Shades of Teal – How to Create and Use Your Own Teal Color Palette

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Teal colors are formed by the combination of two colors, green and blue. Teal can be described as a darker blue-green color, almost like that of cyan. Sometimes it is often referred to as turquoise, however, this color has a lighter and more vibrant tone. As with any color, there are many different shades of teal, and these are what we will be looking at further in this article. First, let us look at a few interesting facts about the color teal.

Shades of Teal: A Brief History

The name of the color teal was first mentioned in the early 20^th century, sometime in 1917. The name is believed to originate from observing a certain freshwater duck, which was referred to as the Common or Eurasian Teal. The teal color is noticeable on the side of the duck’s head, close to its eye, and also on some wing feathers. Over time, the name of this duck became the same as the color we all know today. Teal was also a part of the first few colors that were originally used to create web pages in 1987. Some shades of teal have also been used, the general teal-blue or teal-green being popular choices. Teal blue is the foundation on which the Plochere color system was founded in 1948, and was a popular color used by interior designers in the 1950s.

Teal blue was also named a Crayola crayon color from 1990 up to 2003. Teal has also become a color used in different country flags, for example, the stripe in the flag of Sri Lanka. The color of teal has also been popular in certain sports, the color representing certain teams, for example, the Jacksonville Jaguars football team, and the Charlotte Hornets basketball team. Teal has also become the color to represent and bring awareness towards ovarian cancer. When looking at some cultures, teal can be a symbol of many things. For example, the Egyptians saw the color as a representation of faith and truth. Tibetans, on the other hand, see teal as a symbol of the sky, sea, and infinity.

Psychology and Meaning of the Different Shades of Teal

Since teal is a combination of blue and green, it brings both psychological qualities to bear. Blue has a calming and tranquil effect, while green provides peace, healing, and a sense of balance. Teal can be revitalizing and rejuvenating, yet calming and relaxing. The color teal is a bit unusual and does not immediately attract attention. Those who like teal colors, are not impulsive and consider things before acting, and do not take unnecessary risks. They can be reliable and independent. The color is, therefore, reserved, but enjoys its individuality. Teal also represents a clear mind and open communication. On the negative side, sometimes it could also mean those who are drawn to teal are likely to overthink things and may seem pretentious.

Teal can be a great color to use in web design, as it helps stir up feelings of reliability and trustworthiness. Although, using too much teal can turn into feelings of unreliability and aloofness.

Different Shades of Teal

The deeper shades of teal provide a calmer and more sophisticated feel, while brighter shades of teal that create more of a light green provide a more invigorating and clear feeling. When looking at these colors, it can elicit feelings of shallow waters and tropical beaches. Before we have a look at a few teal color names, let us briefly go into color theory and how important this is in understanding how colors work and interact.

Brief Overview of Color Theory

Since teal is a blend of primary blue and secondary green, it is not a primary or secondary color, but rather falls in the group of tertiary or intermediate colors. This means teal and the various shades of teal are situated somewhere in-between blue and green on the color wheel. This wheel is a visual picture of colors and how they are connected and work together.

One of the major qualities of color is known as color bias. This means a color can appear cooler or warmer. Green and blue tend to be cooler colors, however, the shade of green or blue used can affect the final teal color. This is why, when mixing paint colors, you should start from scratch with your primary colors to get a true color blend. So, you should use primary blue and mix it with a primary yellow, which forms a green, and then include more blue until a teal color is reached.

You can then create different shades of teal by adding more white to lighten and blue or black to darken the color.

Another aspect of color theory includes complementary colors, these are colors that are found on opposite sides of each other. When complementary colors are arranged next to each other, they can heighten colors, producing contrasting colors. The complementary color of teal is coral, shades of this color, oranges, and browns. Other terms also used include monochrome or analogous, which are colors next to or close to each other.

Names of Shades of Teal

With the advent of modern technology, with access to computers, and television, there have been thousands of new colors named. To classify these colors, there are various color models. The more well-known color model is the basic red, yellow, and blue (RYB) model that is used mostly for painting.

Another model is your red, green, and blue (RGB) model, which is what you will use when creating websites or what you can see on your computer or television screens. Lastly, is the cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK) model, which is anything that is printed out. Hex codes are also used to identify colors and are easily identified by the hashtag followed by a set of numbers and letters. Below are a few color chart shades of teal with their teal color names. The first is your basic teal color and shows the hex code, as well as other relevant codes.

Teal

This is a deep blue-green or cyan-green color that is a little darker than cyan itself. Cyan is one of the colors used for printing, which forms part of the CMYK color model. Some of the colors that help to make teal stand out include your corals, white, oranges, cream, pinks as well as gold and silver.

Dark Teal

This can be quite a sophisticated color that works well with gold in interior design. This is a simple and refined combination that can help to create a calming mood. The dark teal color can help to create a romantic, moody atmosphere that is conducive to creativity. Dark teal can also be used as a background for lighter images and writing, making a nice contrast.

However, darker teal colors can also come across as a bit pretentious.

Common Teal

The common teal refers to the Eurasian teal duck, which is what the original teal color name comes from. This particular color, when compared to the above teal color with the hex code #008080; you will notice it is lighter in color.

Egyptian Teal

The Egyptian teal color appears closer to green. In Ancient Egypt, various tones of blue and green were used on paintings and as body art. As mentioned, the teal color was seen as something that represents truth and faith.

Tropical Teal

Various shades of blue and green already produce feelings of calmness and relaxation, so a tropical teal might conjure images of oceans, beaches, and palm fronds. This usually a classic color is a bit brighter and can work exceptionally well with a modern décor theme.

Marine Teal

Marine teal is still slightly lighter than your original teal we discussed first among the color chart shades of teal. If you compare the two, marine teal tends to lean more towards your blue family than green.

This color can be used along with corals and limes to create a vibrant and stimulating teen room.

Teal Blue

The teal blue color can be seen as a medium tone teal that leans more towards blue. This is a well-known color, which was first named during the late 1920s. This color was extremely popular in the 1950s as well as the 1960s. Even though it tends towards a cooler blue, it is still not too dark, and can still impart a sense of youthfulness and energy. The color is calming and can easily be incorporated into a décor theme for a study or office area.

Teal Green

This is another well-known color that is a darker shade and has more green. This color is also known as a Crayola crayon color known as Deep Space Sparkle. Teal green can vary a little but is darker than your Pine Tree green colors, and our original Teal color above. This color also comes from the Eurasian teal duck and is a slight variation that can be found on their wing feathers.

Teal green can be associated with things like smooth communication as well as a clear mind. The color is calming as most other shades of teal are and is connected to water and nature. You can pair the color with maroon for contrast, and to enhance its calming abilities, pair it with other greens and shades of blue.

Bright Teal

This color has a brightness and as well as high saturation and is very close to colors like turquoise. The color can work well with other greens and blues, and to add contrast, reddish-orange colors can work. Bright teal can also work well as an accent color, with contrasting colors of white, corals, and even yellow. A lighter and brighter teal is considered a color that encourages creativity.

Steel Teal

This is most definitely a cooler version of your teal color and possesses gray undertones. You can use this to your advantage in many contemporary designs as it is close to your neutral gray colors. The color gives off a sense of tranquility because of the blue, but also provides a feeling of growth from the green.

This color can easily be used in a room where you wish to create an atmosphere of serenity.

Creating a Teal Color Palette With Acrylic Paints

Teal combines blue and green pigments, with a base of white. You can easily experiment with a wide range of teal, to get the correct teal color palette you are looking for. Of course, the best way to do this is to document everything you are doing, take notes, and samples of mixed color so that you can create the exact shade and tone again.  You can try using a lighter and brighter blue, but one of the favorite darker blue colors is known as phthalo blue. The green color you choose should not be overly dark, but more vibrant and closer to something like emerald or Kelly green.

Then you need some white, and if you want to make the teal color brighter, you can include yellow into the mix. You can also choose different shades of yellow to achieve various results. The white helps lighten your mixed color. When mixing your paint, you can begin by creating a base teal color that consists of one part green, two parts blue, and half yellow. From your basic teal color, you can now play around with adding in more blue, or green, white. When adding in more color, always go for small amounts each time.

Decorating Your Home or Office With Teal Colors

Shades of teal can lend a classic look to furniture, walls, and other accessories. You can choose something bold or more subtle, all of which is subject to what you would like to accomplish. The color can easily be associated with the ocean and the tropics due to its blue-green combination. You can also match it with other colors, for example, white or gold can add to the classic look. Of course, your corals and oranges can also add a pop of color for contrast.

The deeper teal colors work with your bolder green colors, while the brighter shades of teal go with your blues and other neutral colors quite well. For example, beige and teal can go nicely together, as the warmer neutral beige can balance the coolness the teal presents. Warm browns can also go with softer shades of teal, while gray and cream bring in a more elegant look. Various teal color palettes can either liven up a room or create a more serene and relaxing atmosphere. Just make sure to balance your colors.

Teal can also be successfully used as an accent color.

For example, a wall or other accessories like pillows, rugs, a sofa, or drapes can bring in some color to neutral rooms without being too overpowering. For a more unique application, think of a teal-painted ceiling in a neutral setting. A few more ideas we can recommend include a few of the following combinations of color.

• Teal and green provide a nice monochromatic look, which is why it is always good to know your color theory.
• A lighter teal with white and gold lends some elegance to any room. However, any shade of teal looks good when used with white.
• When using a lighter and brighter shade of teal with navy, it can add a bit more color to the space.
• To create a fun and bold look, try combining teal and yellow. This should be an eye-catching combination.
• Teal blue is a popular choice when trying to create a rustic look with browns and wood tones.
• Layering teal and pink or purple colors or not adding too much of these colors. Try adding teal accessories to a white and gray or neutral-toned room.

• Consider using a classic black and white theme with added hints of your chosen shade of teal.
• Using teal along with orange can create a more playful and eclectic look, which is nice for a kitchen, or bathroom space.
• A good tip is to use lighter furniture pieces with a darker shade of teal for a nice contrasting look. It should create a comfortable space that helps to showcase the furniture piece.
• You can also change the above idea and use a teal-colored couch in a neutral room design.
• In an office environment, teal can provide a professional and calming space to work in that sparks a feeling of efficiency.

Teal can be an amazing and even unique color and there is an abundance of different shades of teal names to choose from. Shades of teal can be used in art, décor, fashion design, marketing, and the list goes on, you only have to use your imagination.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Teal Colors?

Teal is a combination of blue and green, using properties from both colors. Blue is calming, while green is renewing. Teal can be compared to the color cyan, however, it is a darker to medium shade. When painting, it is a mixture of blue as well as green pigments with white as its base. Color chart shades of teal are many, so you can find any teal color you can think of.

Can Teal Colors Be Warm and Cool?

Teal is a combination of blue and green, and generally, these are seen as cooler colors. However, you can get warmer blues and greens. If you are painting, it is all subject to what paint you are making use of.

What Colors Work With Teal?

Teal works well with quite a few colors. Your reds and shades of orange lend a contrast in colors, along with white. Various tones of blue and green as well as neutral colors go with teal. When designing with teal colors, or any color, you should find a balance so that one color does not overpower all others.

What Mood Does Teal Color Set?

In general, teal is a cool color that encourages contemplation and can help with focusing thoughts. Teal is a color that can help with communication and clarity. The blue provides a calming effect, while the green is refreshing and peaceful. Teal can also be reserved and a bit introverted.

Duncan van der Merwe( Color Theory Expert, Video Editor )

Duncan graduated with a diploma in Film and TV production from CityVarsity in 2018, after which he continued pursuing film while taking on a keen interest in writing along the way. Since having graduated, he began working as a freelance videographer, filming a variety of music videos, fashion and short films, adverts, weddings and more. Throughout this, he’s won a number of awards from various film festivals that are both locally and internationally recognized. However, Duncan still enjoys writing articles in between his filming ventures, appreciating the peace and clarity that comes with it.

His articles focus primarily around helping up-and-coming artists explore the basics of certain colors, how these colors can be paired with other shades, as well as what colors are created when you mix one with another. All while relating these shades to historically significant paintings that have incorporated them into their color palette. As a lover of the arts himself, he takes great interest in the Renaissance era of paintings, an era that has directly inspired many of his favorite films.

Learn more about Duncan van der Merwe and about us.