What Colors Go With Green? – Green Color Combinations
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Green is the color of nature, rebirth, and life. Green has been synonymous with calm and serenity since the dawn of time and will remain a popular color for centuries. When taking a walk to the beach, you are surrounded by nature in all its glory, and while the blue of the sea may capture your attention, the path that you walk will be littered with green hues that combine so well with each other that you are left feeling revived and re-energized. As we explore this beautiful color in more detail, we will discover the colors that go well with green, as well as have a look at the green complementary colors.
Table of Contents
What Color Is Green?
When blue and yellow are mixed together, you will create green. There are many variations of green and depending on what green hue you are looking for; the mixing process will determine the final outcome. For instance, if you put more yellow into the mix and add a small amount of blue, you will end up with a lime green.
Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
Green | #008000 | 100, 0, 100, 50 | 0, 128, 0 |
Green Color Psychology
Green is considered to be down to earth, or it represents new beginnings. In a word, it is the color described as “growth.” It signifies renewal and abundance; however, on the other side of the spectrum, it can also mean envy or jealousy culminating from a lack of experience. Let’s see what the color psychology behind the color green is.
Green Is the Color That Reflects Our Mental Well-Being
In the global mental health awareness groups, green ribbons are used to display mental health issues. In the early 1800s, green was a color used to label those people who were considered to be insane.
The Green Color Is Directly Related to Both Nature and Money
On the one hand, green means fertility; on the other, it can mean greed or envy. Spiritually, the green color represents hope and all positive things connected to your well-being. If you are drawn to green, you have a cheerful disposition and a deep sense of belonging. The color resonates directly with nature, birth and death transformations, and new beginnings.
The Biblical Meaning of the Color Green Symbolizes Resurrection and Eternal Life
This is because it is the color of vegetation. Green was thought to be the color that belonged to spirits and fairies, and there are many superstitions around the color, and many actors today still believe the color green brings back luck to stage performances.
Some Technical Terms About Color
Before exploring the brilliant world of green, we should understand what color theory is. We should also know a few other technical terms, such as complimentary, triadic, and analogous colors. Having this information at our fingertips will help us decide on the best living space colors.
The Theory of Color
The theory of color is explained as being both the science and the art of using color. We know that humans perceive colors differently and the visual effects of how colors mix and match or even contrast with each other. The color theory involves the message we get from color when looking at it and the methods used to try and replicate that color.
In the original color wheel established in 1704, we know that Sir Isaac Newton experimented with music correlations and notes. He also experimented with color theory and as a result, discovered that there were only three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. Every other color featured on the color wheel derives from these three primary colors.
Color theory is the rules and guidelines designers use to communicate visually appealing color schemes. When a designer looks at a living space where color needs to be decided upon, they will use the color wheel and could refer to their knowledge of culture and human optical ability.
Complementary Colors
When we combine or mix pairs of colors together, these colors are known as complementary colors. As the colors are mixed, they cancel each other out and a grayscale color such as white or black is produced. When the two colors are placed next to each other, they will create the strongest contrast of the two colors. You can also call complementary colors, “opposite colors”.
The green complementary color is magenta. Magenta is a color that is made up from using equal parts of red and light blue. It is the direct opposite color of green on the color wheel.
Split Complementary Colors
When there is one base color and two secondary colors that are mixed together, you create “split complementary colors. Instead of using a complementary color, two colors that are placed symmetrically around it on the color wheel can be used. The base color would be the main color and the secondary colors would be used for highlighting purposes and accents. The split complementary color for green would include red-orange and red-violet.
Definition of Triadic Colors
Triadic colors are those colors that are evenly spaced out on a color wheel. You will also find that black and white may be present within a triadic harmony. A well-balanced triadic color scheme will focus on one dominant color and the other two evenly spaced colors will serve as accent colors. The most basic triadic palettes are the primary colors, blue, red, and yellow, and the secondary hues would be orange, purple, and green.
Analogous of Green
In the traditional sense, the analogous color palette would have three colors, but it could go to four or five colors. Analogous colors are used in the interior design world to add temperature to a room, for instance, a warm analogous color palette can carry four colors such as red, red-orange, orange, and yellow-orange. A cooler palette will be created when you include blue, blue-green, green, and yellow-green.
What Colors Go With Green?
Interior decorators love working with green color combinations, and the question of what goes with green or what colors go well with sage green is often asked. We will look at some of the favorite combinations you may want to consider when you next have the opportunity to redo a space in your home. In color theory, the green color sits in the center of the color wheel, which means that you can combine the green color with both warm and cooler hues; there are a few factors to take into consideration, such as thinking about a base color or the undertone of the green. Let’s look at what colors go with green and the trendy combinations that will help your choices.
Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
Green | #008000 | 100, 0, 100, 50 | 0, 128, 0 |
Green and Green
Green and green may be the most obvious place to start because combining green and green does make a very welcoming palette. The question of what color goes with light green is expected, so let’s look at the greens that complement each other. Sage, chartreuse, mint green, and pistachio shades of green work well in interior design. Why not consider leaving three walls white and painting an accent wall black in a dining room? Using these two colors as your base will allow the different greens to pop around the room. The table and chairs should be neutral, which will add natural warmth to the room but will also be a contrasting color. Beautiful green works of art could be placed on the stark white walls, subtly making the room pop.
Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
Sage | #87AE73 | 22, 0, 34, 32 | 135,174,115) | |
Chartreuse | #7FFF00 | 50, 0, 100, 0 | 127, 255, 0 | |
Mint Green | #3EB489 | 32,0,33,0 | 162,228,184 | |
Pistachio | #93C572 | 25, 0, 42, 23 | 147, 197, 114 |
Green and Red
The color combination of green and red sounds a bit daunting, but you would have seen this color combination when you look at Christmas trees during the festive season. The mix sounds ominous, but it indeed does work, and it makes a statement at the same time. You may have thought, well, what color goes with dark green, and the answer is simply “red”?
The color combination would work well in a sitting room where the walls are painted a soft neutral color, and showing off your dark wood furniture will add the perfect backdrop for these two colors. To bring warmth and a bit of contrast into the room, look at hanging big mirrors on the walls and placing a few metal objects strategically around the room. Try combining forest green with a Bordeaux color for a classy look and feel.
Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
Forest Green | #228B22 | 76, 0, 76, 45 | 34, 139, 34 | |
Bordeaux | #5F021F | 0, 98, 67, 63 | 95, 2, 31 |
Green and Yellow
The question of what colors go well with sage green or what colors that go well with olive green is, in fact, easy to answer. Yellow and green are adjacent on the color wheel, so it stands to reason that either pistachio or olive green will work as a great combination with lemon yellow. Using these two colors in a bathroom would be ideal. It is a modern look, and against the stark white of a bathroom, the colors will soften the white dramatically.
Yellow is a color that brings energy into a space, and by pairing it with soft sage green, the bathroom will have added warmth. Towels, pot plants, and other accessories in the bathroom will be the accent pieces against the white base color.
Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
Pistachio | #93C572 | 25, 0, 42, 23 | 147, 197, 114 | |
Olive | #808000 | 0, 0, 100, 50 | 128,128,0 | |
Lemon Yellow | #FFF44F | 0, 4, 69, 0 | 255, 244, 79 |
Green and Blue
In interior design, the rule is to break the old saying that the colors blue and green should not be seen together. Let’s look at how quickly we can disregard ancient myths. To get this look right, you need to look at both colors’ color tones, as the paint’s tone will determine whether they can live in harmony or continue fighting each other. So let us see what color goes with dark green.
Green and blue are unique pairings, but the two colors complement one another. The kitchen could be the best place for this color combination. If the lower kitchen cupboards are painted in a beautiful dark midnight blue, adding bright jewel-colored greens such as emerald around the room will work wonderfully as accent pieces and brighten the room. The color will be bright and fun, but the dark blue cupboards will warm the room. Silver appliances in the kitchen will make the colorful accent pieces work harmoniously together.
Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
Emerald Green | #50C878 | 0.6, 0, 0.4, 0.22 | 80, 200, 120 | |
Midnight Blue | #08113B | 78, 78, 0, 56 | 8, 17, 59 |
Green and Pink
So, what goes with green perfectly? A delightful combination perfect for the bedroom. Pink is one of the softer colors that go well with green. Green and pink have always been popular pairings. The two colors sit opposite one another on the color wheel.
In the bedroom, adding generous amounts of green with soft pinks will make the space look gorgeous and where you feel safe. The best pairing would be a light shade of pink and green colors, such as salmon pink, and a light green such as seafoam. The furniture can be either light wood or even light gray, which will be perfect for this color combination, and then having white bed covers with pillows and throw blankets in pinks and greens will add to the harmonious feel. If you feel the color is too bland for your taste, adding a bright pink or green blanket will undoubtedly contribute to the accent. We hope these ideas give you a clearer picture of what goes with light green.
Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
Seafoam Green | #93E9BE | 0.37, 0.00, 0.18, 0.09 | 147, 233, 190 | |
Salmon | #FF8C69 | 0, 45, 59, 0 | 255, 140, 105 | |
Bright Pink | #FF007F | 0, 100, 50, 0 | 255, 0, 127 |
Green and Orange
These two colors may seem ostentatious when you first hear them because you are going to look at combining two very bright colors. Could you not knock it until you have tried it? The bright saturated orange color creates a significant amount of contrast when paired with the emerald green, which puts a playful and unexpected spin on this favored color combination. If you are contemplating using this color combination, you should add a few neutral elements to the room. You may have neutral dining room furniture in a soft brown color; this will be perfect as the base color. Consider bringing in a beautiful emerald carpet, and then the chairs could be covered in bright orange colors. To tone the bright colors down, add a few pale-ivory-colored candles onto the table or sideboard and a lovely soft green plant in the center of the table. Throw in some bottle green for contrast!
Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
Emerald Green | #50C878 | 0.6, 0, 0.4, 0.22 | 80, 200, 120 | |
Bottle Green | #0F472C | 79, 0, 38, 72 | 15, 71, 44 | |
Orange | #FFA500 | 0, 0.35, 1, 0 | 255, 165, 0 | |
Ivory | #FFFFF0 | 0, 0, 6, 0 | 100, 100, 94.1 |
Green and White
The natural question is, what colors go well with sage green when considering incorporating this beautiful color into the home? Pairing green and white is lovely because the starkness of a white room will have the green pops of color in either plant, cushions, or beautiful artwork. It is a classic look, and while the white color may seem a bit too stark, adding a few warm beige colors will warm the room up considerably. Bringing in a beautiful big round rug with light beige colors and a stand-alone lamp in the corner of the room will bring warmth into the room. These two natural colors will help tone the space and make it more inviting, and you will see what color goes with light green at a glance.
Shade | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
Sage | #87AE73 | 22, 0, 34, 32 | 135,174,115) | |
White | #FFFFFF | 0, 0, 0, 0 | 255, 255, 255 | |
Beige | #F5F5DC | 0, 0, 10, 4 | 245, 245, 220 |
Changing the interior of a home by incorporating the color green is the easiest way to bring the outside into the house. With many more people staying home over the weekends, it has become essential to have the best of both worlds. We hope this article has helped you decide what colors go with green, and with your next project, you look at green with different eyes and make it the go-to choice for your home!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Colors That Go Well With Green?
Green colors pair well with a vast array of colors, such as neutral colors like brown and gray, and other vibrant and maybe unexpected colors such as pink, yellow and blue. What colors go with green, and even colors that go well with olive green, are questions that open up Pandora’s box because so many colors pair beautifully with all shades of green, and the best thing is that the green color hue also complements each other.
What Color Goes with Dark Green?
You may be surprised when asking what color goes with dark green and learn that the answer is quite simple. Dark green colors are highly sought after in the fashion industry because they are versatile colors. It is a color primarily worn in winter, and you can easily match up a beautiful pair of dark green trousers with a dark rich, bright yellow blouse. Dark green works beautifully when paired with pink and lilac colors.
What Color Goes With Light Green?
The purple-pinkish colors are paired up well with light green. If you want to wear the best outfit that looks great, try pairing up dark green colors with violet and pink or a nice dark rich purple grape color. If you paint a room using bright purple paint, the complementary color will be light green, as the softer shades will make a room feel romantic, and the light green will bring in a bit of energy.
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