Neutral colors provide a restful effect but can be boring alone. Adding texture, different shades, or a bright accent color prevents boredom. Monochromatic schemes use one main color with neutrals and accents for variety. Analogous schemes use colors close together on the color wheel for soft or cheerful effects. Complementary schemes opposite on the wheel can be exciting or overwhelming, working better in weaker tones. Nature-inspired schemes use bright colors in small doses against larger areas of less bright colors.

28. COLOR SCHEMES FROM NATURE

33. The “Principle of the Elephant and the Hummingbird”: Bright colors in smallish doses, and larger areas in less-bright colors