Which colours go with gold?
The best metallic colour combinations

If you are looking for a way to elevate your interior design, gold is a great colour option. Adding touches of gold can really lift a colour scheme, introducing light, reflection and texture. But it is important to approach gold with caution. If you overdo it, your decor can look like you have had Midas to stay. That is why gold is ideal to pair with other complementary colours. It makes a great accent colour, adding pops of metallic sheen and texture to your interior design as well as an inviting warmth.

In this blog, we will share our recommended gold colour combinations along with a few guidelines for choosing the best shade of gold for your colour scheme.

Wall in FTT-001™ - Rich Gold

Different shades of gold

There is no ‘one-size-fits-all' approach to gold. It is a far more nuanced and complex colour than that. Gold undertones can fall anywhere between yellow and orange on the colour wheel. Gold colours range from light to darker shades, from dull to bright and shiny. Metallic golds fall on the warm side of the colour wheel, making them easier to mix with most colour palettes. They ooze opulence and luxury. Pair gold with warm reds, rusty oranges, and yellows with red tones for complementary colour schemes.

A word of caution though, bright red and gold is a classic Christmas combo so avoid that shade to avoid a festive cliché year round. On the other side of the colour wheel, blues make a great contrast to gold colours. Use gold as an accent colour alongside navy blue, or jewel shades of blue like peacock, sapphire or cobalt blue.

Use gold as an accent colour alongside navy blue, or jewel shades of blue like peacock, sapphire or cobalt blue. Shiny metallic gold can look garish if used in abundance. Paired with deep, dark colours though it adds an opulent flourish - think gold hardware against dark blue kitchen cabinets or metallic gold candlesticks in a rich maroon dining room for example. For a vintage look, choose antique gold or brass. For a more modern style, bright yellow-gold accessories add reflective light and glamour.

Rose gold has had a recent on-trend moment. Rose gold has a warm pink undertone that is more copper than yellow. It is a pretty shade of gold that pairs well with pastel colours, adding warmth to cool tones.

How to decorate with gold

Use gold with care. It is a fine line between sophisticated elegance and brashness. Matte, aged finishes can look more refined and authentic than super shiny looks. Gold is best partnered with low-sheen, matte paints.

It is a good idea to layer gold in your interior design. A gold accent colour on soft furnishings, picture frames and accessories brings a feeling of luxury and extravagance to your surroundings.

Use gold to draw attention to interesting architectural features such as period details and ornate decorative pieces. By painting metallic gold on this ceiling rose detail, it draws the eye upwards to the striking chandelier.

Walls in Honest John™ No.58 & Ceiling in Egyptian Grey™ No.154

10 winning colour combinations with gold

Walls & Ceilings in FTT-001™ - Rich Gold

Neutral colours

Soft neutral tones like off-white, cream and stone create a serene and tranquil ambiance. The addition of gold accents enhances the elegance and dials up the warmth. It is a perfect colour combination in a bedroom where you want to feel calm and restful.

For a more glamorous and characterful look, go for gold walls with neutral accent colours. In this captivating bedroom, Mylands FTT-001 gold paint looks amazing on the walls, ceiling and even the radiator, drenching the room in a metallic sheen. The neutral fabrics on the curtains and bed linen soften the bedroom decor and provide contrasting colour and texture.

Wall in Whitehall™ No.9 & Dining table in FTT-004™ - Silver

White

Bringing a touch of Hollywood glam, the pairing of crisp, clean white with glistening gold touches oozes luxurious sophistication. It is not for a busy family living room with sticky-fingered kids running around!

This refined colour combination brings a bright and airy feel to your interior design. Gold adds some warmth, preventing it from feeling too stark and clinical. A few gold leaf accents in ornaments, picture frames, lamp bases or light fixtures add interest and opulence.

Dark Green

Dark green and gold have become a popular colour combination, particularly in kitchens and living rooms. Green is a favourite choice for its earthy, natural qualities and connotations. Think how great gold decorations look when nestled amongst dark green branches on a Christmas tree. You can enjoy that compatible pairing year-round by adding gold elements against a deep green backdrop.

Gold and brass sit really comfortably next to dark green colours. Use forest and olive green tones for a contemporary colour palette. In the photo below, instead of a gold accent wall, an accent door provides the highlight and contrasting colour to great effect.

Wall in Brompton Road™ No. 205

Wall in Myrtle Green™ No.168

Sage Green

For a softer look than dark green, sage green works beautifully with gold. Styled in a simplistic, earth way, sage green brings peace and comfort and gold adds warmth and light. It works equally well to create a stylish retreat in a bedroom, or a welcoming and reassuring entertaining space.

In this kitchen, the sage green accent wall is amplified by gold artwork in a gold leaf picture frame. The flat matte green wall is elevated by the addition of the shimmering gold artwork.

Deep Blue

Deep blues, like navy blue, have been the kitchen cabinet colour of choice for a while now. Adding gold hardware and gold accessories completes the look and evokes a sense of timeless sophistication and refinement.

Rose gold is a warm shade of gold and works incredibly well with rich colours like deep teal, navy blue or black. It radiates energy and glows against dark-coloured blues.

In this photo, a deep blue-grey has been used on the wall and ceiling to give a traditional yet fresh decor. The period feature - an ornate ceiling rose - is made more eye-catching with the addition of gold paint.

Walls, Ceiling & Woodwork in Long Acre™ No.102 and Ceiling woodwork in FTT-001™ - Rich Gold

Wall in FTT-001™ - Rich Gold

Black

Statement black exudes drama and intrigue. It is a bold choice and not for the faint-hearted. But if you want your interior design to speak volumes, the striking contrast of black and gold makes an eye-catching modern statement.

For an opulent update to the classic monochrome combination, replace black and white with black and gold. Whilst gold is more of a showstopper than white, it can still be used as a neutral. It provides contrast and balance, as well as glamour, when paired with black.

Here, the gold wall is the neutral with black as the contrasting accent colour 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 red colours are sumptuous and immersive, creating a cosy and inviting atmosphere. It is a great colour combination in a dining room where you want guests to feel at home and comfortable. Gold adds an extra layer of warmth and richness.

To offset rich red walls and/or furnishings, gold accessories provide balance. Even the simple inclusion of gold candlesticks will transform the overall feel of the room. Conversely, burgundy or maroon accessories will soften and anchor gold decor.

Wall in FTT-001™ - Rich Gold

Cabinetry in Threadneedle™ No.262

Soft Pastel Pink

Soft pastel pink and gold is a romantic combo. In a bedroom, it introduces a touch of feminine grace and elegance. It does not have to be restricted to a girl’s bedroom though, it is a versatile colour combination that works around the home. With modern styling that includes gold decoration, you can amp up this colour combo for a breathtaking, fresh new look.

A delicate blush pink gets an injection of zing by adding matte gold accessories. In this kitchen, the subtle, pale pink is juxtaposed by the gold hardware to great effect.

Jewel Colours

For a luxury - even regal - look, pair jewel colours with gold. We know that emerald green, sapphire blue and ruby red dazzle next to gold chains and bands on jewellery, so translate that opulence to your living space.

This is a sophisticated yet vibrant, bright and bold colour combination. Like a kid in a sweet shop, pick and mix your favourite pops of colour like teal, emerald green and royal purple with touches of luxury gold.

Wall in Pleasure Gardens Green™ No.207

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. It is a very versatile colour - consider it a new neutral. As such, it is an easy colour to pair with others. It is best in a colour combo with warmer shades.Its versatility brings different qualities to a room depending on your styling. It can create a calming serenity in a bedroom, a sophisticated elegance in a living room, or a sumptuous cosiness in a dining room for example. Do not be afraid of incorporating gold into your decor. We all need a touch of luxury and glamour in our lives after all.

Take a look at our metallic gold paint colours and find the right shade for your home.