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What Colour Goes Well With Green?

Feeling a little green-minded? We can help with that. - by Rhys McKay
  • 02 Aug 2019
What Colour Goes Well With Green?

Say that you’ve just finished browsing for a few ideas for giving your place a little makeover, and you’ve decided on green as a primary motif. That’s pretty good, but it can look a lot better if you add a few colours that complement green.

After all, you’re not planning to get a huge can of light green paint and splashing it all over the room, so here are some other colours that can help bring out the best of it.

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What Colour Goes Well With Green?

Green is a secondary colour that’s created by combining primary colours blue and yellow. Colour theory usually dictates that secondary colours match well with the colours that make them up: so if you want something bold and bright, try pastel blue with lime green. Going for a little subtle or subdued? Mint green with royal yellow.

Island with palm trees surrounded by green ocean
Getty

Another thing to remember about colours that match with green is that green itself is a pretty good base colour – which means that getting another colour that can stand out against a green background can be a safe and stylish choice. It’s why cherry red goes so well with forest green for the holidays, and a little splash of tan can really pop against an olive green background.

Opposites Attract

Colours that go with green can work quite well with both fashion and home decor. A colour wheel is a handy thing to keep around if you’re thinking about redesigning: It’s an easy reference to consult about colours since you can easily find their complements and opposites.

Umbrella colour wheel at the beach
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In this case, what complements green is purple since it’s a shade that’s on the opposite side on the colour wheel. It’s best to pick shades of each colour that contrast with each other: for example, dark green with lavender or light green with violet. Try to mix it up by getting lighter or darker shades for the best contrast.

You can definitely find some good colour combinations by following the guidelines above. But if you want our personal recommendations on what goes with green, here are some picks that you can try:

Green + Gray

If you need a quick pick to match a green carpet or green walls, going with any shade of grey is a good choice. It’s often what colour furniture comes in, and is a good offset to any shade of green. It’s also a chic choice for clothing, especially when it comes to formal outfits.

Lady sitting on grey couch with green cushion and yellow lampshade
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Olive Green + Light Orange

Nothing says “casual army chic” quite like olive green and light orange, especially combined with the right accessories and shoes. When it comes to furniture, green sofas and orange pillows are always a sleek combination that gives any sitting room a splash of colour.

Two TVs on a green and orange background
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Forest Green + Brown

When in doubt, take a few hints from nature. Forest green and brown are well-matched due to them being very calming shades, which is perfect for a lot of bedrooms and living rooms. Having these two colours in a small space can make it feel quite cosy, which suits small apartments.

Modern brown lounge with green cushions
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Lilac Pink + Sea Foam Green

Light and airy is the name of this combination: they’re excellent at offsetting some darker pieces like bed frames or closets or giving more light to living rooms. It’s a good choice for anyone that wants to bring a softer look to any ensemble as well.

Dad vacuuming pink and green lounge while wife and child relaxes
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Emerald Green + Navy Blue

Finally, a tried-and-tested colour combination you should always go with is emerald green and navy blue. Chic and stylish, these beautiful colours both accent and offset the other with their deep yet vibrant tones. If you’re looking to subtly illuminate your outfit of the day or your bedroom, definitely go with this pair.

A portrait of a girl wearing a navy blue shirt in front of a green concrete wall
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Conclusion

Green is everywhere – and sometimes that makes it a little difficult to pick a good complement. And if you ever have a lot of house plants or greenery in your home, you’ll definitely need to design around that. But with a little effort, you’ll find that there’s a wide array of shades that you can mix and match with green for any effect you’re looking for.

RELATED: EXPERT ADVICE: How to decorate with indoor plants the easy way

Rhys McKay

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