The colours that go best with green are pink and red for contrast, as well as blue and yellow for a more harmonious feel. For the calmer shades like sage and olive, white, cream, beige and wood work well, while brass adds warmth to dark green.
Contents
- The short answer: the colours that work best with green
- Green shades: sage, olive, bottle green, emerald and mint
- Green with pink and red: complementary colours and a lively contrast
- Green with white, cream, beige, brown and wood: calm and natural
- Green with blue, yellow and brass: neighbouring colours and warm accents
- How to use green in practice
- Frequently asked questions
- Summary
Green is one of the colours that's easiest to build a palette around, because it comes in so many shades. Some green tones are calm and almost neutral, others are bold and need more thought in choosing their company.
Below you'll find an overview of which colours suit the different green shades, and how you can bring green into your living room through vases, throws and candlesticks.
The short answer: the colours that work best with green
Red and pink are complementary colours to green, because they sit opposite each other on the colour wheel. This gives the strongest contrast, and it's the choice if you want a lively look.
Blue and yellow are neighbouring colours to green and create a more harmonious combination. If you want a calm and natural look, white, cream, beige, brown and wood are good companions, while brass and gold add warmth to the darker green shades.
Green shades: sage, olive, bottle green, emerald and mint
Green covers a broad spectrum, and the undertone determines how the colour behaves in the room.
- Sage and olive are muted tones that feel calm and almost like a neutral colour.
- Bottle green and emerald are deep and saturated, and they work as a statement in the room.
- Mint is light and fresh, and it lifts a room without taking over.
You can combine muted green tones broadly, while the bold green tones work best as an accent, for example in a vase or a throw.
Green with pink and red: complementary colours and a lively contrast
On the colour wheel, red sits directly opposite green. This makes red and pink complementary colours to green, and it's the combination that gives the strongest contrast.
If you want a room that feels lively, pink and green is a safe choice. It works well in small doses, for example a pink vase next to a green one, or a pink throw tossed over a green sofa corner.
Tip:Start small with a pink vase or a pale pink throw next to the green, so you can feel the effect before you go further.
Green with white, cream, beige, brown and wood: calm and natural
Green together with white, cream and beige gives a calm background where green can speak for itself without becoming too much.
Green with brown and wood feels natural, because the combination is known from nature itself. This makes this solution ideal if you want a room that feels down to earth and relaxed.
Green with blue, yellow and brass: neighbouring colours and warm accents
Blue and yellow are neighbouring colours to green on the colour wheel, giving a more harmonious combination than the contrast with red and pink.
For the darker green shades such as bottle green, brass and gold add a warmth that lifts the colour. This is often seen in details like candlesticks or pots.
Find green vases in ceramic, glass and polyresin that bring the colour into the room.
See green vasesHow to use green in practice
You don't need to paint the walls to enjoy green. Green plants are a simple way to bring the colour into the room, and they can be supplemented with green items such as vases, throws and candlesticks.
A colour feels more thought through when it's repeated in a few places in the room, so consider letting a green shade recur in, for example, a vase on the coffee table and a throw on the sofa.
Frequently asked questions
Which colours go with green?
Red and pink give the strongest contrast to green, because they sit opposite green on the colour wheel. Blue and yellow are neighbouring colours and give a more harmonious combination, while white, cream, beige and wood give a calm and natural expression.
Do pink and green go together?
Yes, pink and green are complementary colours and give a lively contrast. It works well in smaller doses, for example a pink vase or a pale pink throw next to the green.
Which colours go with sage green?
Sage green is a muted shade that works almost like a neutral colour, so it pairs broadly with white, cream, beige and wood.
Which colours go with dark green?
For dark green such as bottle green, brass and gold add warmth, while brown and wood give a natural expression. Pink and red can be used as a clear contrast.
Do blue and green go together?
Yes, blue is a neighbouring colour to green on the colour wheel, and the two colours give a harmonious combination rather than a sharp contrast.
Which colour goes with a green sofa?
For a green sofa, you can choose white, cream or beige for a calm expression, wood and brown details for a natural look, or pink cushions and a pale pink throw for contrast.
Summary
Green is a versatile colour to decorate with, because the shade determines which company it thrives best in. Muted tones like sage and olive pair broadly with neutral colours and wood, while the bold tones like bottle green and emerald call for either brass or the lively contrast from pink and red. Blue and yellow create a more harmonious mood as neighbouring colours to green. Feel free to repeat the green shade in a few places in the room, for example in a vase, a throw and a candlestick, so the colour feels thought through.
Read also
- Which colours go together in the home?
- Colour guide for the home
- How to decorate with plants
- Colourful decor
- Which colours go with brown in home decor?
- How do you make a kitchen cosy?
- What are complementary colours? Here's how to use them
- What are pastel colours? Here's how to use them
Build your green palette
Dims Studio has handpicked green vases, throws and candlesticks, plus pink as a counterpoint when you want contrast.
See green vases