Colors That Go With Teal — 10 Shades That Give This Shade a More Modern Feel

Finding colors that go with teal isn't as difficult as you may think. While it's often viewed as a more modern shade, this won't restrict your palette; in fact it will help create a grounded and elevated interior filled with personality. From stand-outs like white, red and pink to neutrals like grey and black, this shade can partner with a variety of colors to create rooms with different ambience. 

'As a very green-blue that’s deep and saturated, teal adds vibrancy to any room,' says Amy Krane, architectural color consultant and founder of Amy Krane Color. 'Because this blue-green shade is associated with calmness, sky, and sea, used alone or with neutrals, it’s almost impossible to create a discordant space.'

If you're ready to experiment and teal and are looking for colors that go with green to create the perfect shade card for your home, these examples will spark inspiration. 

1. Red

(Image credit: Uchronia)

Teal might surprise you among the colors that go with red. The only downside to this pairing is that it could look a bit too festive and Christmassy, but if you choose the right tones, you will be able to create a modern look. Choose rich red clay tones or deep, grey-red colors, and pair them with teal accents. The coolness of the teal will help to soften the warm undertones in the red. 

'While teal can combine with the complement of either its blue or green component to great effect, teal and red, or orange will create a dynamic balance in the room,' says Amy Krane. ' The more saturated the compliment, the more sizzle.' 

'Everywhere the tones shimmer and create a playful and contradicting combination of tones, organic materials and geometric lines,' say Thomas Prost & Jean René Jean, of Uchronia. 'The home has a rich combination of plush textiles and smooth colored glass, forming a chromatic jewel box.'

2. White

(Image credit: AMOO)

Pairing white with teal is a sure bet that's pretty much failsafe if you choose the right shade of white. A few bold teal accessories, wallpaper or even an accent wall can add a pop of color to an all-white space. For the best white paint for interior walls that feels warm, choose a white with a slight yellow undertone. 

'When incorporating teal and white into your design, I recommend applying teal as the primary paint color on all walls,' says Kashi Shikunova, director at Yam Studios. 'The deeper tone inherently induces a sense of calmness. To enhance the ambiance, introduce white to skirtings, cornices, and furniture which will add freshness. Utilize white as an accent, and let teal be the central focal point as this will create a strong design that feels balanced at the same time.' 

'In this project, a new functional teal green stripe helped link the home from end to end,' say Aureli Mora and Omar Ornaque, co-founders of AMOO. 'It starts in the hall and moves to the kitchen and bedrooms. The green stripe also chromatically divides the living room and the dining room, and adds a moment of color to an otherwise white shell.'

3. Beige

(Image credit: Suzanna Scott. Studio credit K Interiors)

When you're decorating with neutrals such as cream or beige, teal is an easy pairing as they can both be quite cool in tone. However, adding a third color into the mix can change the look and feel of an entire room. For a sultry and moody look, add a grey to complement the room's color scheme without overwhelming it. 

'Beige and teal can complement each other, as long as the teal is used sparingly,' says Kristina Phillips, founder of Kristina Phillips Interior Design. 'Being such a vibrant hue, it is important to keep the majority of the space neutral, adding teal into the mix with details  (pillows, art, books). Alternatively, you could color-drench a small room in teal and break up the space with muted accents.'

4. Light blue

(Image credit: Molly Culver. Studio credit Mary Patton)

Just like green, blue too makes the best partnership with teal. Choose a deeper tone of blue to give depth to the interior, and watch how the two tones meld into each other while still holding their own. Or a lighter blue, to open up the space. Teal is a great color that goes with blue and gives the space a watery, outdoor effect.

'For the lounge area in this secondary bedroom, I paired Farrow and Ball Parma Grey with a buffalo check, teal chaise and vintage rug with lots of shades of blues,' says Mary Patton, founder of Mary Patton Design.

5. Green

(Image credit: Charles Cohen Designs)

One of the most obvious colors that go with teal is any shade of green. Since the colors share similar visuals and color values, almost all teal colors go with sage green, forest green, moss green, and more. Plus, the layering allows a third shade to share space in the same room.

'I love rich colors and no colors are richer to me than jewel tones,' says Charles Cohen, founder of Charles Cohen Designs. 'There is something luxurious, yet calming about the intense color depths of green and teals together.'

6. Gold

(Image credit: Joe Fletcher. Studio credit Siol Studios)

Teal can take a whole new life in a variety of spaces. With darker tones, it can create the moodiest, restful, and pensive space. With brighter accents and tones like gold, it can create the most energized space. The color can move seamlessly from rich, traditional design to vibrant, contemporary design. This kitchen color scheme is a testament to how well the color can pair with strikingly opposing tones and create an elegant feel.

'We brought brass into this space to celebrate the threshold moments at the door and between the kitchen and eating space,' says Jessica Weigley, principal at Siol Studios. 'The supporting elements – the white-and-blue backsplash tiles and the maple table – help to tie the brass palette to the deep teal green cabinets.'

7. Pink

(Image credit: Heju)

Pink is one of the most pleasing partners for teal. Avoid using stark white with this combination, instead, when choosing colors to go with pink and teal, opt for soft and chalky hues. These will feed into creating a tranquil and sophisticated look. If you want to add a little more energy, introduce small accents of orange or mustard yellow to boost the mood. 

'Teal is a color that straddles between green and blue – and can also be called peacock blue,' says Kristina. 'I love this hue, and use it frequently in my projects. When pairing teal with other colors, bubble gum pink will create a tropical, palm beach vibe, whereas mixing teal with mauve or dusty pink will evoke a more sophisticated, 70's mood.'

8. Black

(Image credit: Jenifer McNeil Baker. Studio credit Maestri Studio)

To create an eye-catching scene, consider pairing teal with dark blacks shades. In this scheme by Maestri Studio, the living room furniture offsets the black paneling, that acts as a neutral, with other jewel tones used as accents.

It's not always an easy combination to pull off, however. 'Teal and black can be tricky, as black is very severe,' says Kristina. 'I would recommend using very small doses of black, perhaps in a trim, and applying it in a high gloss finish.'

9. Yellow

(Image credit: TN Architecture)

If you want to add some color to an all-teal scheme, tones of ochre and mustard make for a dynamic combination. While teal can sometimes feel quite heavy and rich, it is a great color that goes with yellow, and can bring light and energy into the space. 

'Teal pairs beautifully with chartreuse; a shade that combines yellow and green,' says Kristina. 'Having common undertones of green keep the two colors congruent, but would advise on keeping one color as the dominant – the other as an accent.'

10. Burgundy

(Image credit: Garry Meakins Studio)

For a deep, moody interior, consider teal and burgundy as a combination. These are the ideal tones for a space like a bedroom or a reading room, where the environment needs to be calming, soothing, and pensive.  

'Burgundy with teal can make for a timeless combination,' says Jane Lockhart, founder of Jane Lockhart Design.'These tones naturally complement each other as they sit opposite one another on the color wheel. For a smart look, paint walls a medium-toned teal and add burgundy pillows to neutral furniture if you want to try using this combo together.'

What colors go with teal and grey?

If you're dealing with a dark-toned teal and charcoal grey, the two colors can create a wonderful layering in an interior but can also darken the setting. To add a little visual relief, consider accenting the space with muted pink, coral, or mustard. These will bring out the warmer undertone of teal for a tasteful take on the tropical trend. 

What living room colors go with teal?

To complement teal with other tones in the living room, consider colors such as grey, brown, yellow, metallics, and black. Do remember to not pair too many bold colors together, so your living room doesn't look too mismatched.

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