Use red garments or accessories to create a bold and confident look.
Red Color: Everything You Need to Know
Red is a warm and powerful color that falls on the spectrum between orange and violet. It is a bold, energetic, and passionate tone that comes in various shades, from bright scarlet to deep burgundy.
How to Make Red?
To create red, you can mix primary colors of paint or pigment, such as magenta and yellow, until you achieve the desired hue. Alternatively, you can mix other colors to create red shades with different undertones. For example, adding a small amount of black to red creates a darker, richer red, while mixing red and white results in a lighter, more pastel shade.
HEX color code for red is #FF0000.
RGB values are R: 255, G: 0, B: 0.
CMYK code is 0, 100, 100, 0.
When it comes to web design, the Web Safe code for red is FF0000.
Whether you’re creating a painting or designing a website, red can add a powerful, bold, and passionate touch to your project.
What Colors Go With Red?
Red is a dominant color that pairs well with many other colors. Some colors that go well with red include:
White: For a classic and clean combination, white and red together create a bold and striking contrast.
Black: Combining red with black results in a dramatic and edgy contrast, creating a sophisticated and powerful look.
Gray: Soft shades of gray complement red, creating a calming and balanced atmosphere.
Green: Shades of green, such as forest or emerald, pair beautifully with red, creating a fresh and energetic palette.
Gold: Red and gold create a luxurious and glamorous combination, evoking a sense of opulence and richness.
Overall, red can be easily incorporated into various design schemes, offering a bold, passionate, and dramatic backdrop that complements a wide range of other colors.
The Color Yellow
Yellow is a bright, cheerful color on the warm end of the color spectrum, along with orange and red. It’s a primary color that’s crucial when mixing other colors. Many people like the color yellow as it is fun and a little whimsical. It’s the color of sunshine, flowers, and lemons. Yellow is sure to brighten up any scene. As it’s such a vivid color, yellow is sometimes used as a warning sign. You can see it on road signs and in nature. For example, bees use yellow and black stripes to warn that they can sting.
Red is another primary color that’s an essential building block for color mixing. You can use red to make orange and purple. But it’s also an important color in its own right. This vibrant shade is eye-catching and often seen in nature. Everything from flowers to butterflies, birds, and fruit can have this rich color. And like the color yellow, red can also be a warning or a sign of danger. We use the color red for stop signs and traffic lights. Likewise, the fly agaric mushroom is red to show it’s poisonous. As red is such a bold color, it tends to dominate anywhere you use it. And that can make it tricky to pick colors to go with red. So, let’s look at how these two colors work together.
Color Theory: Complementary Colors
One rule in color science is that complementary colors work best in a combination. But what are complementary colors, anyway? On a color wheel, complementary colors are opposite each other. The theory is that these colors are different enough to contrast with each other. So, they create a striking look that just clicks. But are red and yellow complementary colors? The answer is no.
Red is opposite green on the color wheel, while yellow is opposite purple. However, complementary colors aren’t the only way to create a cohesive color palette. So, that doesn’t mean you should avoid using yellow and red together.
Depending on the look you want to create, red and yellow can work really well together. As you’ve seen, these colors can both be bright and eye-catching. In that case, they make a striking and bold combination. It’s very attention-grabbing and full of energy. So, a yellow and red combination can work well if you want to make a statement. It also looks fresh and modern. But yellow isn’t as in your face as the color red. And that means it can play well with red while toning it down slightly. As a result, these colors make an excellent color palette. However, it’s not ideal if you want to create a calm, soothing atmosphere. These colors are vivid and can provoke strong emotional and physical reactions. Of course, you also need to consider which shades of yellow and red you’ll use together. I’ve shared some suggestions further down.
Why Do Yellow and Red Look Great Together?
If you’re still wondering why red and yellow work well together, here’s a quick explanation. Yellow and red have some fundamental similarities. For example, they are both warmer shades on the color spectrum. But crucially, red and yellow have a high contrast between them. That’s important, as it makes them stand out more against each other. You should always avoid choosing similar shades because they will blend together. It’s even more disastrous if you use low-contrast colors for branding or logos. They simply won’t be legible enough. But the good news is that red and yellow have high contrast. So, they stand out against each other and are easy to see. Plus, they are bold, bright, and make a big impact.
Red and Yellow Work Well as Accent Colors
If you’re not brave enough to go all out, you could use red or yellow as an accent color. Or you could even sprinkle these two colors throughout your design. Red and yellow will work together in small amounts, even if they’re not the focal point. Pair with neutrals, so the brighter colors will stand out and grab your attention.
Experiment with Different Shades and Saturation Levels
Yellow and red are a fresh and winning combination. But that doesn’t mean you can pair any shade of red and yellow together. Instead, you need to think carefully about which shades to use. For example, a citrus yellow won’t work well with a warm, deep red. So, think about the color temperature when pairing colors. That means a cool yellow will complement a cooler shade of red. And equally, a deep mustard yellow pairs well with maroon or scarlet. That’s because these shades are all on the warm end of the spectrum and work well together.
The color saturation level is another vital factor to consider. For example, a saturated, rich red won’t contrast nicely with a pale, washed-out yellow. So, I recommend going for colors with similar saturation levels for a better result.
