Near Complementary
Color Scheme

Near complementary color scheme is similar to a complimentary scheme but with more exciting results.

Combining your starting color with the color to the right or left of its Complement will produce more interesting two-color combination.

For example instead of the true complement of violet and yellow try violet and yellow-orange or violet and yellow-green.

Or instead of the red and green complementary color scheme, try red and yellow-green (olive) or light red (pink) and light blue-green (turquoise).

When put together, near complements bring out the best in each other, making both colors look cleaner and brighter than if either were mixed with, say, a neutral gray or a different shade of the same hue.

The following are examples of Near Complementary Color Schemes:

Bracelet by Gloria-Jean Browne

My True Love Was True by Laurie Eller

Simply Stringing Necklace by Gloria-Jean Browne

Feng Shui "Fame Bagui" bracelet by Gloria-Jean Browne

Monarch Butterfly and Cobalt Lampwork Wrist Corsage by Erin of BeadsBeadingBeaded

Freeform peyote necklace
with abalone buttons by Maureen Chin

Using the Color Wheel to Create Stunning Combinations
Being able to use colors consciously and harmoniously can help you create spectacular results when designing bead jewelry.
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