What Are Analogous Colors And How Are They Used?

Analogous colors are a group of three colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel. They are similar and coordinate well.

Interior decorators often work with analogous colors to create cohesive designs. Our objective here is to show how analogous color schemes function and how you can apply them to your home or office. 

Analogous colors

It doesn’t matter which end of the color wheel you’re using as long as the colors are neighbors, they’re analogous colors. Whether it’s red, red-orange, and orange or violet, red-violet, and red, grouping these like-minded tones will create an interesting, harmonious, and monochromatic look for your living spaces. 

What Is Color Theory?

Color theory is the idea of combining tints, shades, and hues based on the color wheel. A color wheel is a reference tool illustrating primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Designers, for example, use the color wheel to combine colors. The color tool shows how one color relates to others.  

What Does Analogous Color Mean?

To understand the idea behind analogous colors and how they’re categorized, you should know what the word “analogy” means. According to Merriam-Webster, an analogy is a “comparison of two otherwise unlike things based on the resemblance of a particular aspect”

Analogous colors are color scheme groups whose shades are similar. One example of an analogous color scheme would be blue, green blue, and green.  One shade is the dominant color, and the other colors are used as accent colors, for example. 

Best Interior Analogous Color Schemes 

Here are the most popular analogous color schemes in North American households.

Red, Red-Orange, and Red-Violet

Red, Red-Orange, and Red-Violet

When working with analogous color schemes, combine warm hues to create a relaxing bedroom vibe. It’s hard not to want to take an afternoon nap just to enjoy your bedroom’s colors.


Yellow, Yellow-Orange, and Orange

Yellow, Yellow-Orange, and Orange

For a bright and retro look, see how this trio of vibrant colors defines this room. When working with a yellow orange color scheme, choose one color to be the dominant shade. In this example, the two colors are split 70/30.


Blue-Green, Green, Yellow-Green

Blue-Green, Green, Yellow-Green

Smooth and refreshing, this trio of colors sits well on the color wheel and appeases the eyes of all potential visitors. There’s a lightness and brightness about these shades that make it a happy space without being too harsh on the eyes.


Blue, Blue-Violet, Violet

Blue, Blue-Violet, Violet

Cool and subdued, this living room is super trendy and a bit feminine in spirits. And everything works so well together because of the colors’ positioning on the color wheel and the complimentary undertones. You could also try a violet-red for something more dominant. 


Red, Red-Orange, Orange

Red, Red-Orange, Orange

The furniture pieces are slick, contemporary, and retro. The colors in this room complement each other and add brightness and personality to make the house shine.  {susandianaharris}.


Green, Yellow-Green, Yellow

Green, Yellow-Green, Yellow

This is a prime example of how analogous color schemes can enliven your living spaces. Using different shades of yellows and green, this living room looks like it’s ready for springtime.  (jeffandrews).


Blue, Green-Blue, Green

Blue, Green-Blue, Green

When working with an analogous color palette, as you’ll notice in this example, it helps you stay focused. The mix of blue and green adds an organic, natural beauty to create a friendly living space.


Yellow Green, Yellow, Light Orange

Yellow Green, Yellow, Light Orange

One of the reasons for using the color wheel to pick an analogous color scheme is that it can show you which colors match. Look at this living room, which combines a lighter green with a soft yellow wall and pops of light orange color. 


Pastel Pinks and Purple

Pastel Pinks and Purple

Colors don’t have to be stated as “red” or “purple” – you can draw in shades and use pinks or pastels. Pinks, lavenders, and mints are useful when you partner colors on the color wheel. Just take a look at this handful of beautiful, analogous-inspired rooms.


Pastel Yellow Green

Pastel Yellow Green

Although this mix has appeared on the list before, it looks different in muted pastels instead of bright colors. This room looks much calmer with the lime green swapped out for a shade that is pastel. The pastel blue green chairs give the room a soft, almost comforting look that can’t be achieved when using solid colors.


Use Metals

Analogous colors

If you pick brighter colors from the wheel for your room, like purple, purple-red, and red, this would leave you wondering how to incorporate the colors without overdoing it. Because they are bright, it’s better to use minimalistic furniture pieces made of metal with white or black accents.


Uneven Color Distribution

Uneven Color Distribution

The homeowner in this example chose to go with a purple-blue, blue, and blue-green analogous color scheme. You’ll notice they went easy on the blue color splashes. The purple-blue chairs stand out against the blue-green armchair. The rest of the room is neutral, so it’s not too dark.  


Wooden Neutrals

Wooden Neutrals

When it comes to using the color wheel to create an analogous color scheme in your home, it can be difficult to find furniture that fits. This is especially true if you pick to go with a scheme like blue, blue-violet, and purple, mainly because they just don’t make much purple furniture.

When this is the case, don’t be afraid to grab a brown or tan coffee table—it will fit in just fine.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ

What Are The 3 Rules For Grouping Analogous Colors?

An analogous color scheme is three colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel. The first color is the dominant color, knows as the primary color. Next, you’ll have a tertiary color or secondary color. And the third color is either a blend of the first two colors or an accent color. 

How Do You Pick A Color Scheme For Your Workplace?

When choosing colors for your office space, start with a neutral shade. Do not balance your colors, which means don’t use them evenly. Also, use the colors of your company’s brand.

How Do You Identify Analogous Colors?

Choose a shade on the color wheel. Next, pick three colors to the left or right of it. When combined, the four colors are analogous. It might sound complicated, but it’s pretty easy.

What Do Analogous Colors Do?

When you want to achieve an interior monochromatic design, you’ll need to use analogous colors. Pick a particular color and make that your main color.  A monochromatic color scheme uses a base hue and then mixes it with other shades, tones, and tints.

What Does Color Value Mean?

Value refers to a color’s degree of lightness or darkness in how it relates to black and white. To add value to a color, you increase its whiteness level, and to decrease its value, add black. High-value colors, like yellow, will have more shades than tints. However, with low-value colors like green, you find it has more tints than shades.