A Beginner's Guide to Using Complementary Colors

Some color combinations just seem to jump off the page, and there's a simple reason why: they're complementary colors, sitting directly across from each other on the color wheel.

Why Complementary Colors Matter

Complementary pairs — like red and green, blue and orange, or yellow and purple — create the strongest possible contrast between two colors. That contrast makes a page feel bold and eye-catching, and it's a technique used often in illustration and design, not just coloring pages.

How to Use Complementary Colors

The simplest approach is to pick one complementary pair and use it as the backbone of a page — one color for the main subject, the other for the background or a smaller supporting area. Using both colors in equal amounts can feel overwhelming, so many colorists let one color dominate and use its complement as an accent instead. Complementary colors are also useful for shading, since mixing a touch of a color's complement into it creates a more natural-looking gray or shadow tone than black would.

Simple Ways to Practice

Pick one complementary pair, like blue and orange, and color a simple page using only those two colors.
Try adding a small amount of a color's complement into a shaded area to see how it darkens naturally.
Combine this idea with our guide to mixing warm and cool colors, since complementary pairs are often one warm and one cool color.
Use a complementary accent color on a page you're building around a broader color palette.

Tips for Parents and Teachers

Keep a simple color wheel nearby for reference — it takes the guesswork out of finding a color's complement.
Encourage using complementary colors as an accent rather than in equal amounts, which can look calmer for beginners.
Point out complementary pairs in nature, like red apples on green leaves, to make the idea click.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly makes two colors "complementary"?

They sit directly opposite each other on a standard color wheel. The three main pairs are red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and purple.

Why do complementary colors look so bold together?

Because they contain no shared color, our eyes perceive maximum contrast between them, which naturally draws attention.

Can complementary colors be used for shading instead of black?

Yes, and it often looks more natural. Mixing a touch of a color's complement into it creates a soft, believable shadow tone instead of a flat gray or black.

Conclusion

Complementary colors are a simple trick with a big visual payoff. Try one pair on your next page and notice how much energy that contrast adds.