Here are some friendship bracelet color ideas and fun color combinations that you can use to create your next friendship bracelet project.

rainbow colors of embroidery thread used to make friendship bracelets

One of my favorite parts of making DIY friendship bracelets is choosing the perfect color palette from my huge collection of embroidery floss. I love trying out new color combinations and friendship bracelet patterns!

But sometimes, it can be hard to come up with new and unique color palettes. If you need a little color inspiration, you’re in the right place. Keep reading for lots of tips.

Friendship Bracelet Colors

When I’m thinking of color combo ideas for friendship bracelets, I try to have a good variety of color hues and tones.

  • Hue is another word for color – red, yellow, green, blue, etc.
  • Tone refers to the intensity or purity of a hue – how saturated and bright it is.

You can make a more dynamic color palette by including one dark color, one light color, and one saturated color in the mix.

If you have too many strings of the same brightness – whether that means all darks or all pastels – it will be hard to tell them apart in the bracelet pattern. Your pattern design can get lost or muddy if you put two similiar colors right next to each other.

Tips for Choosing Color Combinations

Here are some color scheme concepts from art theory that you can apply to your friendship bracelets:

  • Analogous colors: Choose three or more colors that sit next to one another on the color wheel.
  • Complementary colors: Use colors that lie opposite of each other on the color wheel.
  • Monochromatic colors: Choose shades within the same hue or color family.
  • Triadic colors: Choose three colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel. You can use this scheme to create high contrast.

Friendship Bracelet Color Ideas

Here are some embroidery floss combinations to illustrate the color theory concepts we just discussed.

neon color combo idea for friendship bracelets

Bright Primary Colors. One of my favorite ways to create an exciting color scheme is to choose three analogous colors, plus the complement of the middle analogous color.

bright jewel tone color scheme for friendship bracelet

Saturated Jewel Tones. It might be a good idea to mix these more saturated colors with lighter pastels for a more balanced color palette.

ombre color scheme for vsco bracelets

Ombre Colors. This is a good example of an analogous color scheme.

pastel color combos for friendship bracelets

Soft Pastels. Since the colors are on the lighter side, this bracelet would be subtle and have lower contrast.

Color Scheme Generator

My all-time favorite color palette tool is Coolors.co. You can make your own color palette from scratch, or explore trending color combinations.

Friendship Bracelet Color Meanings

Some people believe that colors have different meanings. That said, the same color may have very different associations among different cultures and time periods.

Color symbolism is subjective and changes over time. So, feel free to combine any colors you like!

Here are some common color meanings:

  • Red: passion, good luck, adventure
  • Orange: happiness, joy, excitement
  • Yellow: friendliness, optimism, creativity
  • Green: hope, nature, compassion
  • Blue: peace, inspiration, loyalty
  • Purple: friendship, sophistication, luxury
  • Pink: affection, love, kindness
  • Black: energy, power, confidence
  • Brown: stability, comfort, reliability
  • White: kindness, truth, clarity

Friendship Bracelet Colors for Guys

Some people might say that bracelets for boys should be limited to blue, green, and dark colors. I say, don’t limit your color palette!

You can make friendship bracelets for boys in any color and style that they would like. There are no specific “colors for boys”, just like there are no “colors for girls”.

Choose a color combination that he would enjoy wearing and that you would enjoy making!

Explore More Friendship Bracelet Ideas

If you like making bracelets, you may be interested in the following articles:

What’s Next?

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Leave a comment: We love to hear your feedback. Tell me in the comments below!

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how to pick friendship bracelet colors

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10 Comments

  1. Which type of threads would you suggest?

    1. Sarah Stearns says:

      Hi, I really like using DMC brand embroidery floss.

  2. Where would you buy your thread from?

    1. Sarah Stearns says:

      I usually buy DMC from a store like Joann, if I need a specific color. Otherwise, you can find multipacks of DMC on Amazon. Here’s a link.

  3. I’ve learned more from my first visit to your site than in the 3 months I’ve been learning this craft!! Thank you.

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