In this article, we’ll take a look at the various types of color schemes that you can use for your website or brand, as well as tools and resources to help you choose a color palette.
![](https://blog.tbhcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/color-theory-color-schemes.png)
Monochromatic
A monochromatic color scheme is simply made up of a single color, with different tints and shades used to created a full color palette. This is a great way to ensure that all of your colors will work well together and appear balanced, since they are all derived from the same hue. A monochromatic color palette can be helpful in highlighting a primary brand color while still offering a variety of colors to choose from to make your design more interesting.
![](https://blog.tbhcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/monochromatic.png)
Complementary
A complementary color scheme consists of colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. This creates a color palette with high contrast, which can be beneficial on a website in order to draw attention to certain content areas with a contrasting accent color. Using complementary colors will help to create harmony in your design.
![](https://blog.tbhcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/complementary.png)
Compound (or split complementary)
A compound color scheme is created when you choose a color and the two colors adjacent to its complementary color. While similar to a complementary color scheme, the addition of adjacent colors helps to create a more interesting color palette but with less contrast.![](https://blog.tbhcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/compound.png)
Triadic
Triadic color schemes consist of colors that are evenly spaced on the color wheel. This helps to build a more varied color palette while still appearing balanced. A triadic color scheme is a great choice for building up a selection of accent colors to use on your website for elements like calls-to-action or other buttons.![](https://blog.tbhcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/triadic.png)
Analogous
An analogous color scheme is created when you choose colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. It is similar to a monochromatic color scheme, but with a larger range of colors. However, it generally results in a low-contrast color palette, and may benefit from choosing an additional accent color when used for a website.![](https://blog.tbhcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/analogous.png)
Websites with effective color palettes
Aircom Manufacturing
The Aircom website uses a monochromatic color scheme, with various tints and shades of yellow.
![](https://blog.tbhcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/aircom.jpg)
Swink
Strategic Materials
The Strategic Materials website has a color palette based on a triadic color scheme.
![](https://blog.tbhcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/strategic-materials.jpg)
Natuur & Milieu
On the Natuur & Milieu website, the color palette is built around an analogous color scheme, with colors range from blue to green.
![](https://blog.tbhcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/natuur-and-milieu.jpg)
Imaging Office
The color palette for the Imaging Office Systems website is made up of two sets of complementary colors: red and green with blue and orange.
![](https://blog.tbhcreative.com/wp-content/uploads/imaging-office.jpg)