What Colors Go With Gold? – Discover Gold Complementary Colors

This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn a small commission from purchases made through them, at no additional cost to you.

Named after the precious metal, the color gold comes with a rich history that possesses a great cultural significance. Highly prized for not only its rarity and versatility, but also for its beauty, gold has been used for a wide variety of purposes, from jewelry and decorations to currency and technology. Due to its warm and radiant hues, gold’s associations with luxury and prosperity have become cemented within the cultural zeitgeist, and has been revered for its enduring value and luster. Today, we will be going over what colors go well with gold, gold color combinations, and other similar topics, in order to help you better understand the meaning behind this illustrious color, as well as how to best use it in your day-to-day life!

What Color Is Gold?

By observing its rich and vibrant hues, it is difficult to not experience feelings of opulence and grandeur. Often described as having the color of the sun, the color gold provides a shimmer and glow that simply radiates a certain energy. Providing both a timeless and contemporary feel at once, gold typically brings to mind images of splendor and glory, which has historically led to its use amongst noble and royal families to emphasize success, wealth, and high status.

To know what colors go with gold, it is important to first become familiar with the various different shades that can be found within this gold itself. Below, we have compiled a list of the many different shades of gold, some more popular than others, to help you better understand the sheer range and versatility that has been bestowed on this illustrious shade.

As you may be able to tell, the hue behind the color gold can range from a pale, shimmering yellow to that of a deeper, bolder amber. Within this wide spectrum, there is a variety of different shades and gold variations that can be created. For instance, a lighter gold color may be described as having a “lemony” or “buttercup” tinge to it, while richer shades may instead be referred to as having a “honey” or “autumn” burn to it.

One of the more interesting things about the color gold is that it can be easily created by combining it with other colors.

For example, a paler gold hue can be achieved by mixing yellow with a small amount of white, while deeper tones of gold can instead be created by mixing yellow with a small amount of red or orange. In turn, this provides you with a wide range of different gold hues to create and work with, each providing you with its own unique character and charm. However, the specific color of gold that you are looking to create can only be achieved through the use of specific pigments or dyes, along with the correct proportions thereof. Thankfully, we can provide you with our go-to methods of creating our own gold hues with ease.

Gold Color Combinations

When figuring out what colors go with gold, it is important to remember that pairing gold with the right colors can create a visually stunning effect that can help to bring out the unique qualities embedded within this luxurious hue. Thankfully, finding what colors complement gold is no tall order as it pairs well with a wide variety, ranging from rich and deep shades of burgundy and navy to light and ethereal tones such as pink and turquoise.

Depending on the specific tones and shades that you choose to use, your chosen gold color combination can evoke a range of moods and emotions, ranging from regal and sophisticated to fun and playful. More specifically, gold has seen stunning results when paired up with any of the following colors:

However, these are not all that can be paired with gold, as you can quite easily take a step further by trying out more in-depth color combinations that leave your designs with a breathtaking appearance. To do so, you will simply need to take a look at gold’s complementary colors, split complementary colors, triadic colors, and so on. Thankfully, we have covered all of this below!

Gold Complementary Color

For those who are unaware, another way to find out what colors go with gold is to look at its complementary color. This color pair is located opposite to one another on the color wheel. These colors tend to intensify and enhance each other when used, creating a powerful tool when used in art and design-related industries and projects. To that extent, the gold complementary color would have to be blue. This is a color that can easily invoke feelings of calm and serenity. As the color of the sky on a clear summer’s day, as well as the deep waters of the ocean, blue is often associated with intelligence, stability, and trustworthiness.

In the world of fashion and design, blue can be as understated as it can be dramatic, depending on how it is used.

As such, blue is the perfect ying to gold’s yang, providing a cool breeze to the warmth that gold naturally seems to radiate. The deep and rich tones of blue create a perfect offset to the shimmering and metallic shine of gold, providing a visual contrast that is just simply stunning to observe. Whether it’s a sapphire-studding gold necklace or a pair of midnight blue and gold heels, this is a color combination that is sure to exude sophistication and elegance. It is the defining choice for any formal event or special occasion, and is bound to keep heads turning throughout the day or night. So, when looking for a great color combination for gold, never forget blue for an added touch of glamor and drama in equal amounts.

Gold Split Complementary Colors

Another way to find out what colors complement gold would be by looking at its split complementary colors. For gold, this would include a trio of hues that sit opposite one another on the color wheel, creating a vibrant and dynamic color scheme. These colors include sky blue and violet, and are often used in combination with one another in design and fashion to add variety and interest.

The combination of gold, purple, green, and blue can create a mesmerizing contrast of warm and cool tones. Regardless of if you plan on pairing your golden even gown with violet heels and a sky-blue clutch, or decorating your living room with golden accents, sky-blue curtains, and violet throw pillows, this color scheme is sure to create a statement.

Gold Triadic Colors

Gold’s triadic colors consist of three hues that are equally spaced around the color wheel, creating a harmonious and balanced color scheme. These colors include the two colors that sit equidistant from gold on the color wheel, namely turquoise and psychedelic purple. Combining these colors with gold can create a harmonious and balanced color scheme, thanks to the rich and regal tones of purple complementing perfectly with the bright and tropical vibes of turquoise.

When paired with the shimmering metallic sheen of gold, this turns into a striking color combination that will be difficult to turn your sights from. This can be seen thanks to how bright and lively turquoise is, being a color that is full of energy and is often used to add a touch of whimsy and fun to any setting.

Psychedelic purple, on the other hand, is evocative of the trippy and mind-expanding aesthetics of the psychedelic movement, being full of energy and personality.

How to Mix Your Own Gold Color Combination

Mixing your color combination for gold paint can be quite a fun and rewarding endeavor for any artist, as it allows you the opportunity to create a custom color that can be perfectly suited to match your specific project. There are a number of different methods that can be used to mix your own gold paint, each with its own benefits and considerations.

One of these options is to mix a metallic pigment such as copper and bronze with a clear medium like resin or oil.

In combination, this will create a shimmering, metallic finish that is perfect for creating an accurate golden color. To achieve this for yourself, simply start by gradually adding a small amount of your metallic pigment to your clear medium and stirring well to ensure complete dispersion. To adjust the intensity of your gold color, add more pigment or medium as necessary.

Another popular option is to mix a dye or pigment with a golden tone into a paint base, such as acrylic or oil paint. This will work to provide your gold with a matte finish. To recreate this method for yourself, you will need to gradually add small amounts of your dye or pigment to your paint base while stirring to ensure even distribution. Similar to our previous mixture, you can adjust the intensity of your golden tone by adding in more dye or paint base as necessary.

However, if you are just simply looking to create your own golden hues using simple color combinations, then you are in luck.  While this may seem like a fairly difficult color to get right, which can be true depending on your chosen method, it has been generally accepted that yellow, red, orange, and brown paint can create a bold shade of gold when combined in equal parts.

This shade can then be adjusted with more yellow to give a more pale color, with more orange to create a more intense color, more red to create a deeper color, and more brown to create an earthier and muted color.

Regardless of which method you choose, mixing your own gold paint is still a great way to create your own custom color that can be perfectly suited to meet your needs and preferences. Just be sure to experiment with small amounts until you find the perfect mix, and to have fun creating your own unique golden hue!

It is clear to conclude that gold is a sophisticated, luxurious, and glamorous color that provides rich and warm hues that are often associated with wealth and refinement. From its ancient origins as a symbol of power, to its modern-day use in fashion and design, gold has always been, and will likely remain, a coveted and highly sought-after color. Its timeless hues remain ever-present in modern styles and designs, so why not start to incorporate gold into your outfits and projects today? We have also a separate article on how to mix gold color.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Meaning of the Color Gold?

Throughout recorded history, the color gold has been closely associated with concepts such as wealth, success, and prosperity. In fact, countless societies from our past would use gold as a physical form of currency.

What Are Some Common Color Combinations That Include Gold?

When wondering what colors go well with gold, there are quite a few that comes to mind. Some of the most popular colors to pair up with gold would include blue, purple, and green. Pairing either of these colors with gold can each create a completely different look and feel from each other, while still providing undertones of elegance and grandeur.