How to use a colour wheel to choose colours

What are the seven colour schemes?

In the world of colour and design there are seven major colour schemes. Let’s take a look at each scheme:

#1 Monochromatic colour scheme

A single colour (mono) with all of its associated shades and tints is included in a monochromatic colour scheme, which creates a unified visual feel. The intensity of the colours, in terms of darkness or lightness, can be easily shifted and this approach provides a clean design, which is understated, simple and elegant.

Feeling like just one colour might be limited for a design? Take a look at primary colour blue and all of the shades, tones and tints that are associated and you might change your mind.

#2 Analogous colour scheme

Back to the trusty colour wheel and you’ll find that analogous colour schemes are created by partnering a main colour with the next two colours beside it. If you want to go for a five-colour scheme instead of only three colour, add on the two beside the outside colours. 

The analogous scheme delivers a softer, lower contrast and would be more likely found in image design where a bold contrast isn’t required. 

#3 Complementary colour scheme

Using two colours that sit directly opposite each other on the colour wheel, along with the associated tints of those colours, will give you a complementary colour scheme. This approach is to be used carefully as it will create a great amount of contrast. High contrast can be effective and impactful with charts and graphs, but might be overbearing if used throughout an entire design approach. Try to only use complementary colour schemes when highlighting key information – unless your design calls for high contrast of course!

#4 Split complementary colour scheme

Take a single colour on the wheel, look directly across to its complementary colour, then select the two colours either side of this complementary colour and you’ve got yourself a split complementary colour scheme. 

With this scheme you can get great contrast with any two of the colours, but like complementary colour schemes, it can be very bold and too high contrast, so requires some consideration. 

#5 Triadic colour scheme

High contrast strikes again with the triadic colour scheme. Choose three colours that are equally distanced in lines around your colour wheel. You can select one of the colours to be the dominant one in your design, then perhaps soften the others with a softer tint. Using them all at full intensity could be overpowering. 

#6 Square colour scheme

Create a square (or diamond) on your colour wheel, and similarly to the triadic scheme, you will get a square scheme. Choosing one colour as the dominant is again advised and making the others background players will balance things out. Try each colour as the dominant to see which combination works for your design. 

#7 Rectangle colour scheme

Similar to the square scheme, the rectangle creates a slightly more subtle outcome. Two colours will be more bold, with the opposite side of the wheel providing more muted options.