Choosing a wall color to match or complement your curtains can be challenging. The wall color sets the backdrop for the entire room and can dramatically affect how your curtains look. Follow this guide to learn tips for selecting the best wall color for your curtains.
Assess Your Curtains
Start by taking a careful look at your existing curtains. Note the dominant colors, patterns, and materials. Are the curtains a solid color or patterned? Common curtain materials like cotton, linen, velvet, and silk take color differently. Pay attention to whether your curtains have warm reddish undertones or cool blue undertones. All of these factors will impact which wall colors coordinate best.
Select a Color Scheme
Now consider the overall color scheme you want for the room. Your wall color, curtains, and other decor should work together to create a cohesive palette. Some popular options include:
- Monochromatic – Various shades of the same color, ranging from light to dark
- Analogous – Colors next to each other on the color wheel, like blue and green
- Complementary – Opposite colors on the color wheel, like red and green
- Triadic – Three colors equally spaced on the color wheel, like red, yellow, and blue
- Neutral – Tones like white, gray, black, tan, and brown
Pick a scheme that complements both your curtains and your overall decor goals for the room.
Consider Color Undertones
Pay attention to the undertones of your curtains when selecting a wall color. Curtains with warm undertones, like red, orange, or yellow, tend to look best against wall colors with similar warm undertones. Cool-toned curtains like blues and greens complement wall colors with cool undertones. Mixing warm and cool undertones can create a disjointed look.
Factor In Lighting
The room’s lighting significantly impacts how colors appear. Natural daylight often adds cool, blue undertones. Incandescent bulbs cast a warmer, yellower light. LED and fluorescent lighting can skew colors in different ways. Test your wall color in the room at different times of day when choosing.
Pick a Lighter Wall Color
Typically, you’ll want the curtains to be a darker, richer color than the walls. Having darker curtains against a lighter wall color nicely frames the window and adds definition. Going darker with your wall color tends to make the curtains and windows recede into the background.
Use an Accent Wall
Consider using a different color on one accent wall where your curtains hang, and paint the remaining walls a coordinating neutral tone. This draws attention to the curtains without overwhelming the room. For patterned curtains, a solid accent wall color allows the pattern to stand out.
Sample Paint Colors
Never choose a wall color based on small paint swatches alone! Colors appear very different on a full wall. Purchase sample sizes and paint decent-sized swatches on the wall where your curtains will hang. Evaluate the colors at different times of day. Don’t forget to paint the ceiling as well since it will impact the colors.
Factor in Furniture & Flooring
Test your wall color sample with your room’s existing furniture and flooring in place. You want your new wall color to complement these other large surfaces so everything flows together. Drapes in warm wood rooms benefit from warm paint colors. Cool-toned grays pair nicely with modern furniture. Stick with hues that complete the room’s decor story.
Create Contrast
Some contrast between your wall color and curtains can make for an impactful, eye-catching look. Darker saturated curtain colors tend to look best against medium-light walls for contrast. For patterned curtains, walls in a lighter hue of one of the colors in the pattern is a smart choice.
Tie In Other Decor
Your curtains, walls, and other decor like furniture and art should coordinate. Add decorative pillows, throws, area rugs, and accessories in colors and patterns that tie the curtains and walls together. Use shapes, textures, and layered patterns to add visual interest while unifying the overall palette.
Recommended Wall Colors for Common Curtain Types
Here are suggested wall colors for some typical curtain styles:
| Curtain Type | Recommended Wall Colors |
|---|---|
| White or ivory solid | Soft greens, light blues, grays, tans |
| Black solid | Whites, neutrals, deep reds, purple |
| Patterned with red | Cream, light gray, camel, terra cotta |
| Navy patterned | White, light blue, sage green |
| Yellow patterned | Gray, blue, green, white |
| Brightly colored | Off-white, beige, light gray |
| Pastel colors | White, neutral gray, soft peach |
Test Colors Together
When narrowed down to 2-3 potential wall colors, purchase samples of each color and paint large swatches on your wall. Hang your curtains or hold them up to the wall swatches. Look at the colors together at different times of day and with indoor and outdoor light sources. The right wall color will make your curtains pop while creating a cohesive, attractive aesthetic.
Make Small Adjustments
If your wall color ends up overpowering or clashing with the curtains once painted all over, you can make small adjustments. Adding a little of the curtain color to the wall paint can tie them together. Or go slightly darker or more muted with the wall color. Layering decor and accessorizing also helps blend the curtains and walls.
Change Things Up
Don’t be afraid to redo your wall color if you end up unhappy with how it pairs with your curtains. Paint is easy to redo. Just be sure to use high quality primer and paint. Sometimes you need to see the completed room before realizing a color is all wrong. Decorating is an evolving process.
Conclusion
Choosing a wall color to coordinate with your curtains takes some forethought and experimentation. Assess the undertones of your curtains, think about the lighting, and select a lighter wall color that complements or contrasts your drapes. Be sure to sample colors in the room before fully painting. With some thoughtful testing, you can create the perfect sophisticated color pairing.