Color in UX design is far more than a decorative element—it’s a strategic tool that influences how users perceive, interact with, and respond to digital products. While many designers are well-versed in primary and complementary color schemes, the split complementary color scheme remains a powerful yet often overlooked approach that can significantly enhance user experience.
Whether you're creating a landing page, crafting an app interface, or developing an e-commerce platform, the right color palette plays a critical role in usability, engagement, and conversion. That’s where split complementary colors come in.
This guide explores one of the most effective color strategies in visual design—what split complementary color schemes are, how they work, why they matter in UX, and how to use them effectively to elevate your product’s visual impact and performance.
What Is a Split Complementary Color Scheme?
A split complementary color scheme is a type of color harmony that involves one base color and two colors that are adjacent to its direct complement on the color wheel.
Let’s break it down:
1) Start with a base color (e.g., blue)
2) Find its complementary color (e.g., orange)
3) Then pick the two colors next to that complement (e.g., red-orange and yellow-orange)
The result? A vibrant yet balanced trio that offers strong contrast without the harsh tension of a pure complementary pair.
Split complementary colors are ideal for designers who want to create dynamic, engaging visuals while maintaining aesthetic balance and visual comfort.
Why Use Split Complementary Colors in UX Design?
In UX design services, color plays a critical role beyond aesthetics—it directly impacts usability, accessibility, and the emotional connection users have with a product.
Here’s why split complementary colors work so well in UX:
1. Balanced Contrast You get the contrast of a complementary scheme, but with more nuance and less visual strain. This balance is great for call-to-action buttons, highlights, and navigational cues.
2. Visual Interest Without Overload Using three colors from different parts of the color wheel creates a visually engaging experience without overwhelming the user.
3. Strong Visual Hierarchy Perfect for separating content areas or guiding users through an interface—ideal for websites, apps, and software dashboards.
4. Brand Consistency + Flexibility It allows you to stay on-brand while giving flexibility to highlight key interactions or elements.
5. Works Well in Light and Dark Themes Split complementary color schemes adapt beautifully to both dark and light modes—a must-have for modern UX.
How to Create a Split Complementary Color Scheme
Creating a split complementary palette is easier than you think. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
Step 1: Choose Your Base Color Start with your brand’s primary color or a tone that matches your product’s personality.
Step 2: Find the Complementary Color Use a color wheel tool (like Adobe Color or Coolors) to identify the direct opposite on the wheel.
Step 3: Select the Two Adjacent Colors Instead of using the exact opposite, pick the two neighbors of the complementary hue.
Step 4: Adjust Saturation and Brightness Tweak the tones to ensure accessibility and visual harmony.
Step 5: Test in Context Use your chosen palette in wireframes or mockups. Make sure it works well with text, backgrounds, and interactive elements.
Split Complementary Colors Examples in UX
Let’s look at a few real-world split complementary colors examples used effectively in UX:
1. Blue Base
- Base: Blue
- Splits: Yellow-orange and Red-orange
- Used in: SaaS dashboards, fintech apps (blue = trust; orange = action)
2. Green Base
- Base: Green
- Splits: Red-purple and Red-orange
- Used in: Health apps and eLearning platforms (green = growth; red-orange = motivation)
3. Purple Base
- Base: Purple
- Splits: Yellow-orange and Yellow-green
- Used in: Creative portfolios and fashion eCommerce (purple = luxury; yellow = energy)
Tools to Explore These Schemes:
- Adobe Color
- Coolors.co
- Paletton
- Figma Plugins (Color Wheel, Color Designer)
Best Practices for Using Split Complementary Schemes in UX Design
1. Use One Dominant Color Let your base color do the heavy lifting. Use the two split complements as accents.
2. Ensure Accessibility Check contrast ratios using tools like WebAIM or Stark. Color blind users should be able to navigate with ease.
3. Keep Neutrals in the Mix Gray, black, white, or beige can help balance strong hues and keep things clean.
4. A/B Test Your Color Choices Run usability tests to see how users respond. Sometimes the boldest choices win!
5. Design for Both Light and Dark Modes Ensure that your color palette adapts well to theme switching.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
✖ Overusing All Three Colors Equally One color should dominate; the others support.
✖ Ignoring Accessibility Contrast and legibility matters more than visual flair.
✖ Not Testing Across Devices: Colors can appear differently on mobile vs. desktop. Always test responsiveness.
✖ Choosing Oversaturated Shades Dial back on brightness to keep the experience easy on the eyes.
How UX Design Services Use Split Complementary Colors
Professional UX design services often use split complementary schemes to:
1) Build intuitive navigation
2) Highlight user interactions without overwhelming
3) Create emotion-driven onboarding screens
4) Maintain consistent branding while introducing contrast
Design agencies understand the psychological power of color and use it strategically for conversion and retention.
If you're looking to work with a UX design agency, ask to see their color system strategy—it can reveal how thoughtful their design process really is.
Final Thoughts
Color plays a pivotal role in the success of any digital product, and the split complementary color scheme remains one of the most effective yet underutilized strategies in UX design.
Whether you're refreshing your brand identity, redesigning a high-converting landing page, or developing an intuitive product interface, this approach delivers the right mix of contrast, clarity, and cohesion to elevate the user experience.
FAQs About Split Complementary Color
Q:What’s the difference between complementary and split complementary color schemes?
A:Complementary uses two colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel, creating high contrast. Split complementary adds nuance by choosing two colors adjacent to the opposite, offering more balance and less visual tension.
Q:Can split complementary colors work for mobile apps?
A:Absolutely! They’re perfect for mobile UIs because they provide strong contrast while keeping visual harmony, which is key for small screens.
Q:Is this color scheme good for branding?
A:It allows brands to stay consistent while using accent colors to draw attention to CTAs, alerts, or key messaging.
Q:Are split complementary color schemes accessible?
A:They can be, as long as you check color contrast and avoid combinations problematic for color blindness. Tools like Stark and WebAIM help ensure compliance.
Q:Can I use a split complementary scheme with minimalist design?
A: Definitely. Minimalist doesn’t mean monochrome. Using one dominant color with subtle accents fits perfectly into a minimalist UI design.
