Teal Color Palette: Shades and Tones that Go Well Together

teal is a versatile color that can be used in many ways. When putting together a teal color palette, consider the mood you want to evoke. Teal combines effortlessly with bright whites, warm terra cottas, sunny yellows, soft pinks, classic blacks and charcoals, vibrant reds, cooling mints, romantic mauves, cozy light grays, nautical navies, earthy tans, and cheerful oranges.

Looking at the color wheel provides guidance on which colors naturally complement teal. Located between green and blue on the visible spectrum, teal works well with colors adjacent to it. Red makes a dynamic contrast, white gives brightness, beige creates a moody look, light blue conjures up aqueous impressions, and green delivers natural vibrancy.

Core Color Combinations

When putting together a teal color scheme, a harmonious look often combines teal with two to five complementary colors. Here are some of the most classic color pairings.

Teal and White

Crisp white makes teal pop beautifully. The high contrast creates vibrancy while white's neutrality lets teal take center stage. All-white kitchens and bathrooms gain personality with teal accents on cabinets, tiles, accessories, and linens. Use teal furnishings like chairs and pillows to inject color into minimalist white living spaces. White walls make an ideal blank canvas for displaying teal artworks and decor items.

Teal and Yellow

Cheerful yellow makes an upbeat pairing for teal. With teal's green undertones, the combination evokes natural images like tropical waters, sandy beaches, and sun-dappled leaves. Use teal and yellow together in outdoor living spaces as well as kitchens, kids' rooms, and casual family areas. Try teaming a teal sofa with yellow throw pillows or painting a yellow accent wall behind teal bookcases.

Teal and Gray

From light pewter to dark charcoal, gray in all its shades beautifully complements teal's blue-green vibrancy. The muted neutrality of gray allows teal to take the spotlight while lending sophistication. A gray sectional or area rug grounds a room while teal accessories and wall art pop. Or make a sophisticated style statement by pairing a teal sofa with gray walls and chrome finishes.

Teal and Brown

Earthy brown has an inherent warmth that contrasts beautifully with teal's cool jewel tone. Together they create natural harmony reminiscent of stone, wood, water and sky. Use teal and brown together in living spaces, bedrooms and offices. Try a teal accent wall with brown furnishings and textiles or mix brown and teal decorative items throughout a neutral room.

Teal and Pink

Few color combinations feel as fresh and fun as teal and pink. The pairing brings to mind images of beaches, sunsets and tropical flowers. Use teal and pink to add playfulness to living spaces, bedrooms, kids' areas and outdoor patios. Paint one wall pink and the opposite teal or mix teal and pink decorative items like throw pillows, vases, artwork and accessories.

Creative Color Schemes

While some pairings may seem more intuitive, don't be afraid to get creative with colors that contrast strongly with teal. Vibrant hues like red, orange and purple make exciting accents, as do less expected neutral tones like mustard yellow, olive green and burgundy.

Teal with Metallic Accents

Few colors pop more beautifully against a teal background than metallic silver, gold, copper and bronze. Use metallic finishes on mirrors, lamps, vases, frames and furniture to add shine and sophistication to a teal color scheme. Experiment by pairing teal walls with gold light fixtures or a teal velvet sofa with silver and copper throw pillows.

Teal and Mustard Yellow

Spicy mustard yellow makes an unexpected complement to cool teal. Together they create contrast while sharing green undertones. Use teal walls as a backdrop for mustard yellow furnishings or mix teal and mustard yellow accessories throughout a neutral space. The pairing adds warmth and vibrancy to living rooms, dining spaces, offices and more.

Teal and Purple

Vibrant purple makes a beautiful, jewel-toned pairing with teal. Shared blue undertones unite the colors naturally. Use purple as an accent color with teal walls, furnishings and textiles or paint walls purple and showcase teal artwork and accessories. This luxurious color combination works beautifully in formal spaces like dining rooms as well as more casual spaces like eclectically decorated living rooms and bedrooms.

Home Decor and Interior Design with Teal

Wall Paint Colors Complementing Teal

Painting walls teal creates an eye-catching backdrop for displaying art, furnishings and accessories or showcasing architectural elements. When considering wall colors that work well with teal, look to analogous, complementary or split complementary colors on the color wheel. Green, yellow-green, blue, purple, red, peach, yellow, white, gray, brown all look beautiful with teal.

Furniture and Furnishings Including Teal Tones

From dining chairs to headboards to accent tables, upholstering furniture in teal adds a pop of color to living spaces. Consider decorating strategies as you choose accompanying furnishings. Vivid teal seating pops against white, black or silver furnishings. Muted teal sofas or beds feel soothing with light wood pieces. And teal accents harmonize naturally with wicker, rattan and bamboo. Other complementary furniture colors include red, gray, beige, yellow, blue and pale green.

Teal Accents and Accessories

Incorporating teal through accents and accessories is an easy way to liven up neutral color schemes. Vases, lamps, clocks, trays, photo frames, light fixtures and more come in a myriad of colors to mix and match with teal items. Arrange teal decorative objects on mantels, console tables, bookcases, shelves and side tables for pops of contrasting color.

Fashion and Beauty Looks with Teal

Teal Clothing and Shoes

Vibrant teal clothing makes an eye-catching addition to any wardrobe. When pairing separates with teal garments like dresses, blouses, pants or shoes, look to complementary neutrals and colors. White, gray, black, brown and blue basics create simple chic. Yellow, green, purple and pink feel bright and cheerful. Metallic shoes, handbags and jewelry turn up the glam factor.

Teal Jewelry

When wearing teal jewelry like necklaces, bracelets, rings or earrings coordinate metals and gemstones to complement the blue-green tones. Silver, platinum and white gold settings allow vibrant colored gemstones like emerald, ruby and sapphire to shine. Rose gold, bronze and copper pair beautifully with aquamarine, peridot, citrine, pink tourmaline and amethyst. Combine teal jewelry with neutral, blue, green or purple outfits.

Makeup Looks with Teal Accents

Make bright teal makeup part of your beauty look year-round. Vibrant teal liner and shadow complement all skin tones and makes eyes pop. Maintain the rest of the face neutral for daytime then go bold at night with teal lips or cheeks too. Teal eye makeup pairs perfectly with nudes, mauves, plums, shimmery champagnes and metallics.

Graphic Design and Marketing Using Teal

Teal Logo Color Schemes

Teal logos feel dynamic, invigorating and forward-thinking. When designing visual branding with a teal logo, consider accent colors that aid legibility, convey attributes and set mood. High contrast white logos on teal backgrounds convey clarity while gray projects balance and sophistication. Yellow speaks to vision, positivity and creativity. Green and blue imply growth, calm and trust.