Pick an Anchor Color First
Find a color that is “popping” around the room, perhaps in the upholstery, carpet and ottoman—and that you love, of course. There is your anchor and, usually, the color of your largest throw pillow(s). From there, you go to the complementary or analogous colors for the other pillows.
Complimentary colors bring out the best in each other. They are directly opposite to each other on the color wheel. Basic complements are blue and orange, red and green and yellow and purple. But there are many variations. Apple green, for instance, is a complement of rose pink. Light blue a complement of tangerine. Mauve a complement of gold.
Analogous colors are next to each other on the color wheel, which means that they are very similar to each other but different enough to make a quiet, sophisticated contrast. You will find many exciting combinations on the color wheel—ones that you may never have thought of: yellow-green and yellow, blue-green and blue, red-violet and violet.
Use Three Colors
Choose three colors that pop out in the room and use them in your pillows for a cohesive design. Here are three successful color combinations, but only if they work in your overall color scheme:
Dark blue, deep red and pink
Deep red, orange, hunter green
Magenta, violet and golden yellow