Analogous Colors: Creating Cohesive Palettes
The most naturally harmonious color scheme — found everywhere in nature.
What Are Analogous Colors?
Colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel (within 30° range)
Why Analogous Colors Work
Analogous color schemes are inherently harmonious because they share underlying color characteristics. When you select colors from the same region of the color wheel, they naturally complement each other without competing for attention.
This is why analogous palettes are everywhere in nature — think of autumn leaves (yellows, oranges, reds) or ocean scenes (teals, blues, greens). Our eyes recognize these combinations as naturally pleasing.
🎯 Key Principle
In an analogous scheme, choose one dominant color (60%), one supporting color (30%), and one accent (10%). This creates hierarchy while maintaining cohesion. Learn more about this in our 60-30-10 Rule guide.
When to Use Analogous Colors
Perfect For
- • Wellness and healthcare brands
- • Nature and eco-friendly products
- • Editorial and magazine layouts
- • Backgrounds and atmospheric design
- • Apps requiring calm user experience
⚠️ Use With Caution
- • Call-to-action buttons (low contrast)
- • Data visualization (hard to distinguish)
- • Brands needing bold differentiation
- • High-energy marketing campaigns
Example Analogous Palettes
Creating Your Own Analogous Palette
- 1
Start with your brand color
Pick your primary color — this will be the anchor of your palette.
- 2
Move 30° in one direction
Select your secondary color from an adjacent position on the color wheel.
- 3
Add variations for depth
Create lighter and darker versions using the same hue range. Vary saturation for subtle differences.
- 4
Test for contrast
Ensure your text colors meet WCAG accessibility standards — analogous schemes can lack contrast.
Generate Analogous Palettes Instantly
Describe your project and our AI will create perfectly balanced analogous palettes — no color theory knowledge required.
Try the Generator