Complementary colors are a special pair of best-friend colors that sit directly across from each other on the color wheel. Even though they look very different, they team up to make each other look brighter and bolder.

The three main complementary pairs are easy to remember. Red goes with green, blue goes with orange, and yellow goes with purple. Each pair has one warm color and one cool color, which is part of their magic.

When you place complementary colors next to each other, they seem to pop right off the page. A red apple looks juicier on a green leaf, and a blue sky makes an orange sunset glow even more.

Artists use this trick on purpose when they want something to grab your eyes. Sports teams, signs, and even superhero costumes often use complementary colors so people notice them from far away.

But there is a surprise. If you mix complementary colors together instead of placing them side by side, they turn into a muddy brown or gray. So complementary colors shout when they are neighbors but quiet down when they blend.