The dominant colors of the Forbidden City are yellow and red. Notably, only the royal family and the emperor were allowed to use these two colors in buildings and palaces. Commoners and officials were strictly prohibited from using them.

 Yellow: In Chinese culture, yellow symbolizes wealth, supreme power, and was exclusively reserved for the royal family. It is most prominently seen on the roof tiles, decorative objects, and the imperial throne. Yellow also represents "Earth", which the Chinese regarded as the fundamental source of all things in the world. Therefore, the imperial palaces had to be predominantly yellow.

 Red: In Chinese tradition, red symbolizes good fortune and happiness. It is used extensively on wooden pillars, city walls, and palace gates.