Which Colours Go With Gold

If you're looking for a way to elevate your interior design, gold is a great option. Adding touches of gold can really lift a scheme, introducing light, reflection and texture, but approach it with caution, since overdoing it can leave your décor looking like Midas came to stay. That's why gold is ideal paired with complementary colours, making a great accent that adds pops of metallic sheen and texture along with an inviting warmth. In this blog we'll share our recommended gold combinations and a few guidelines for choosing the best shade of gold for your scheme.

Different shades of gold

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to gold; it's far more nuanced and complex than that, with undertones falling anywhere between yellow and orange on the colour wheel and shades ranging from light to dark, dull to bright and shiny. Metallic golds fall on the warm side of the wheel, making them easier to mix with most palettes, and they ooze opulence and luxury; pair gold with warm reds, rusty oranges and red-toned yellows for complementary schemes, though a word of caution, bright red and gold is a classic Christmas combo, so avoid it to sidestep a festive cliché year-round.

On the other side of the wheel, blues make a great contrast, so use gold as an accent alongside navy or jewel blues like peacock, sapphire or cobalt. Shiny metallic gold can look garish in abundance, but paired with deep, dark colours it adds an opulent flourish, think gold hardware against dark blue kitchen cabinets, or gold candlesticks in a rich maroon dining room. For a vintage look, choose antique gold or brass; for a modern style, bright yellow-gold accessories add reflective light and glamour. Rose gold has had an on-trend moment, its warm pink undertone more copper than yellow, a pretty shade that pairs well with pastels and adds warmth to cool tones.

How to decorate with gold

Use gold with care, as it's a fine line between sophisticated elegance and brashness; matte, aged finishes can look more refined and authentic than super-shiny ones, and gold is best partnered with low-sheen, matte paints. Layer gold through your scheme, as a gold accent on soft furnishings, picture frames and accessories brings luxury and extravagance, and use it to draw attention to interesting architectural features like period details and ornate pieces; painting metallic gold on this ceiling rose draws the eye upward to the striking chandelier.

10 winning combinations with gold

Neutral colours:

soft neutrals like off-white, cream and stone create a serene, tranquil ambience, and gold accents enhance the elegance and dial up the warmth, perfect in a bedroom where you want calm and rest. For a more glamorous, characterful look, go for gold walls with neutral accents; in this captivating bedroom, Mylands FTT-001 gold looks amazing on the walls, ceiling and even the radiator, drenching the room in metallic sheen, while neutral curtains and bed linen soften the scheme and provide contrasting colour and texture.

White:

a touch of Hollywood glam, crisp white with glistening gold oozes luxurious sophistication, though not for a busy family room with sticky-fingered kids; this refined combination brings a bright, airy feel, with gold adding warmth to keep it from feeling stark, and a few gold-leaf accents in ornaments, frames, lamp bases or fixtures add interest and opulence.

Dark green:

dark green and gold have become popular, especially in kitchens and living rooms, green being a favourite for its earthy, natural qualities, think how great gold looks nestled among dark green Christmas-tree branches, a pairing you can enjoy year-round by adding gold against a deep green backdrop; gold and brass sit comfortably beside dark greens, so use forest and olive tones for a contemporary palette, and here an accent door, rather than a wall, provides the highlight and contrast to great effect.

Sage green:

for a softer look than dark green, sage works beautifully with gold; styled simply and earthily, sage brings peace and comfort while gold adds warmth and light, working equally well for a stylish bedroom retreat or a welcoming entertaining space, and in this kitchen a sage accent wall is amplified by gold artwork in a gold-leaf frame, the flat matte wall elevated by the shimmer.

Deep blue:

deep blues like navy have been the kitchen cabinet colour of choice for a while, and gold hardware and accessories complete the look with timeless sophistication; rose gold, a warm gold, works incredibly well with rich colours like deep teal, navy or black, radiating energy and glowing against them, and here a deep blue-grey on wall and ceiling gives a traditional yet fresh look, the ornate ceiling rose made more eye-catching with gold.

Black:

statement black exudes drama and intrigue, a bold choice not for the faint-hearted, but if you want your design to speak volumes, the striking contrast of black and gold makes an eye-catching modern statement; for an opulent update to classic monochrome, replace black and white with black and gold, and while gold is more of a showstopper than white, it can still act as a neutral, providing contrast, balance and glamour beside black, so here the gold wall is the neutral with black as the contrasting accent in the furniture.

Deep red:

the traditional pairing of deep reds like burgundy or maroon with gold works well in formal settings, the rich dark reds sumptuous and immersive for a cosy, inviting atmosphere, great in a dining room where you want guests to feel at home, with gold adding warmth and richness; gold accessories balance rich red walls or furnishings, even simple gold candlesticks transforming the feel, while burgundy or maroon accessories soften and anchor gold décor.

Soft pastel pink:

soft pastel pink and gold is romantic, introducing a touch of feminine grace and elegance in a bedroom, though not just for a girl's room, since it's versatile around the home, and modern styling with gold can amp it up for a fresh, breathtaking look; a delicate blush gets a zing from matte gold accessories, and in this kitchen the subtle pale pink is juxtaposed by gold hardware to great effect.

Jewel colours:

for a luxury, even regal, look, pair jewel colours with gold, since emerald green, sapphire blue and ruby red dazzle beside gold chains and bands on jewellery, so translate that opulence to your living space, a sophisticated yet vibrant, bright and bold combination, picking and mixing your favourite pops of teal, emerald and royal purple with touches of luxury gold.

Add a golden touch to your home

Whether you want to dazzle and delight or uplift and entice, gold makes a beautiful addition to interior design, a very versatile colour, consider it a new neutral, easy to pair with others and best combined with warmer shades. Its versatility brings different qualities depending on your styling, a calming serenity in a bedroom, sophisticated elegance in a living room, or sumptuous cosiness in a dining room. Don't be afraid to incorporate gold, we all need a touch of luxury and glamour in our lives. Take a look at our metallic gold paints and find the right shade for your home.