When selecting colors for your home, artwork, or clothing, it is important to understand what colors pair well together. Specifically, warm colors like red, orange and yellow have certain colors that complement them better than others. Knowing what colors go with warm shades can help you make aesthetically pleasing color combinations. In this article, we will explore what colors complement the warm color palette.
Understanding Warm and Cool Colors
The color spectrum can be divided into warm and cool shades. Warm colors include hues like red, orange, and yellow. These colors evoke feelings of energy, passion, and optimism. They remind us of things like fire, sunlight, and heat. Cool colors include shades like blue, green and purple. They elicit feelings of calmness, tranquility and serenity. They make us think of things like water, sky, and ice.
When selecting colors, it is important to understand how warm and cool colors interact. Warm shades pop against cool backdrops, creating high contrast. Cool shades have a relaxing effect on warm foreground colors. Finding the right balance of warm and cool shades creates aesthetically pleasing color palettes.
Best Colors to Pair with Warm Shades
Certain colors complement and accentuate warm hues particularly well. Here are some of the top colors to pair with warm shades:
Blue
Blue is a cool hue that creates contrast against warm colors like orange and yellow. Light blues work especially well, as they provide enough contrast without overpowering the warm shades. For example, light or sky blue helps yellow pop. Royal blue makes a bold pairing with red.
Green
Green is another cool hue that accents warm colors nicely. Greens with a blue undertone, like sage green, complement warm reds and oranges. Yellows stand out against kelly green. Dark olive green can enrich warm shades like burnt orange. Light greens, like seafoam, also pair attractively with warm tones.
Purple
Certain shades of purple complement warm colors beautifully. Soft violets and lilacs accent yellow and orange without creating too much contrast. Deep jewel tones like amethyst and magenta make striking pairs with warm reds. Lavender is an especially versatile color that works with any warm shade.
Pink
Many shades of pink pair attractively with warm hues. Soft pinks accent red without clashing. Hot pink makes an energetic pairing with orange. Salmon pink complements yellow nicely. Pink’s varying undertones allow it to complement any warm color.
Brown
Brown shades like taupe, beige, tan and mocha make natural, earthy pairings with warm colors. Soft browns complement reds and oranges. Darker browns like chocolate and coffee enrich yellows. Brown’s neutral quality allows it to enhance warm shades subtly.
Cream
Off whites and cream shades make warm colors really stand out. They provide enough contrast for warm hues to pop while remaining soft and neutral. Cream goes with any warm shade but especially enhances yellow and orange. It creates vintage, feminine color combinations.
Gold
Metallic colors like gold and brass make opulent pairings with warm hues. Gold pops against red and makes orange shades glow. Yellow and gold create radiant color combinations, evoking sunshine. Metallics add shimmer and richness to warm palettes.
Cool Colors to Avoid with Warm Shades
Some cool hues clash with or overpower warm tones. Here are some colors to avoid pairing with the warm color palette:
Bright White
Stark, bright whites lack the softness to complement warm shades. They create too much contrast and make warm colors seem dingy. Soft creams and off-whites are better white options.
Silver & Gray
Cool metallics like silver and icy grays neutralize warm shades instead of accenting them. They are better suited for pairing with other cool tones. If using gray, choose a warmer taupe gray.
Lime Green
Super bright greens like lime green overpower warm shades with their intensity. They also lack an undertone that complements the warm hues. Softer blue-green shades work better.
Bright Turquoise
Vibrant turquoise creates a neon effect against warm shades. Its blue-green hue clashes with warm undertones. Darker turquoise works better than bright.
Bright Purple
Loud purples like fuchsia are too intense for warm palettes. They create vibrating combinations. Soft lilacs and violets are better purple options.
Baby Blue
Light blues can accent warm shades nicely, but super pale shades like baby blue wash them out. Go for sky blue instead of an extremely light blue.
Complimentary Color Schemes for Warm Colors
Some classic color theory combinations beautifully accent warm hues. Here are some examples of complimentary schemes for warm palettes:
Analogous Colors
Analogous schemes use hues next to each other on the color wheel, creating harmony. For warm shades, try:
– Red, orange, yellow
– Yellow, yellow-orange, orange
– Orange, red-orange, red
Triadic Colors
Triadic combinations use colors equally spaced around the color wheel. Warm triads include:
– Red, yellow, blue
– Yellow, violet, orange
– Orange, green, magenta
Split Complementary
This scheme pairs a color with the two hues on either side of its complement. Warm examples:
– Red, blue-green, yellow-green
– Orange, blue-violet, blue-green
– Yellow, violet, red-violet
Rectangle (Tetradic)
Tetrads use four colors arranged into a rectangle on the color wheel. Warm tetrad options:
– Red, yellow, blue, green
– Yellow, violet, orange, blue
– Orange, magenta, green, cyan
Best Color Combinations with Warm Shades
Here are some specific color combinations that pair wonderfully with warm hues:
Warm Red
– Red & royal blue
– Red & light pink
– Red & purple
– Red & forest green
– Red & tan
– Red & gold
Orange
– Orange & sky blue
– Orange & sage green
– Orange & lilac
– Orange & brown
– Orange & peach
– Orange & turquoise
Golden Yellow
– Yellow & navy blue
– Yellow & grey
– Yellow & lavender
– Yellow & chocolate brown
– Yellow & white
– Yellow & olive green
Tips for Decorating with Warm Colors
Here are some tips for beautifully incorporating warm colors into your home or workspace decor:
Use warm colors in moderation
Warm shades are bold and intense, so use them sparingly. Too much red, orange or yellow can feel overwhelming. Use warm hues in accent pieces against cooler neutrals.
Vary intensity
Mix softer and brighter warm shades to create depth. Pair a vivid orange throw pillow with a burnt red sofa, for example.
Add texture
Warm shades pop against natural textures like wood, leather, linen and wool. Incorporate these materials when decorating with warm tones.
Repeat colors
Unify a space by repeating warm shades. Keep one color dominant and repeat it along with accent colors.
Contrast with cooler metals
Brass looks gorgeous with warm tones. But also incorporate contrasting metals like chrome or nickel for visual interest.
Layer lighting
Use both warm and cool lighting. Trypendant lights, table lamps and sconces in complementary colors.
Conclusion
Balancing warm colors with complementary cool shades creates attractive, harmonious combinations. The best colors to pair with warm hues are shades of blue, green, purple, pink, brown, cream and gold. Avoid stark whites, bright greens, neon purples and super pale blues. Combining warm shades with analogous, triadic, split complementary or tetradic harmonies results in aesthetically pleasing palettes. Incorporate these warm color combinations into your home, wardrobe, artwork or other projects to create visually stunning effects. With the right complementary colors, you can make warm shades really pop.