Complementary Colors

• Complementary colors are popular choices for crackle finishes. They're opposite each other on the color wheel, so they provide the maximum amount of contrast to each other. That contrast is what makes the crackle finish stand out. Examples of complementary colors are green-and-purple and blue-and-orange.
  
  

Harmonious Colors

• Harmonious colors are no further than three spaces from each other on the color wheel. That means the colors work well together because they're similar without being in the same color family. Crackling with harmonious colors guarantees the colors will blend nicely while still providing two distinct colors to the crackle finish. Examples of harmonious colors include green-and-yellow and blue-and-purple.
  
  

Monochromatic Colors

• Monochromatic colors are tones of the same color. Monochromatic colors are found on the same spoke of the color wheel and are lighter or darker variations of each other. Monochromatic colors work well with crackle finishes because they add to the antiqued appearance of the piece. This crackle finish often doesn't appear to be two colors. They appear as one color that's faded or worn through the years. Combinations like ivory-and-khaki or navy blue-and-sapphire blue are examples of monochromatic colors.
  
  

Metallic Colors

• Metallic paints are designed to look like gold, silver, copper or bronze. Metallic paints often have a sheen to them that is reminiscent of automobiles. They work well with crackling finishes. They add a richness that implies the piece was once metal or covered in metal. It's not uncommon to see a metallic paint used as the base coat while another color is used on top of the crackle finish. This gives you the look of the metallic showing through while it's calmed by the color of the paint used over it. Ivory works especially well with gold, while black or white work well with silver. Bronze and copper work better with deep colors like dark green or navy blue than with pastels like pink or light green.