Turquoise is a popular paint color for interior rooms and decor. But is it truly a good choice for your home? Here are some pros and cons to consider when deciding if turquoise is the right color for your space.
The Pros of Using Turquoise
There are several benefits to using turquoise as an interior room color:
It’s upbeat and energizing. Turquoise has a cheerful, positive vibe. The bold, saturated shade is associated with tropical seas and clear skies. Using turquoise can make a room feel more lively and uplifting.
It enhances creativity. Something about the vibrant, unusual hue seems to spark imagination. Decorators often recommend turquoise for creative spaces like home offices, studies, or craft rooms where you want to inspire innovative thinking.
It’s versatile. Turquoise can work in many different design styles from bohemian and eclectic to traditional and beach-inspired spaces. It’s right at home in laid-back, casual rooms as well as more formal living areas.
It pairs well with many colors. Cool tones like blues, greens, and grays beautifully complement a turquoise wall or accent piece. But turquoise also pops against warm neutrals like tans and browns. It’s a highly mixable color.
It makes a statement. There’s no ignoring a vivid splash of turquoise. It immediately grabs attention and becomes a focal point. Use turquoise if you want to create an eye-catching accent wall or highlight a specific architectural detail or decor item.
It feels happy and beachy. Turquoise naturally brings to mind tropical waters and breezy beach vibes. It’s a cheerful, casual, and relaxed color perfect for creating a laid-back coastal feel.
The Cons of Using Turquoise
However, there are some potential downsides to be aware of with turquoise:
It’s bold and bright. The vivid intensity of turquoise might feel overpowering, especially in a large dose. Use it sparingly in smaller accent pieces if you prefer a more subtle, neutral palette.
It can read dated. Turquoise surged in popularity as a decor color in the 1950s and 60s. If you use turquoise throughout a room, the scheme may come across as retro or kitschy.
It’s not very versatile. While turquoise works in many design styles, it also clashes with some others. For example, turquoise likely won’t mesh well with ultra modern, all-white spaces.
It can be tricky to coordinate. Finding accent colors and patterns to match a turquoise wall or furniture piece takes care and finesse. The wrong tones and mixes can make a space feel chaotic and mismatching.
It has gendered associations. Some people pigeonhole turquoise as a “feminine” color, more suited to girls’ rooms than neutral living areas. However, turquoise has universal appeal when used thoughtfully.
It can look cheap. Poor quality turquoise paint or accessories may appear flat, artificial, and plastic-y. Invest in richly-hued turquoise textiles and paint for the best effect.
It overwhelms light rooms. Turquoise makes its boldest impact in spaces with abundant natural light. Small, dim rooms may feel dark and crowded when saturated in turquoise.
Tips for Using Turquoise Effectively
If you want to use turquoise as an interior paint color or accent, here are some tips:
– Start with small doses like artwork or throw pillows to test drive it before committing to a turquoise wall color.
– Layer different tones like teal, aqua, and robin’s egg blue for more depth.
– Ground bright turquoise with neutral textures like wood furniture and sisal rugs.
– Display turquoise vases, bowls, and glassware together for a collection with more visual impact.
– Paint built-in bookshelves, cabinetry, or window trims turquoise instead of entire walls.
– Combine turquoise with white and natural wood for a fresh, beachy look.
– Add turquoise in organic-shaped patterns and watery motifs that feel natural.
– Limit turquoise to one or two statement pieces to keep the look elegant, not overwhelming.
Rooms Where Turquoise Shines
Certain rooms in your home lend themselves especially well to decorative use of turquoise:
Bathrooms. Turquoise tiles, shower curtains, and towels give a bathroom a refreshing, spa-like ambiance. Use turquoise sparingly against white subway tiles and neutral walls.
Kitchens. The color of turquoise stoneware brightens up open shelves. Turquoise kitchen utensils also provide cheery pops of color against stainless steel appliances.
Bedrooms. Whether you prefer a serene turquoise accent wall or bold turquoise bedding, this color creates a relaxing sleep space.
Home offices. Turquoise invigorates a small home office. Use it behind a desk or bookshelf to energize your work zone.
Kids’ rooms. Turquoise works for kids of all ages and genders. It provides a playful backdrop for imaginative play and learning.
Laundry rooms. Cheer up the utilitarian laundry room with turquoise organizers, art, and wall cubbies.
Living rooms. For a relaxed gathering space, paint built-in shelves turquoise or display turquoise art and accessories.
Entryways. Greet guests with a turquoise front door or quick pops of the color throughout an entryway.
| Room | Turquoise Ideas |
|---|---|
| Bathroom | Tiles, towels, shower curtain |
| Kitchen | Dishes, utensils, appliances |
| Bedroom | Accent wall, bedding |
| Home Office | Desk, bookshelf |
| Kids’ Room | Walls, toys, decor |
| Laundry | Storage bins, art |
| Living Room | Shelving, pillows, art |
| Entryway | Front door, accessories |
How Much Turquoise Should You Use?
When incorporating turquoise into your home decor, it’s easy to go overboard. Follow these guidelines to strike the right balance:
– In most rooms, use turquoise for no more than one accent wall or furniture piece. Too much turquoise can feel overwhelming.
– For a cohesive look, repeat the turquoise color in small doses throughout the room – for example, in textiles, artwork, and accessories.
– In bathrooms and kitchens, limit turquoise to 25% or less of the entire space. Use turquoise backsplashes, tile borders, or accent walls sparingly.
– In kids’ rooms and play spaces, you can experiment with using turquoise more liberally – up to 50% of the walls or major furniture pieces.
– Turquoise ceilings make a huge impact. Reserve turquoise ceilings for rooms where you really want to make a bold statement.
– When painting turquoise walls, stick to one shade like a true or bluish turquoise. Mixing multiple turquoise tones can look chaotic.
Which Types of Turquoise Work Best?
With so many shades of turquoise paint, textiles, and decor to choose from, which options look most appealing? Consider these recommendations:
Robin’s egg blue. This pale, soothing shade of turquoise reads as a neutral and works everywhere from bathrooms to bedrooms. It’s versatile and elegant.
Green-tinged turquoise. Shades with subtle green undertones complement natural elements like plants and wood furniture nicely in living rooms.
Bright glossy turquoise. These rich, intense turquoises make the biggest impact on front doors, accent walls, and kitchenware when you want a punch of color.
Dark or weathered turquoise. Deeper, muted turquoise colors add a sophisticated, earthy feel to spaces like home offices. Think weathered chambray or teal.
Turquoise glass. Clear glass tableware, vases, or bowls tinted in light turquoise tones sparkle beautifully and elevate any tablescape.
Natural turquoise gemstones. While pricey, genuine turquoise stones offer depth, luminosity, and intricate natural variation when used in jewelry or decorative bowls and tiles.
How Does Turquoise Make You Feel?
Turquoise evokes a range of positive emotions with its uplifting color energy:
– Happiness – The vibrant, cheerful hue naturally brightens any mood or environment.
– Creativity – Turquoise seems to stimulate imagination and influxes of new ideas.
– Clarity – Pale turquoises in particular have a peaceful, ethereal quality that conjures a sense of clarity.
– Relaxation – Turquoise is strongly associated with the beach and water, evoking carefree days of tranquility.
– Exploration – Something about turquoise sparks wanderlust and curiosity about exotic destinations.
– Inspiration – Turquoise can be an inspiring metaphor for growth, blooming creativity, and new life.
– Calm – While vibrant, turquoise is never over-stimulating. It has an inherent serenity about it.
– Playfulness – Turquoise brings out everyone’s inner child, inviting playful fun in any space.
Conclusion
Turquoise makes a fun, lively interior paint color and accent hue that lifts the mood in any room. It works best when used thoughtfully in moderation, complemented by neutral textures and tones. While turquoise has some limitations, its versatility, creativity-boosting energy, and cheerful emotional impact make it a great choice for adding colorful flair to your home. Just take care not to overdo it. When applied judiciously as a signature color, turquoise can transform the look and feel of a room into something fresh, inspired, and totally unique.
