When it comes to home decor and fashion, figuring out which colors go well together can be tricky. Taupe and emerald green are both popular neutral and accent shades, respectively, so understanding if and how they complement each other is useful knowledge for any designer or style enthusiast. In this article, we’ll look at the defining characteristics of taupe and emerald green, check out a color wheel to see if they’re harmonious, examine how lightness and saturation affect color compatibility, view rooms and outfits with the two colors paired, and summarize key takeaways.
Defining Taupe
Taupe is an inherently versatile color. It’s a neutral tone that falls in the gray-brown family, ranging from dark brownish grays to light grayish beiges. The word “taupe” actually comes from the French word for mole, referencing the average color of the small burrowing mammal. Taupe works well as a background color and pairs nicely with other neutrals like cream and camel. It has an inherently cozy, subtle feeling.
Defining Emerald Green
Emerald green is much bolder and cooler in tone compared to the muted, earthy taupe. It’s a rich green that has a blue undertone, sitting between grass green and forest green on the color spectrum. Emerald green is considered a jewel tone, recalling the hue of the precious gemstone that shares its name. Compared to taupe, emerald green has much higher saturation and stands out more in a design scheme.
Checking the Color Wheel
One way to check if two colors work well together is by looking at the color wheel. The basic color wheel shows primary, secondary, and tertiary colors in relation to each other. Complementary colors that sit opposite each other tend to look more dynamic and eye-catching together. Analogous colors that sit next to each other create a more harmonious, integrated look. Taupe is a neutral tone, so it’s versatile with most colors.
Emerald green sits between blue-green and yellow-green on the color wheel. Since taupe falls in the neutral gray-brown family, emerald green neither clashes with nor perfectly complements it. However, as analogous colors, they have enough differentiation to be interesting while still being harmonious enough to use together.
Accounting for Lightness and Saturation
While the color wheel helps compare hues, lightness (how light or dark a color is) and saturation (how intense or muted it is) also impact color compatibility. Lighter, muted shades tend to be more flexible than darker, saturated shades when pairing colors. Taupe has inherently low saturation as a neutral grayish brown. Emerald green can be dark or light, muted or saturated.
Dark emerald green with high saturation provides high contrast against light taupe, making the combo eye-catching. Light emerald green with low saturation blends more easily with light taupe. With taupe’s neutrality, both light and dark emerald greens can work, but higher saturation emerald might overwhelm lighter taupe.
Seeing Taupe and Emerald Green Paired
Now let’s look at some real-world examples of taupe and emerald used together in home decor and fashion:
Home Decor
| Room | How Taupe and Emerald Green Are Paired |
|---|---|
| Living room | Taupe sofa paired with emerald green throw pillows and decorative objects |
| Bedroom | Taupe walls with emerald green bedding and artwork accents |
| Dining room | Taupe dining chairs around a table with emerald green place settings |
| Office | Taupe desk and built-ins with emerald green desk accessories |
In home decor, taupe tends to serve as a foundational neutral on bigger items like sofas, walls, and other furniture. Emerald green is used more sparingly as accents on decorative pillows, artwork, tableware, and desk accessories. The taupe backdrop lets the emerald green details pop while still feeling grounded.
Fashion
Taupe and emerald green follow similar balancing roles in fashion. Taupe serves as a neutral base that anchors an outfit, while emerald green provides colorful accent. Some examples include:
- A taupe dress or top with emerald green jewelry and handbag
- Taupe trousers with an emerald green blouse
- A taupe suit with an emerald green tie or scarf
- Taupe shoes with emerald green laces or accents
Taupe brings harmony as foundational pieces like dresses, trousers, suits, and shoes. Pops of emerald green in accessories, jewelry, handbags, and smaller garments like blouses and scarves add vibrancy. This helps emerald green enhance taupe instead of clash with it.
Key Takeaways
To summarize the key points about pairing taupe and emerald green:
- Taupe is a versatile neutral in the gray-brown family, while emerald green is a jewel tone accent color
- The two colors are analogous on the color wheel, so they fit together harmoniously
- Lighter taupe and more muted emerald green are easier to combine than darker or more saturated shades
- In both home decor and fashion, taupe typically serves as a neutral base while emerald green provides accent pops of color
- Keeping emerald green accents subtle against taupe backdrops prevents the combo from clashing
So in short, yes – taupe and emerald green can work well together. Taupe’s neutrality alongside emerald green’s richness as an accent shade allows them to complement each other. With taupe as the foundation, emerald green provides the perfect pop of color.
