Teal and white are two timeless colors that look beautiful together. When paired correctly, these cool and warm tones create a soothing and elegant color combination. But how exactly should you style teal and white? What colors complement this duo best? Let’s take a closer look at whether teal goes with white and how to use these shades in your home decor and fashion choices.
The Meaning Behind Teal and White
Before deciding if teal and white work well together, it helps to understand what these colors represent. Teal is a bluish-green shade that symbolizes healing, relaxation, open communication, balance, and calmness. It evokes images of beautiful turquoise waters and provides a sense of tranquility. White represents purity, cleanliness, innocence, and space. It’s often used to create a minimalist aesthetic.
When combined, teal and white exude both coziness and sophistication. Teal brings the calming qualities of nature indoors, while white lends an airy, elegant touch. This color pairing feels luxurious yet down-to-earth at the same time.
The Color Theory Behind Teal and White
On the color wheel, teal is a combination of green and blue. It falls between the cool and warm side. White, on the other hand, contains no hue at all. It’s a neutral shade. This makes teal and white an example of an analogous color scheme – colors located close together on the color wheel. Analogous combinations tend to be very easy on the eyes.
In technical terms, teal is considered a tertiary color, meaning it’s created by combining a primary and secondary hue (blue + green). White contains no pigment at all. When placed alongside each other, the soft teal gives an otherwise stark white a sense of depth and interest. The white also helps ground and balance the vibrancy of the teal.
When choosing a teal paint, textile, or other decor item to use with white, go for a soft sea glass or aqua shade. Steer clear of deeper, more saturated teals, which may overpower the white details. The best teal hues to pair with white have just a hint of gray to tone down the brightness.
Teal and White Decor Ideas
When used thoughtfully, teal and white make for an inviting home color scheme. Here are some ideas for incorporating this color combination into your space:
- Paint the walls white and use teal in the accent decor. Try teal pillows on a white sofa or teal chairs around a white dining table. White walls and ceilings keep things airy, while teal decor prevents an overly stark look.
- Choose teal and white area rugs to warm up white floors. The cool teal tones contrast beautifully against natural white oak or light hardwood.
- Display white and teal art or photography around the room. Frames in white, silver, or wood keep the focus on the colors.
- Add fresh white flowers like roses, tulips or orchids in a teal vase for a refined touch.
- In a bedroom, consider a teal headboard against a white wall or white bedding with teal accents.
- Incorporate the colors into table settings – white dishes with teal napkins or a white tablecloth with teal placemats.
- Paint built-in bookshelves, cabinets, or an accent wall in a teal hue and fill with white accessories.
Teal and white work great in formal living rooms but also look chic in cozy, laidback spaces like dens and bedrooms. Just keep the teal on the softer side. Deeper teals can make a room feel dark and dramatic.
Teal and White Bathroom Ideas
The soothing teal and white pairing feels right at home in a bathroom. As an accent color, teal livens up the white backdrop. Here are some ideas for bringing teal into a white bathroom:
- Paint the walls crisp white and use teal towels, a teal shower curtain, and teal accent pieces like trays, soap dispensers, and wastebaskets.
- On the wall, display three small teal framed prints stacked vertically above the toilet.
- Add a vibrant teal and white abstract shower curtain.
- Incorporate natural teal touches with a bamboo mat, live orchid plant, or eucalyptus in a vase.
For a bigger dose of teal, paint the mirror frame, cabinets, or an accent wall in a soft sea glass hue. Use it sparingly though, as teal bathrooms can start to feel overwhelming if not balanced with enough white.
Teal and White Kitchen Ideas
The clean and refreshing teal and white scheme feels equally fitting in the kitchen. Teal makes for an uplifting alternative to common kitchen accent colors like red or yellow. Try these tips for bringing teal and white into your cooking space:
- Paint upper cabinets a chic teal and keep base cabinets crisp white for contrast.
- Use a teal and white patterned runner rug to define the kitchen work zone.
- Display white dishes in open teal shelving for an accent pop of color.
- Incorporate natural teal elements like blue-green marble counters, a turquoise glass backsplash tile, or teal-colored fruits and veggies.
- Add small doses of teal with kitchen towels, utensils, and appliances like a stand mixer or toaster.
For a more vibrant nautical theme, use navy and white dishware with bright aqua accents. Or pair muted sea glass teals with clean, minimalist white for a more refined Scandinavian feel.
Teal and White Fashion
Beyond home decor, teal and white also combine beautifully in the fashion world. In clothing, white represents minimalism and clean lines, while teal adds flair and vibrancy. Pairing them together results in effortlessly stylish outfits.
For summer and spring, try a breezy white sundress with teal accessories like sandals or a handbag. Or pair high-waisted teal trousers with a tucked in white blouse. Other flattering options include:
- A white pencil skirt with a fitted teal blazer on top
- Nautical stripes using white and different teal shades
- A white jumpsuit with teal heels or wedges
- White jeans and a flowy teal top or sweater
- A white button-down and cropped teal pants
In the fall and winter, build outfits around a teal turtleneck or teal overcoat. Try pairing them with white trousers, a white sweater dress, or white booties. Teal and white make ideal Christmas colors too – wear an icy teal dress to a holiday party with white earrings, shoes, or bag.
No matter the season, keep these style tips in mind:
- Softer teal shades tend to be most versatile for pairing with white.
- Add pops of white to a teal outfit and vice versa to create definition.
- Incorporate teal and white prints and patterns, like stripes, checks, or polka dots.
- Try layering white and teal together, like a white button-down under a teal sweater.
Complementary Colors for Teal and White
Certain shades bring out the best in teal and white even further. Cool undertones like light blue, gray, and seafoam green work well with this color scheme. For contrast, add in metallics like silver, gold, bronze, or copper.
On the warm end, peach, light pink, coral, and buttery yellow also complement teal and white for a more vibrant look. Use these colors sparingly though, as the warm and cool combination can feel jarring if overdone. A little goes a long way.
In general, softer accents tend to pair best with teal and white. Stay away from bright primaries or neon shades that may clash. Muted, dusty versions of reds, oranges, purples, and pinks can work if applied thoughtfully though.
Should You Use Teal and White Together?
Teal and white is a versatile color combination with timeless appeal. It manages to feel both coastal and elegant, crisp and cozy. But despite its versatility, teal and white may not work for all styles and color preferences.
Those with very warm skin tones may prefer to pair white with deeper shades of blue or green instead. And people aiming for a bold, energetic aesthetic likely won’t be drawn to this relaxing, subtle pairing. The muted teal and white scheme also isn’t right for traditionalists who prefer classic red, blue, and green combinations.
But whether it suits your personal taste or not, there’s no denying the soothing charm of blue-green teal matched with clean, open white spaces. Use the tips in this guide to incorporate these colors into your home, wardrobe, or decor in a way that feels cohesive. Teal and white work in harmony to create a feeling of laidback luxury.
Conclusion
Teal and white are natural complementary hues that look effortlessly stylish together. The trick is sticking to soft aqua teals rather than darker shades that may overwhelm the white. When used in the right ratios, teal and white exude both tranquility and elegance. This versatile combination works well in home decor, fashion, and elsewhere. Just add in a few complementary accent colors, and you have a sophisticated color scheme with staying power.
