Logos are all about colors, symbols, graphics, and the emotions they evoke. A right balance of these elements can result in a visual masterpiece that instantly fixates people and is recognized within microseconds. Simple as it may sound, the right balance of colors and design is a tough art to nail. Decades of expertise go into the conception, which involves a design that has all the best colors for logos. If you get this right, you have a logo that creates all the right kinds of buzz and compliments your brand’s ideology.

Getting the best colors for logos

Colors have a very powerful effect on our brains and the colors that you choose are key for the brand image. For this, you need to understand the color psychology.

See, the way humans perceive colors is that they associate a certain emotion with them: red for danger, white for peace, black for grief, etc., are all examples of how different colors impact our psychology differently.

The role of colors in how humans perceive ideas and things also makes them a riveting aspect of marketing.

Does it all sound a bit complicated? Trust me, it is not. It is as simple as getting the salt or pepper right in your food. You might feel overwhelmed by the abundance of colors you see around you. You’d think there are so many colors, and it must be very tough to choose the best logo color combinations. But here’s the catch.

There are only a few basic colors, and many other colors are their extension in the form of hues, shades – light or dark – or tints. So, if you only get the hang of the primary colors and justify their presence in your logo designs, you are good to go.

Remember your elementary school assignment where you’d mix blue and yellow to prepare green and red and yellow to create orange. You’re playing with a few colors and creating new ones just by combining them.

To practically understand what I am talking about, let’s look at the color wheel. The wheel is the most basic tool used in art, design, and color theory to illustrate the relationships between colors. It consists of a circular organization of colors based on their chromatic properties.

The standard color wheel typically consists of 12 hues arranged in a circle, though variations in the number of colors may exist. Each color occupies a specific position on the wheel, and that position impacts how it can be used and the emotions it evokes. The wheel has colors divided into different categories. They are:

Primary colors

Red, blue and yellow are the primary colors. Basically, they are the building blocks of all other colors, as you cannot create them by mixing others. Like cells are the building blocks of human life, they are the most basic element of the vast coloring empire that exists in their world.

Secondary colors

The mixing of any two primary colors in equal parts creates a secondary color. For example, orange can be created by mixing red and yellow, green is a combination of yellow and blue, and purple is the result when red and blue go in together.

Tertiary colors

Mixing a primary and a secondary color next to each other on the wheel produces a tertiary color, like olive green – by mixing yellow and green or teal, which is a mixture of blue and green.

Once you understand this categorization, the next step is to find the right color relationships and their design impact. The position of colors on the wheel dictates their relationships and how they work together. The most common color relationships are:

Complementary colors

These colors are opposite to each other on the wheel and create high contrast and vibrancy (e.g., blue and orange). They can be visually exciting but require careful balancing to avoid being overwhelmed. Complementary colors are used sparingly for accents or call-to-action. It is best practice to use muted tones for a better balance.

Analogous colors

These colors are next to each other on the wheel, creating a harmonious and cohesive feel (e.g., blue, teal, and green). They’re good for conveying calmness, professionalism, or nature-inspired themes.

Warm vs cool colors

The wheel is often divided into warm (reds, oranges, yellows) and cool (blues, greens, purples) colors. Warm colors evoke energy and excitement, while cool colors suggest calmness and stability.

Triadic

Colors that are evenly spaced on the wheel, forming a triangle, such as red, yellow and blue, or green, purple and orange, are triadic. These colors create a dynamic and vibrant look but can also be tricky to balance.

Tetradic

It is a scheme that uses two pairs of complementary colors, creating a rectangle on the color wheel, such as purple and yellow, and blue and orange. These colors offer a rich and complex look but can also be overwhelming and hard to harmonize.

Square

This is a combination of four colors that are evenly spaced on the color wheel, making a square, such as red, yellow, blue and green. These offer a balanced and lively look but can also be challenging to coordinate.

Split-complementary

These offer a variation of the complementary scheme, where instead of using the exact opposite color, you use the two colors adjacent to the first color, such as yellow and violet-blue, or green and red-orange. These offer more diversity and less tension than the complementary scheme.

Beyond the basics

Once you get a hold of basic combinations, there are still options to find other logo color schemes by using more elaborate combinations.

Tints and shades

Lightening or darkening a color creates tints and shades, respectively. They offer variety within a chosen color scheme.

Saturation

More saturated colors are bolder and more intense, while less saturated colors are softer and more muted.

Best color combinations for logo

Creating an effective color combination for a logo involves several considerations to ensure it conveys the desired message and resonates with the target audience. Here are some key factors to consider:

Brand identity

Understand the personality and values of the brand. Colors should reflect the brand’s identity and evoke the desired emotions or associations. For example, red can convey energy and passion, while blue can evoke trust and professionalism.

Target audience

Consider the demographics, preferences, and cultural background of the target audience. Certain colors may have different meanings or values in different cultures, so it’s essential to choose colors that resonate with the intended audience.

Industry and competition

Analyze the color schemes commonly used in the industry and by competitors. While it’s essential to stand out, it’s also important to maintain relevance within the industry to avoid confusion.

Psychological impact

Different colors can evoke particular emotions and perceptions. For example, yellow can signify warmth and optimism, while green can symbolize growth and health. Consider how each color choice will influence the perception of the brand.

Contrast and visibility

Ensure that the colors chosen provide sufficient contrast to enhance readability and visibility, especially when the logo is scaled down or used in different contexts (e.g., digital, print on demand merchandise).

Best logo color combinations 2024

Red and yellow

A red and yellow color combination can evoke a range of emotions and perceptions, depending on the specific shades and context in which they’re used. It’s often associated with excitement, warmth, and youthfulness.

Red and yellow is the best logo color combination for the fast-food industry, where it’s associated with brands like McDonald’s. It’s often used to stimulate appetite and create a sense of urgency or excitement, making it perfect for businesses in the food and hospitality sectors.

Blue and green

The blue and green color schemes for logos evoke feelings of trustworthiness, tranquility, and nature. They are commonly used by banks, healthcare providers, and environmental organizations. These are also two of the best colors for business logos. The internationally renowned chain of banks, Standard Chartered, uses the same colors across its brand.

Orange and blue

The combination of these two colors offers a vibrant contrast. Orange signifies energy and enthusiasm, while blue represents stability and trust. It’s frequently seen in sports-related logos. Fanta uses these colors in their logo as the drink is exciting and is targeted towards the youth. Mozilla Firefox also has its logo on the same.

Yellow and black

This is one of the best logo color combinations for a two-color logo as it offers high contrast and visibility. It’s bold, modern, and often associated with optimism and strength. Brands like Best Buy and Caterpillar utilize this pairing.

Green and yellow

These colors are associated with freshness, growth, and vitality. They work well for eco-friendly brands, health-related businesses, and agricultural companies.

Pink and black

Pink represents femininity, playfulness, and romance, while black adds sophistication and elegance. They are also called luxury colors for logos, are they are often used in cosmetics, fashion, and luxury brands targeting women.

Red and white

Red symbolizes passion, excitement, and energy, while white signifies purity and simplicity. They are timeless classics and can be seen in numerous industries, including technology, food and beverage, and automotive.

Blue and yellow

This combination offers a balance between trustworthiness (blue) and optimism (yellow). It’s commonly used in industries like finance, education, and transportation. The Swedish furniture and home accessories company Ikea has the best two-color combinations logo with blue and yellow shades.

Black and gold

These are the best color schemes for logos that are timeless and luxurious. Black represents sophistication and power, while gold signifies wealth and success. It’s often used in high-end fashion, jewelry, and prestige brands.

Blue and pink

The two soft colors, blue and pink, combine to have a calming effect that is also pleasing to the eyes. Before the company changed its logo in 2022, Baskin Robins had tones of blue and pink in their logo design. The brand is best known for its 31 flavors that it serves to its consumers. The logo was meant to convey the fun and energy of the brand as well as the iconic number 31. The number represents the brand’s belief that the customers should be able to have a different flavor for every day of the month.

Other logo color ideas

If these color combinations do not align with your brand identity or somehow don’t evoke the right emotion, there are other combinations for you to experiment with. For example, the timeless and versatile combination of black and white conveys elegance, simplicity, and boldness. It works well for any industry, depending on the design style.

There are also monochromatic palettes which use different shades of one color to create the desired impact. Using a monochrome palette also gives you the advantage of uniform colors across all your marketing channels and merchandise.

Final Thoughts

The best colors for logos are the ones that convey your brand’s message and help customers recognize your brand. Coming up with the best colors for logo design might seem daunting, but once you get a hold of color psychology, you can experiment with multiple colors based on the emotions you desire to evoke through your logo.