Color combinations
Good color combinations follow a few simple patterns: contrast between light and dark, and a sensible relationship on the color wheel. This page gathers 80 combinations, from two-color pairs to full website schemes, all with hex codes and all ready to open in the palette generator.
Popular color combinations
- Navy and GoldLuxury, finance and formal events.
- Coral and TealFresh and energetic, near opposites.
- Terracotta and SageEarthy and relaxed.
- Navy and White and RedClassic and nautical.
- Sage and Terracotta and CreamEarthy and warm.
- Red and Yellow and BlueThe primary triad, bold.
- Purple and YellowComplementary and playful.
- Turquoise and Sand and CoralTropical and sunny.
- Emerald and IvoryRich and elegant.
- Dusty rose and Sage and BeigeMuted and gentle.
- Lavender and MintPastel and gentle.
- Emerald and Gold and BlackRich jewel tones.
Browse combinations by type
How to make a good color combination
Most good combinations do two things. First, they mix light and dark: a combination of only mid-tones looks flat and is hard to read. Second, their hues relate in a clear way on the color wheel.
| Scheme | How it works | Feels | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complementary | Opposite hues | Vivid, energetic | Royal blue and orange |
| Analogous | Neighboring hues | Calm, cohesive | Blue, teal and green |
| Triadic | Three evenly spaced hues | Balanced, playful | Red, yellow and blue |
| Split-complementary | One hue and the two beside its opposite | Lively but softer | Blue with red-orange and yellow-orange |
| Monochromatic | One hue, light to dark | Elegant, quiet | Burgundy and pink |
Then add a neutral. White, cream, gray, beige and black let strong colors breathe and carry text. Finally, check readability: if text will sit on a color, test the pair in the contrast checker.
Color combinations by mood
- Calm: neighboring blues, teals and greens with soft whites, as in the coastal palettes.
- Energetic: saturated opposites such as coral and teal or royal blue and orange.
- Luxurious: jewel tones such as emerald and sapphire, with black, cream and gold.
- Natural: earth tones such as sage, terracotta, sand and olive, as in the boho palettes.
- Playful: triads and bright pastels, such as red, yellow and blue or lavender and mint.
- Professional: navy, charcoal or gray with white and one clear accent color.
Make your own combinations
- In the palette generator, lock a color you like and press the spacebar to get combinations around it, from 2 to 10 colors.
- Start from a photo with the color picker from image, which pulls the main colors from any picture.
- Look up the best partners of one color in colors that go with.
- Browse hundreds of curated color palettes by mood, theme and color, or themed sets such as jewel tones, boho and coastal.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best color combinations?
Combinations with clear light-dark contrast and a simple relationship on the color wheel: navy and gold, black and white, coral and teal, sage and terracotta, and navy, white and red.
How do I find colors that go together?
Use a color scheme from the color wheel (complementary, analogous or triadic), add a neutral, and check contrast. A palette generator can suggest combinations around a color you lock.
Is there a color combination generator?
Yes. The GetColors palette generator makes color combinations of 2 to 10 colors: press the spacebar for new ones, lock the colors you like, and export them as CSS, Tailwind or ASE.
How many colors should a combination have?
Two to five for most uses. Two colors are bold and simple, three give you a main color, support and accent, and websites usually need four or five roles.