Split-Complementary: The Best of Both Worlds
High contrast without the tension — the most forgiving color scheme for beginners.
How Split-Complementary Works
Start with a base color, then use the two colors adjacent to its complement (150° and 210°)
Why Designers Love Split-Complementary
Split-complementary takes the energy of complementary colors and softens it. By using colors adjacent to the complement rather than the complement itself, you get:
- ✓ Visual interest — three distinct colors create variety
- ✓ Natural harmony — the two secondary colors relate to each other
- ✓ Easier balance — less visual tension to manage
- ✓ Flexibility — works in both warm and cool directions
✨ Why It's Beginner-Friendly
It's genuinely hard to make a split-complementary palette look bad. The mathematical relationship between colors provides built-in harmony, while the variety keeps things interesting.
Split-Complementary Examples
When to Use Split-Complementary
Perfect For
- • First-time palette creators
- • Brands wanting energy + professionalism
- • Marketing materials with call-to-actions
- • Websites needing variety without chaos
- • Presentations and slide decks
💡 Pro Tips
- • Use base color as dominant (60%)
- • Split the remaining 40% between adjacent colors
- • Works great with the 60-30-10 rule
- • Add white/gray to prevent overwhelm
Creating Your Split-Complementary Palette
- 1
Choose your anchor color
This is your brand's primary color — it will dominate the palette.
- 2
Find the complement (but don't use it)
Identify what sits directly opposite on the color wheel.
- 3
Select adjacent colors
Move 30° in each direction from the complement to find your two secondary colors.
- 4
Test and adjust saturation
Vary brightness and saturation levels to create depth within your three-color framework.
Generate Split-Complementary Palettes
Just describe your project — our AI will automatically select the best harmony model, including split-complementary when it fits.
Try the Generator