Gold is a classic, timeless color that can add warmth and luxury to any space. When choosing a paint color to complement gold accents in a room, you’ll want to pick a hue that enhances the gold rather than competing with it. The right paint color can make the gold pop or seamlessly blend into a cohesive color palette. To determine the best paint color for gold, consider the tone and intensity of the gold pieces, the purpose of the space, and color pairing techniques.
Tone of the Gold
Gold can have warm, bright yellow undertones or cooler, more muted undertones. The tone of the gold will impact which paint colors coordinate best with it.
- Warm gold: Choose paint colors like peach, yellow, or soft white to complement the warm tones.
- Cool gold: Pair cool gold with grays, blues, greens, or taupes.
If you want the gold to stand out, go with a paint color that contrasts the undertones. For a more cohesive look, match the undertones in the paint to the undertones in the gold.
Intensity of the Gold
The intensity or saturation of the gold color will also affect the paint choice:
- Bright, saturated gold: Pair with deeper, richer paint colors like navy blue, emerald green, or burgundy.
- Soft, muted gold: Go for more subtle, earthy paint colors like beige, light gray, or powder blue.
A muted gold color will look more sophisticated against a muted wall color. Vibrant gold can take on a bolder, glamorous look against intense paint colors.
Purpose of the Space
Take the room’s purpose into consideration when selecting a wall color for gold accents.
- Living room: Neutral beige or gray brings a relaxing ambiance.
- Dining room: Deep red or green encourages appetite and conversation.
- Bedroom: Soft blue or lavender promotes tranquility.
- Office: Crisp white helps concentration and productivity.
Make sure the paint color aligns with the desired atmosphere for the space.
Color Pairing Techniques
Certain color schemes lend themselves particularly well to complementing gold:
- Monochromatic: Different shades of one color, ranging from light to dark. For example, soft cream walls with dark wood trim.
- Analogous: Colors next to each other on the color wheel, like peach and yellow.
- Complementary: Opposite colors on the color wheel that create high contrast, like blue and orange.
- Triadic: Colors evenly spaced around the color wheel forming a triangle. Such as red, yellow, and blue.
You can also choose one dominant color for the walls and use the other two colors for accents. This helps the gold stand out against a bold backdrop.
Best Paint Colors for Gold
Here are some top paint colors to make gold shine:
| Paint Color | Shades | Rooms |
| White | Soft white, cream, cashmere | Bedroom, living room |
| Gray | Light gray, taupe, silver | Kitchen, bathroom |
| Yellow | Pale yellow, gold, buttercream | Dining room, office |
| Green | Sage, olive, seafoam | Living room, library |
| Blue | Powder blue, navy, robin’s egg | Bedroom, kitchen |
| Red | Burgundy, terracotta, rust | Dining room, office |
Sheen
The sheen of the paint also affects how gold looks. Here are some guidelines:
- Flat/matte paint absorbs light, making gold look muted and soft.
- Eggshell has a soft glow, complementing warm gold tones.
- Satin sheen reflects some light, creating contrast with cool gold.
- Semi-gloss has a shine that makes gold pop alongside it.
In general, higher sheens highlight the gold while lower sheens downplay it. Consider the look you want to achieve.
Conclusion
When selecting a paint color for gold accents, take into account the tone of the gold, brightness, purpose of the space, color pairings, and sheen. Warmer gold looks great with neutral beige, yellow, or peach paint. Cooler gold pairs well with grays, greens and blues. A bright gold color can contrast beautifully against deep, saturated paint hues. More muted gold complements soft earth tones and pastels. Monochromatic, analogous, and complementary schemes are foolproof options. Flat or matte sheens downplay gold, while glossy sheens make it pop. With the right paint color choice, you can make your gold decor the star of any room.
