Maroon is a rich, deep red color that can make a bold statement in any design. However, pairing maroon with the right accent colors is key to creating a cohesive and appealing color palette. When selecting colors to go with maroon, it’s helpful to understand color theory and how maroon fits into the color wheel.
The color wheel is a tool used by designers and artists to visualize how colors relate to each other. It’s traditionally organized into primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Maroon is considered a tertiary color, meaning it’s created by combining a primary and secondary color. Specifically, maroon comprises red (a primary) and purple (a secondary made by mixing blue and red).
This color combination gives maroon shades of both a warm red and cool purple. When choosing accompanying colors, you’ll want to keep maroon’s dual warm/cool nature in mind. In this article, we’ll explore the best color matches for maroon that create both harmonious and striking color palettes.
Warm Color Pairings
Because maroon leans slightly more towards the warm end of the spectrum with its red undertones, it looks beautiful paired with other warm colors. These include red-orange hues, yellows, browns, and neutrals like cream.
Maroon and Orange
Maroon has a luminance (lightness) similar to shades of orange. This makes orange an ideal accent color for maroon. Opt for red-oranges or terra cotta colors a couple shades lighter or darker than your maroon. This creates a monochromatic pairing that flatters both colors.
You can use maroon as the dominant color and orange as the accent. Try combining a maroon sofa or armchair with orange throw pillows or blankets. Maroon walls would pop nicely with orange artwork or decorative pieces. For fashion and accessories, pair a maroon dress or bag with orange shoes or jewelry.
Maroon and Yellow
Placing maroon next to yellow on the color wheel creates a triadic (three color) palette. The high contrast of these complementary colors really makes them stand out. Use maroon as your base color, then add bright yellow accents for visual interest.
For example, maroon table linens would look lively dressed up with yellow napkins and flowers. On a website, maroon headers and footers would contrast nicely with yellow buttons or highlighted text. In fashion, maroon bottoms like pants or skirts work with yellow tops for a vibrant outfit.
Maroon and Brown
Earthy browns are another versatile pairing for maroon. Go for light browns like beige, camel, or tan to complement maroon’s darkness. Dark browns like chocolate, coffee, or mahogany also create sophisticated contrast.
In home decor, display maroon throw blankets or pillows on brown leather furniture. Use maroon as an accent wall color against brown cabinetry or flooring. For a rustic touch, clad a maroon sofa with brown pillows and wooden accents. In clothing, blend maroon pants or jackets with brown boots, belts, and handbags.
Maroon and Cream
For a soft, neutral pairing, cream is a perfect match for rich maroon. The ivory hue lightens up maroon’s boldness. It also creates a monochromic scheme since cream and maroon have similar saturations.
Incorporate maroon and cream through furniture like a maroon leather armchair next to a cream loveseat. Use maroon curtains or area rugs to offset creamy walls or carpet. For events, combine maroon tablecloths with cream napkins and chairs. Or, wear maroon dresses or sweaters over cream tops for an elegant duo.
Maroon and Gold
For a glamorous, luxurious color scheme, you can’t go wrong with maroon and gold. Metallic gold has both warm and cool properties that complement maroon beautifully. Pair dark maroon hues with a shimmering gold for bold contrast.
Incorporate these rich colors through home accents like maroon sofa pillows and gold throw blankets. Or, display maroon vases and candles holders atop gold table runners. For a modern twist, paint one wall maroon and use gold accents like frames and lamps. For fashion, accessorize maroon outfits with gold jewelry, shoes, belts, or handbags.
Cool Color Pairings
While warm colors complement maroon’s red side, you can also accentuate its purple tones with cool color pairings. These include blues, greens, grays, and icy tints like light blue and pink.
Maroon and Royal Blue
The classic combination of purple and blue translates beautifully to maroon and royal blue. These two deep, jewel-toned colors complement each other perfectly. Use maroon as your base and royal blue for accents to create an elegant, unified look.
For example, adorn a maroon living space with royal blue pillows, rugs, and artwork. For a modern office, pair maroon walls with royal blue desk or chair accents. In fashion, build your outfit around a maroon dress or top with royal blue shoes, bag, or other accessories.
Maroon and Olive Green
Earthy olive green has enough yellow undertones to pair nicely with maroon. The two colors have a similar darkness level that helps them look cohesive. Olive green also brings out maroon’s subtle green hints.
Use this color duo for a nature-inspired space. For instance, combine a maroon sofa or armchair with olive green throw pillows. Paint one wall maroon and hang olive drapes and decor. For a dining space, use maroon table linens with olive green plates and centerpieces.
Maroon and Gray
For an easy, versatile pairing, accent maroon with neutral grays. Light grays like silver create contrast, while darker charcoal grays match maroon’s tone for a monochromic effect. Gray’s muteness helps tone down maroon without dulling its impact.
Incorporate maroon and gray through home furnishings like a maroon sofa with gray throw blankets. Or, paint a maroon accent wall against a gray base. For fashion, wear maroon tops with gray pants, layer a maroon jacket over a gray dress, or pair maroon heels with a gray bag.
Maroon and Pale Pink
Soft pink is another pretty, unexpected color match for maroon. It lightens up maroon’s darkness and brings out its pinkish-purple tint. Pair bold maroon with whisper-light ballet pinks.
Use this duo to create a lovely, feminine look. For example, display maroon vases with pale pink flowers. Or, dress up a little girl’s room with maroon walls and pale pink decor. For outfits, coordinate maroon dresses, coats and pink blouses, scarves and shoes.
Maroon and Light Blue
On the cooler end of the spectrum, icy blue is a high-contrast accent color for rich maroon. Periwinkle, powder, or baby blue tones work best to really make both colors pop. Use maroon as the main color and blue for accents.
For a vibrant living space, adorn a maroon sofa or rug with light blue pillows and decor. In a bathroom, pair maroon towels and shower curtain with blue bath accessories. For fashion, match maroon pants, skirt or dress with a light blue blouse or cardigan.
Creating Color Harmonies
When combining maroon with additional colors, it helps to follow color theory principles to create balanced, harmonious palettes:
– Complementary colors like yellow and blue create high contrast
– Analogous colors like red-orange and purple are adjacent on the wheel, creating harmony
– Triadic colors like maroon, yellow, and blue form a triangle for visual interest
– Monochromic palettes use tints, tones, and shades of maroon for unified depth
– Neutral colors like gray, cream, and brown tone down and support maroon as the accent
Here are some examples of harmonious maroon color schemes:
| Scheme | Color Palette |
|---|---|
| Complementary | Maroon – Yellow – Blue |
| Triadic | Maroon – Orange – Teal |
| Analogous | Maroon – Burgundy – Eggplant |
| Monochromic | Maroon – Pink – Lavender |
| Neutral | Maroon – Gray – Cream |
Most Flattering Pairings for Maroon
Some exceptionally striking and harmonious color partners for maroon include:
– Warm accent colors: Orange, yellow, tan, brown, gold
– Cool accent colors: Royal blue, gray, olive green, pale pink
– Neutral and metallic colors: Cream, silver, gold
– Complementary colors: Yellows, blues
– Analogous colors: Reds, purples
These colors complement maroon in different ways. Warm colors enhance its red side, while cool colors accentuate its purple tones. Light neutrals and metallics contrast with maroon’s darkness. Complementary and analogous colors on the wheel create balanced tension.
When in doubt, refer to a color wheel to identify colors adjacent to, opposite, or in harmony with maroon. This helps build palettes with visual interest, depth, and style.
Using Maroon Artfully
Maroon is bold, elegant, and versatile enough to stand on its own. But thoughtfully chosen accent colors can really make it shine. Here are some final tips for artfully working with maroon:
– Use maroon as the dominant color and accents sparingly. Too many competing colors dilute maroon’s impact.
– Vary maroon’s depth by pairing dark maroon with light accents and vice versa. Contrast creates interest.
– Repeat accent colors throughout a space for cohesion – i.e. maroon walls and orange pillows, prints, flowers.
– Accessorize maroon outfits with shoes, bags, jewelry in one or two coordinating colors.
– Limit accents to two or three coordinated colors. Too many looks busy.
– Refer to color meanings – maroon evokes richness, orange is cheerful, pink is romantic. Combine colors that evoke the desired mood.
With the right accent colors, maroon can take on many personalities – from bold and intense, to subtle and refined. Use color theory principles and your own aesthetic preferences to make maroon shine. Soon you’ll have a go-to palette for creating stylish, cohesive designs.
Conclusion
Maroon is an extremely versatile color that can be paired with a wide range of accent colors to create beautiful and harmonious palettes. Both warm accent colors like orange, yellow and brown, and cool accent colors like blue, green and pink complement maroon beautifully. Neutrals like cream, gray and white also pair nicely with maroon to tone down its boldness.
When creating a maroon color scheme, follow principles like complementary, analogous and triadic colors to ensure visual balance. Use maroon as the dominant color and accent colors sparingly for maximum impact. With the right complementary hues, maroon can take on many stylish personalities for home decor, fashion, websites and more. Understanding color relationships is the key to unlocking maroon’s full potential.
