soft shade of blue and boldly contrasting orange to liven up the utilitarian room. Robin’s egg blue cabinetry delivers a fresh twist on neutrals, and red-orange bar stools stand out in a kitchen otherwise dominated by muted tones. Pops of fiery orange are further implemented through various dishes displayed on the island and in the glass-panel cabinets, achieving plenty of contrast without overwhelming the space.
Lilac and Mustard
Textured lilac walls provide a soft background for rich mustard-yellow leather armchairs in this sitting area. A pale indigo throw and lime green accents further the contrast, while a large sunburst mirror brings out the gold tones in the chairs. Black accents contrast with the white woodwork, completing this kitschy, modern space full of complementary color schemes.
Peach and Turquoise
This home library goes for high impact with a striking combination of peach and turquoise. The mixture of warm and cool tones creates a major contrast, while the combination of unique patterns decorating the furniture and rug increases the visual interest. A bright blue abstract painting becomes the focal point on the pale orange walls, looking perfectly at home alongside the similarly toned armchair.
Rose and Sage
This romantic bedroom’s floral accent wall mixes a complementary color scheme with a splash of white. The pale sage background and flowing window treatments soften the lines of the classic board-and-batten paneling, while the hot pink bed frame adds a punch of color that pulls out the various rose tones in the wallpaper. The contrasting scheme is finished with subtle nightstand decor, which gently pops against the paneling and creates balance in the bottom half of the room.
Fuchsia and Daffodil
The curtains in this living room are a lively display of how complementary colors can pop against each other. Yellow and purple are opposites on the color wheel, but pairing the two makes for a rich and exciting contrast. The combination of fuchsia, plum, and daffodil energizes this room’s traditional furnishing while anchoring the mustard-colored sofa.
Pumpkin and Royal Blue
A royal blue sofa is the main characteristic of this room’s complementary color scheme. Bright orange patterned upholstery on the adjacent armchair is echoed in accent pillows atop the couch, and warm shades of tan and brown anchor the contrasting tones. Guests are even given a sneak preview of the vibrant color scheme with a perky pumpkin-colored front door.
Mauve and Gold
It’s important to consider hue, saturation, and tone when pairing complementary colors. For example, this sophisticated dining area uses opposing muted tones to elicit a soft feminine flair. The mauve and gold hues match in tone but contrast due to their opposite positions on the color wheel. The result is an understated glamour in an otherwise traditional space.
Brick and Teal
Deciding on a color scheme is easy if you use pure colors—hues that haven’t been tinted with black or white. Directly opposite on the color wheel, blue-green and red-orange are a classic contrast in this southwestern-inspired bedroom. The natural tones create the foundation of the room’s rustic ambiance while allowing the bold desert hues of the decor to take center stage.
Purple and Chartreuse
Wisteria-colored curtains contrast beautifully with a tufted chartreuse bedframe and headboard. The bright tones of this complementary color scheme are grounded with muted sister colors. A pale chartreuse patterned bench with sleek acrylic legs is a lovely accompaniment to a dusty purple knit blanket and pillows with similar accent colors. Stark white decor provides an additional contrasting color scheme against the bronze-papered walls and loft ceiling.
Safety Orange and Cobalt Blue
In this intimate space, vivid colors create visual interest among natural elements. Surrounding this cobalt blue sofa with neutral tones and safety orange accents allows the electric color to pop. In addition to the complementary color scheme, the combination of solid and patterned accents adds more dimension to the minimalist space.
Lavender and Ochre
This living room’s color palette, purple and yellow, has gray undertones that add subtlety to the complementary color scheme. An ochre chair and jewel-toned abstract wall art pop against the pale lavender walls. Neutral furniture throughout the rest of the space allows the complementary scheme to shine without becoming too busy.
Coral and Seafoam
A deliberate choice to contrast the tone and saturation of colors can lead to surprisingly delightful complementary color schemes. In this bedroom, the pairing of bright coral with pastel seafoam brings life to the white bedding and neutral furnishings. The softer contrast of the coral and seafoam elements also lends a more dramatic effect to the moody, darker-hued wall art above the bed.
Eggplant and Dandelion
Another fantastic instance of purple and yellow complementary color schemes is this modern living room accented with eggplant and dandelion tones. An aubergine window treatment and matching wallpaper inside the shelves balance the depth of the dark gray couch and rich brown flooring. Dandelion-colored accents lighten the look, adding a sunny disposition to an otherwise moody aesthetic. Hot pink and gold accents help to lift the contrasting palette further.
Mulberry and Lime
The rich complementary color schemes in this vignette are reminiscent of the acidic tones of the 1960s. Punchy mulberry and tart lime give this corner an eye-catching allure. Framed wall art repeats the bold hues while allowing the paint and statement buffet to remain the main characters of the decor. White woodwork provides a refreshingly crisp respite, breaking up the heady combination of colors in this marvelous nook.
Hot Pink and Spring Green
This preppy scheme brings a pop of color to an otherwise sterile gray living room. Among a color palette of white, gray, and silver, the pink and green complementary color scheme provides lively flair. Kelly green curtains accent pistachio-toned throw pillows while hot pink cushions add bold dimension. Reflective glass elements throughout the space add glamour while pulling the green tones from the accompanying decor, giving the large space a cohesive feel.
Raspberry and Mint
Red and green don’t always require pure tones to create stunning complementary color schemes. Variations on these basic colors can lead to a unique and bold statement, like the decor in this peppy bathroom. The raspberry and mint palette proves that red and green tones don’t always scream “Christmas,” but can add a summery, preppy feel.
Dusty Plum and Soft Sage
Dusty plum and soft sage make a demure pair in this small bathroom. Pops of pale chartreuse and lilac brighten the dominating tones of muted plum and sage, creating multiple complementary color schemes in the space. Natural finishes, including a wood vanity, stone flooring, and linen window treatments, temper the richly colored powder room, while teal accents in the wallpaper provide a vivid punch of color.
Blush Pink and Jade
Incorporate soft shades of jade and blush pink for a cottage-style complementary color scheme. Here, blush-colored shutters open to reveal a cozy kitchen, where a display of jade-toned vintage dinnerware captures the eye. The flooring and cabinet skirts balance the pink elements while creating contrast with the earthy green dish set.
Papaya and Sky Blue
Emily Followill
For no-fail complementary color schemes, turn to orange and blue. Here, vibrant papaya and sky blue hues are perfect for a shared children’s bedroom and can be softened with warm gray walls and crisp white accents. Papaya tones repeat in the bedding, wall art, and throw pillows, contrasting with the sky blue bunk beds and pale blue hues in the pillowcases and rug.
Wisteria and Pear
John Granen
Light purple and a mid-tone green are a natural combination, just like wisteria on the vine. To make combinations like these more dynamic, mix in variations of the same color using different hues and fabrics. For example, pair wisteria purple with hues of violet, lavender, lilac, and orchid in a range of different materials and fabrics. Don’t forget to work in some pattern for visual movement.
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