Any color will look better than brown. Certain colors will give different effects. Warm colors such as red, yellow and orange, bring a sunny feeling to a cool shady area. Cooler colors such as blue, green and violet bring a soothing coolness to a hot patio or walkway. Complementary colors provide eye-catching, dramatic plantings, he says.
Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel.
These might include planting blues with oranges, purples with yellows, or reds with greens. Some of my favorite designs include complementary plantings. Harmonious colors are next to each other on the color wheel, Goodspeed explains. Examples would be combinations of red with purple or orange, blue with purple or green, yellow with green or orange, or orange with yellow or red. These plantings are not as vivid but have a more softening effect.