Silver Color – What Colors Match with Silver?

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Ever heard of the saying that every cloud has a silver lining? For every sad day, for every unpleasant experience, for every bad moment that you may be going through, there is always hope, there is always that little silver lining that will take away the dark and let the shine back in.  That is what the silver color does for us in life. Color combinations with silver add sparkle to our lives. Questions such as what colors match with silver or what is a good contrast color for silver are addressed in more detail in the article below. The silver color makes us feel refreshed and new. As we navigate this wonderful world of the silver color, we hope that your spirits see the silver lining when you next have an off day.

The History of Silver

Silver was first mined from the ground in 3000 BC and the actual word “silver” was used as early as the 1400s. The silver color was not used in historical art however, there are a few artifacts that still exist today that show silver pigments in them. Historical paintings tended to lean more toward golds, reds, and blues.

Around the world, color combinations with silver have been used in different ways. In Europe, the color silver white, a man-made pigment that is still used today, was used to paint navy ships and floors of the ships, which coincidentally also helped curb infestations of shipworm and at the same time assisted with the waterproofing of the ships. This man-made pigment was the only color used for easel painting by the Europeans. The silver color in Europe was believed to be a color that destroyed evil elements, hence the popular folklore that a silver bullet can kill werewolves and works as a deterrent for witches and their witchcraft.

In Egypt, gold was used for precious items including many artifacts well documented in the world of archeology. The Egyptians also used silver which represented the bones of the gods and can be found in various religious artifacts. Soapstone, called steatite was used by the Egyptians to create silver sculptures. It was a perfect metal as it was easy to carve and manipulate compared to other metals. The Ancient Egyptians also held silver in high esteem, they even considered gold to be less precious, hence the huge amount of silver jewelry that was made and still used today. In Egypt, the silver color relates directly to the moon and the stars.

The Greeks think of the silver color as the energy from the moon. The Greek Goddess Artemis is silver in color, which is a symbol of strength and energy. It has a purity to it and gives clarity and focus. The Indians, very much like the Egyptians and Greek people, believe that the silver color is directly related to the moon and represents motherhood. The silver color is also the color that fights off negative emotions.

In Chinese culture, the silver color forms part of the white color family, and the symbol is wealth. The color also represents purity.  The Germans consider the silver color to be sophisticated and elegant. The hue of the silver color denotes importance.

A Touch of Silver in Paintings

Most of our famous painters such as Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Rembrandt opted to use earth tones in their paintings. Gray was a popular color for these great artists and when viewing many pieces of their art you will notice the manipulation of gray and white colors which will give off the effect of silver. Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night comes to mind when thinking of the hints of silver in this painting.

Van Gogh suffered deeply from depression and painted The Starry Night (1889) while seeking comfort in the Saint-Paul Asylum in Southern France. The picture reflects the colors he saw when looking at the night sky through his window. The picture is directly related to his emotions and feelings at the time. Blue is the dominant color in the painting however streaks of silver are noticed throughout the turmoil of the changing skies.

Silver Color Meaning

Silver is a metallic color. If you thought that the silver color is gray, you would be correct. The silver color meaning is modern and affluent. The silver color symbolizes wealth and continues to rule as a dynamic color in the manufacturing of modern appliances. The silver color palette brings feelings of calm and enlightenment. Silver color meaning is to illuminate the way.

What Does the Color Silver Symbolize?

It is a well-known fact that all colors have their meaning and in particular, the silver color tends to be ever-changing and is hugely dependent on what context the silver color is mentioned. When talking about the silver color in the techno world, it is deemed to be modern and elegant. So, what does the color silver symbolize? The answer that comes to mind is that it can be seen as a futuristic color, yet at the same time can be viewed as a classic antique color.

They say that the mirror is the gateway to the soul. The reflective and shiny characteristics of the silver color led many to believe that the silver color is also the gateway to the soul. The silver color enables one to speak and act with confidence. Silver is directly associated with wealth. Silver is a feminine color and in color psychology, we are told that the illuminating characteristics of the silver color mean that there is change on the horizon. Silver is a lively and playful color. It is an elegant color that brings glamor to any outfit or room.

The silver color palette is a graceful color. As we age and our hair starts to turn silver, we can be considered to be aging gracefully. The silver color also represents strength and stability. Although the metal is easy to manipulate, it becomes far stronger when combined with other metals.

What does the color silver symbolize? In short, it symbolizes healing and strength as well as purity. Silver is much cleaner than other metals, but beware the silver color also has a sharp and cunning side to it. When a person is described as having a silver tongue, this means they can manipulate others into believing what is being said.

The Effects of the Silver Color

If you are drawn to the silver color palette, you are probably gentle and sensitive. The silver color is generally associated with spirituality. Gold is considered to be a masculine color and silver is the opposite and is seen as more feminine. The silver color is directly associated with the moon and is considered to be a clean color that shows the way forward.  People who are drawn to the silver color palette tend to be introspective and could also be artistic. It is widely believed that success is associated with this color.

The Silver Color Palette

The silver color palette reflects energy and brightness. The silver color palette is highly flexible and because the silver color co-exists with many other colors, it is easy to pair up color combinations with silver. The energy created by the silver color is almost the same as your gray color palette but seen as a much happier color. To get the silver color, multiple shades of gray are mixed with black and white. The silver color is not an actual solid color. It has reflective tones of gray, which can cause confusion when using the silver color in interior design.

How to Mix Silver Color Tones

If you are wanting to paint a feature all in a room, and you were wondering how can you mix silver color tones yourself, this is quite achievable when mixing various color tones. It does take quite a bit of mixing and adding but it is achievable. The best way to get the silver color tone that works for you is by starting to mix shades of gray with black and white. Once you get to the grayish hue you want, simply add an extra and final bit of white to the mix, this will create the silver gradient that you need for a feature wall.

The Silver Color Codes and Silver Hex Code for Mixing Silver

The silver hex code is #C0C0C0. The silver color is made up of equal parts green, blue, and red. More specifically the percentages are, 75.3%, 75.3% green, and 75.3% blue. The HTM color code and the silver color code both carry the same hex code.

Color Combinations With Silver

For the mere fact that the silver color is metallic, it stands to reason that it will pair up very well with other metallic colors. The question of what colors match silver is easily addressed. Almost all metallic colors work well with silver. Color combinations with silver are midnight blue, teal, and forest green, as well as lighter colors such as violet, periwinkle, lilac, and even shades of yellow such as Aureolin.

Silver Contrast Colors

What Is a Good Contrast Color for Silver? If you are looking for the best-contrasting color for silver, you are looking at all your colors that have shine and glitz in them such as jewels like emerald green or shades such as light sea green, and almost all blue colors. Another excellent contrast to the color silver is the use of darker colors. A dark background will draw the eye to the silver straight away and the shine in the silver color will be noticeable very quickly.

Incorporating Silver Into the Home

Silver is a natural color that is easily incorporated into the home. Most modern-day appliances are made in silver and the fixtures in our kitchens and bathrooms are silver, this makes it easy to carry on incorporating this versatile color into the home. Using color combinations with silver will add elegance to a home no matter what the look is that you are aiming for. From the minimalist to the industrial look, adding silver is effortless because it marries up with almost any other color.

When thinking about the mood that you want to create in a home using metal colors, it is important to know that all your different silver color palettes such as nickel and platinum are cool metallics and will help to create a soothing environment. Cool tones give off the feeling of peace and tranquility. Designing with silver can first seem quite intimidating but there are a lot of antique silver pieces that carry different shades of silver that can add a nice contrast to a room that features shiny silver. Shiny and new pieces of silver should be used minimally and not overpower a space as it could make a room look like a vision imagined from the future.

It is important to remember that silver is a family of gray colors. It is a shiny gray and will pair beautifully with any pastel colors such as celadon or pink, as well as very dark colors like indigo.

Colors that resemble the hues of jewels are also a good choice for silver. Some to consider are navy blue, burgundy, and bottle green.

No matter where you are in the world, color will always play a big part in our daily lives. The silver color palette is a universal one and has taken on so many different meanings for different people. The shine and glitz associated with silver will never fade. It is the color of wealth and elegance and brings sparkle into people’s lives. It is a color that gives hope. We trust that all your questions about what is silver, have been answered and that you look at this beautiful color with revived spirits. It is after all one of the very few colors that does exactly that, it revives the spirit. It enhances. It captivates. It is the silver lining. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Colors Match With Silver?

Dark colors form a perfect marriage when paired with silver color. The shine in silver is complimented and emphasized by a dark background color which automatically makes the silver color stand out and draw attention.

What Is Silver and What Is the Silver Color Meaning?

Silver is a shiny metal that is relatively soft compared to other metals. Sterling silver is comprised of 92.5% silver, with copper and other metals making up the rest. Silver does not tarnish easily when exposed to air, because it has sulfur compounds that react with black silver sulfide. The silver color means elegance and glamour. The color silver is associated with wealth and success.

What Is a Good Contrast Color for Silver?

Because of its shine, the silver color creates a good contrast when paired up with other shiny colors, such as emerald green or ruby red. Most blue shades look beautiful with silver as well.

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.