Teal is a medium blue-green color that resembles a mix of blue and green. It’s a popular color in fashion, interior design, and graphic design. But if you don’t have access to the exact teal color you want, there are several colors that closely resemble it that can work nicely as substitutes in a pinch.
In this article, we’ll take a close look at what colors resemble teal the most and could be used in place of it. We’ll consider alternative colors from both the blue and green color families.
Characteristics of Teal
Before getting into the colors that resemble teal, let’s first look at what defines the teal color itself. Here are some key characteristics of teal:
– It’s a medium-light tone, not too dark or bright.
– It has a cool, blue-ish undertone rather than warm.
– It has a moderate level of saturation or intensity. Not too muted or grayish but not overly vivid either.
– It has a greenish tint but blue is still the dominant hue. The ratio of blue to green is approximately 60/40.
Keeping these qualities in mind will help narrow down colors that can realistically substitute for teal. We want to find colors that are also medium-light, cool-toned, moderately saturated, and have a blue-green balance.
Blue Colors Similar to Teal
Let’s start by looking at some blue hues that resemble teal:
Aqua
Aqua is very close to teal with just a little more green in its makeup. It’s slightly brighter and cooler. But it’s close enough to teal that many people use the two names interchangeably. Aqua can substitute for teal in most cases.
Blue-Green
As the name implies, blue-green is an even mix of blue and green pigments. It’s nearly identical to teal, just a hair lighter and brighter. Blue-green is an ideal substitute when you want a teal with a little more vibrancy.
Cerulean
Cerulean is a deep sky blue hue with subtle green undertones. It’s darker and brighter than teal but keeps that cool blue-green character. Use cerulean when you want a bolder, more saturated teal shade.
Robin’s Egg Blue
This pastel blue has a strong green tinge. It’s much lighter than teal but carries that recognizable blue-green look. Robin’s egg blue is great for muted, softer versions of teal.
Pale Aqua
Extremely light and soft, pale aqua has a subtle blue-green identity. It lacks saturation but resembles a faded out teal. Use pale aqua in place of teal if you want a whimsical, ethereal effect.
Cadet Blue
Cadet blue is a grayish blue with subtle green undertones. It’s desaturated like teal but shifts more blue than green. Cadet blue works for more muted teal environments.
Green Colors Similar to Teal
There are also some green hues that can reasonably substitute for teal:
Sea Green
As expected, sea green has oceanic associations. It’s a medium-light blue-tinted green that aligns very closely with teal. The color ratio is inverted from teal but the overall effect is quite similar.
Aquamarine
Slightly more saturated than sea green, aquamarine is a brighter yet cool-toned green with strong blue overtones. It makes an eye-catching alternative when you want teal with extra radiance.
Teal Green
Teal green is essentially the inverse of teal – a green color with blue added rather than a blue with green. It looks very much like teal, just shifted slightly toward green in the color balance.
Blue-Green
As mentioned above, this even mix of blue and green pigments results in a color nearly identical to teal. Blue-green has the most similar look of any green hue.
Celadon
Celadon is a pale, whitish green with hints of blue. It lacks vibrancy but has that soft blue-green character of teal. Celadon works well when a more muted teal is desired.
Aegean Green
This cool, blue-toned green contains just enough yellow to give it a soft seafoam green appearance that resembles teal in many respects. The yellow lifts it enough to distinguish it from true teal.
Color Mixing Options
In addition to solid color substitutes, you can mix your own teal alternatives by blending:
– Blue + green
– Turquoise + green
– Cyan + green
– Cerulean blue + viridian green
– Cobalt blue + sap green
Mixing a blue and green together allows you to control the ratio and customize the hue. Adding more green shifts it toward aquamarine or teal green territory while extra blue moves it closer to aqua and cadet blue.
You can also mix analogous muted colors together:
– Gray + sage green
– Light blue + light green
These create softer, more subdued teal-like hues. The blue and green mix into one another to form blue-green tones.
How Lighting Affects Teal
It’s important to note that lighting conditions can affect how teal is perceived. Different light sources can shift teal more blue or more green:
Cool white fluorescent lighting – Emphasizes blues, makes teal look more blue
Warm white fluorescent lighting – Emphasizes oranges/reds, makes teal look more green
Natural daylight – Balanced color, shows true teal
Incandescent/halogen lighting – Warmer light, brings out green cast in teal
LED lighting – Varies depending on specific temperature set
So be sure to consider the lighting when selecting substitute colors for teal. Blue-biased lights require greener teal alternatives while warmer lights need options shifted toward blue.
Specific Use Cases for Teal Color Substitutes
There are some specific uses where teal is commonly used and where alternate colors can fill in:
Graphic design – Aqua, blue-green, sea green
Logos/branding – Cerulean, aquamarine, teal green
Web design – Blue-green, cadet blue, celadon
Interior paint – Robin’s egg blue, aqua, aquamarine
Textiles/fabrics – Sea green, teal green, pale aqua
Packaging design – Aegean green, aquamarine, pale aqua
Fashion/clothing – Cerulean, aquamarine, robin’s egg blue
Consider the context and aim for whichever alternate teal color best fits the mood, style, audience, and lighting environment of the project.
Comparing Teal Against Other Colors
It can also help to look at how teal relates to other common colors on the wheel:
| Color | How it Compares to Teal |
|---|---|
| Navy blue | Much darker and more blue |
| Royal blue | Brighter, deeper blue |
| Turquoise | More green, higher saturation |
| Lime green | Much brighter, more yellow-green |
| Forest green | Darker, deeper green |
| Seafoam green | Much lighter, more muted green |
| Light blue | Less saturated, no green tones |
| Mint green | More muted, lighter green |
Looking at these comparisons shows how teal fits right between the blue and green color families, melding properties of each. Substitute colors should match that in-between nature.
Conclusion
Teal is a fantastic color with an appealing blue-green energy. But you have plenty of options if true teal isn’t accessible. Aqua, blue-green, cerulean, sea green, aquamarine, and teal green make great alternate teal colors across different contexts and lighting conditions. Mixing analogous blues and greens can also produce custom teal-like hues. Consider the specific needs of your project and choose the teal substitute that aligns best with the desired mood, style, and environment.
