Log in
Build Your Site
Complementary Colors: Key to Dynamic Designs
Complementary colors are the key to dynamic designs. By understanding the importance of complementary colors, you can find the best way to use modern design.
Colors play more of a role than most people think in iconic designs. Amongst colors, the principle of a complementary color scheme is an effective and simple one. Complementary colors are two colors that are opposite to each other on the color wheel, e.g., red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and purple. Their jarring and harmonious contrast is able to create visual tension and equilibrium.
Not only is this color scheme a visual contrast, but also an attention and emotion guiding tool. Web designers, UX designers, brand designers, and even interior designers use the color combination in a designed manner to draw the eyes of users in a natural way towards the highlights. Such as buttons, call to actions, images of products, or logos for the brand on the website. Due to the strong contrast, the complementary colors are a great way to convey information, make important things stand out, and elicit emotions.
The theory of complementary colors has historical roots in the 18th century, following work done by Sir Isaac Newton on the physics of light and color. Since the centuries that followed, the concept has been experimented with and expanded by designers, painters, and psychologists. Now, not only is it one of the fundamental principles of color theory, but one of the fundamental cornerstones of modern visual design.
In the internet age, the potential for color combinations is greater still. Faced with the reality of information overkill and users' scarce attention. Design needs to effectively and at the same time communicate information, organize it in a hierarchy, and evoke emotion. A Complementary color scheme meets this need. They don't just draw attention in an instant, they also improve readability and memory of information. And make your website or brand stand out in the crowded online market. In this article, we take a close look at complementary colors. Whether you are new to design or are a brand owner desiring to improve the visual performance of your website, you'll be able to learn actionable concepts and tactics from this article.
What are complementary colors?
A Complementary color scheme is two colors that are situated opposite one another on the color wheel. Side by side, they produce a strong and taut contrast effect and enhance the image. Red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and purple are some traditional complements. They are a potent way of communicating high levels of contrast visually and a strong way of defining a hierarchy and reinforcing information in design. Why is it that complementary colors produce such a dramatic effect? The explanation lies primarily in the color opposition and balance.
-
highly effective visual
They are most different from one another in hue. Therefore, when combined will produce a highly effective visual stimulus, highlighting areas of the picture or page more.
-
An inbuilt sense of equilibrium
They are opposites yet also complements of each other. Blue's tranquillity and orange's passion, for example, equate to a cold and a heat contradiction, yet one that is natural and in harmony.
-
Increased color intensity
When combined next to each other, they make one another more noticeable and more vibrant. It is highly popular in advertising, logos, and button design, which are all designed to catch users' attention.
-
Mutual Neutralization Properties
A complementary color scheme mixed will cancel out and become a neutral color, either brown or grey. Complementary color theory is also extensively utilized in painting and visual arts.
From Leonardo da Vinci's works of art to website design in the present day, from high fashion runway shows to posters, color combinationshave been the well-guarded secret for centuries to produce dynamic, reinforcing effects, and to convey emotion. Any pair of complements involves a cold and a warm. But a "primary-secondary" combination, in which one sets the tone and the other plays a supportive and setting-off function. It makes the design more layered and emotionally rich.
Image by Canva
Why are complementary colors significant?
Complementary colors are valuable in design for several reasons. They produce a strong visual contrast, elicit an emotional reaction from the viewer. And draw attention to focal material without detracting from the appearance of a well-balanced work. Place a color scheme side by side in a saturated tone. And it will be intensely bright and highly visible, immediately drawing attention from the user. Such potent visual tension is a valuable asset for designers in creating engaging and informative pieces.
-
Produce a strong visual contrast
They produce the strongest contrast effect among colors on the color wheel. They're the most straightforward and effective solution when you're looking for an object to stand out. Such as a website's "buy now," company logo, or cover photo. They're able to immediately make those valuable contents stand out and improve the experience for the users.
-
Guide users to focus
The human eye is instinctively attracted to high color contrast. Designers are able to guide the eye explicitly, from the title through to the call to action area. It uses a complementary color scheme in a page layout in a way that enables users to more clearly see the hierarchy of information and operation flow.
-
Create an emotional reaction
Not only is color a visual vocabulary, but it is a psychic stimulus as well. Combinations of colors are able to evoke a cluster of emotions. Blue and orange are a dynamic and contemporary combination, while yellow and purple are a tense, noble combination. Such evocation of emotions allows brand design to move to an affective plane with the users and reinforce the memory peak of the design.
-
Maintain visual equilibrium
While this color pair is a jarring combination, mixed together appropriately, it also becomes a harmonious blend of the two. Not only will it create layering and concurrence in the painting, it will also be free of any kind of visual tension.
-
Improve readability and information transmission
They applied for text and background will also contribute a great deal to the readability and reading quality of the text. In UI design, ad banners, and mobile UI, it is especially important to ensure that information is conveyed and well understood.
-
Develop a consistent and recognizable brand image
The brand's visual identity system has to be consistent and recognisable. By utilizing matching colors in a smart way, brands are able to establish a personal identity through color style.
-
Brand loyalty
Complementary color schemes work well in just about every area of design. Webpage, APP interface, package design, poster, fashion design, interior design, and more. With whatever kind of modern, dynamic, elegant, or retro design style you want to design, complementary colors are evocative.
In short, a complementary color scheme is not merely a design color harmonizing system. They are interactive design vocabulary that informs, evokes emotion, and enhances experience. Not only do correct applications of color combination make your design more informative, they also more effectively enhance the engagement of users and brands.
Image by Canva
How to utilize complementary color in web design?
1.Strategic Color Selection
They have powerful visual energy and symbolic value, yet are not suited for every design context. Among the most valuable abilities that practitioners need to become skilled at in practice is how and when to successfully apply color pairs.
-
High Impact Factors
A Complementary color scheme are great when you want users to notice a critical point or an action. Such as call-to-action (CTA) buttons. Hero images or home page headers. It will emphasize the theme by employing colors and enable users to find the critical points immediately. Complementary colors also give rise to highly identifiable logos in a number of media, particularly in situations where the logos are highly different from the background.
-
Information Contrast and Separation
Complementary colors assist in segmenting different blocks of information and in structuring the information. They are utilized, for example, in setting blocks for forms or for information modules.
They can also be used to emphasize important facts, statistics, or reminders. Additionally, in presentations, use complementary colors to distinguish charts, headings, and text to enable more effective information transmission.
-
Moderate Use, Enhanced Effect
While the design is in moderation and in equilibrium, a complementary color scheme is strained. Use of colors in a large area on a page may create a feeling of tension and wear and tear among users. One is therefore advised to apply them for decoration or emphasis. Complementary color usage is ultimately a directive tool for the eyes. It is an aid in information communication and UX.
2.Follow design principles
Although the color combination is excellent, they are equally able to provoke confusion and visual fatigue when not applied in the correct manner. Restraint in the usage of complementary color in web design is not merely a question of color combination, but rather also of success in communication and usability. The following are some principles that should always be kept in mind in practice:
-
Clear division of dominant and accent color
Always define your main color first. It should embody the brand tone or design mood. Use the complementary color as the accents, which call attention to the most important items such as buttons, links, and headings.
-
Use hue, shade, and chroma to adjust intensity
These pure complementary colors comprise highly saturated colors, and their application in pure concentrations is jarring.
-
Build a clear visual hierarchy
They are excellent for information hierarchy. By way of highly contrasting colors, you are able to clearly distinguish between headings and text, major and secondary information, call to action (e.g., purchases and registrations), and background information. Color direction will get people scrolling down the page naturally and notice the points of emphasis.
-
Leave White Space
Effective use of the empty space on a page enables striking, contrasting areas of color to stand out, yet not in an overwhelming manner.
Image by Canva
3.Consider cultural context
Colors are not seen similarly in all cultures. Not only our physiological response to color, but also our experience of color, is rooted solidly in the social, traditional, and cultural setting in which we are located. It is therefore most important to be aware of the culture of the target audience when utilizing color in design.
For example, red is associated with danger, emergency, and warning messages in the West (e.g., a red light, a red stop sign). Red, in Chinese culture, depicts good luck, happiness, and festivals and is applied in great quantities at weddings and celebrations. As colors possess different meanings in different parts of the world, the following are considered by designers while choosing a colour scheme to decide whether a color will be suitable:
-
The brand's target market
If the brand is promoting in just one nation or in a single circle of culture, it is able to study the colour meaning in the nation or the culture circle and choose colors that will not only support the emotional value of the brand but also will not cause confusion or a bad impression in a particular culture.
-
Does the color carry the core brand message?
For brands like Coca-Cola, its red color is closely tied to the brand itself and has extremely high recognition and cognitive value. In this case, even though red carries negative connotations in certain cultures, brand recognition can still “neutralize” these cultural risks.
Color not only conveys style and aesthetics, it also carries values, traditions, and emotions. Cultural context is an important part of our global design. A color that is pleasing in one place may be misunderstood or even offensive in another. By strategically choosing colors and respecting cultural differences, we can not only create more impactful designs but also establish emotional connections with global audiences.
Use Wegic to create your ideal website
Understand the use of color combinations, grasp the visual hierarchy, and take into account cultural sensitivity. These may sound a bit complicated, but with Wegic, you can easily implement these professional design concepts and create a truly ideal website.
Wegic provides an intuitive visual editor that allows you to preview the effect of color combinations on the web page in real time. Wegic is very suitable for brand website construction for global users. You can adjust the page content, image style, and color scheme according to the target market to avoid cultural misunderstandings. Even if you don’t have a design or development background, you can use Wegic to quickly build a website that meets professional standards.
Click the picture here to find out Wegic's magic! ⬇️
Conclusion
As a very attractive and powerful element in color theory, complementary colors can not only inject fresh vitality into the design but also effectively guide the user's visual focus and enhance the overall experience. In web design, brand building, and even the broader field of visual creativity, the rational use of complementary color schemes can not only achieve color balance and contrast but also arouse the audience's emotional resonance and enhance the expressiveness and appeal of the design.
However, the power of color is not only reflected in the visual level, but also the understanding and perception of color in a cultural background cannot be ignored. A successful design is a perfect combination of color and culture, emotion and function. As a designer or brand decision maker, a deep understanding of the principles of complementary colors, combined with precise color strategies and cultural sensitivity, can create works that are both beautiful and influential.
Check out the relevant color combination article:
Written by
Kimmy
Published on
Jun 10, 2025
Share article
Read more
Our latest blog
Webpages in a minute, powered by Wegic!
With Wegic, transform your needs into stunning, functional websites with advanced AI
Free trial with Wegic, build your site in a click!