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Decorating your space is an exciting part of purchasing a home. There are so many options when choosing a color palette for your interior. Tan is a great natural hue. However, you may wonder what colors go with tan walls. Here are a few accent colors for tan walls to get you started.
1. White
Pairing tan walls with shades of white creates a classy appearance that can balance the darker tone, making the space feel more peaceful. Use white accents to make a room feel larger if you have a smaller space. Â White is an achromatic color that seems colorless, but it takes green, red and blue light waves in the light spectrum to create white light. Â
When choosing your color palette, you can definitely combine tan with different hues of white, and selecting different textures in white pillows, curtains, and upholstery will create a stylish look.
Here are a few clever ideas to add texture to your tan space with white accents:
- Add white pots and white-shade succulents.
- Choose a woven white jute area rug.
- Select new chair cushions that use various textured white fabrics.
- Bring in some monochromatic artwork in shades of tan and white.
- Tile an accent wall using different metallic white tiles.Â
White’s versatility allows it to feature in almost any room in the house. Consider using it in your living room or bedroom for a peaceful atmosphere.
2. Black
To pick the perfect complementary color for tan walls, consider choosing black. This classic color is sophisticated and ultra-stylish. Use black accents to create some drama against tan walls with light fittings or lacquered trimmings. In a dining or living room, black and tan make for a formal setting, and it’s ideal if you work from home to use it as your boardroom selection.
Pure black is known as a non-color color as it’s devoid of all light and any other tonality, but in the world of paints and fabrics, black is nuanced with many hues ranging from cobalt to silver.
Choose a single powerful color to contrast the tan and black combination. Consider adding classic red as a nod to Eastern traditions or create vibrancy with a bright, leafy green, such as a hanging creeper plant or spider plant. Silver also provides a stunning accent, which can include shades of gray in shiny scatter pillows and tasteful modern artwork.
Remember to balance how much black detailing you add to the tan background to prevent the room from becoming too dark.
3. Yellow
Yellow is often an underused color because too much can overwhelm the space. However, pairing it with a tan can also create a sophisticated look while brightening the room. Using yellow also makes a statement, giving you a unique interior design.
Along with its design appeal, yellow can also impact your mood. It can make you feel happier and more cheerful. You may want to add a dusting of yellow to your bedroom, bathroom or kitchen.
Use yellow accents sparingly and pair a moderate yellow tone with some gold to keep the color from being too bright. Yellow is a sunshine color perfect for breathing life into tan living areas, and sunflowers’ coloring can inspire you to select tonalities.Â
4. Soft Pink
Pairing pink with a tan can give you a more structured feminine look for a military-love combination. Consider this color combination for little girls’ bedrooms or a powerful, mature lady’s dressing room. You can even add silk material to create a more luxurious appearance.
You can bring in flowers or purchase pink throw pillows to add pink accents. Add touches of pink to the window shades or rugs. Consider incorporating more neutral colors like gray for a more soothing feeling.
5. Soft Green
Using this tone can create a stunning country or cottage look. Green symbolizes good health and healing, and it’s Pinterest’s top color of 2024, with “moss green” leading the color revolution. Pairing tan and green can create a more earthy and refreshing feel. These relaxing shades are perfect for your bathroom or bedroom.
Adding plants can be a great way to create green accents. If your style preferences change, you can remove or place them elsewhere. Add some florals and shades of white to complement the green. Consider incorporating splashes of green in your couch, kitchen island, or cabinets.
6. Teal
Teal is popular for homeowners when deciding what colors go with tan walls. One of the reasons is the tan and teal pairing creates a rich and soothing look. It also creates a striking contrast between the two tones. You may want to use this combination in your living room, dining room, or bedroom.
Bring in touches of teal in your sofas, chairs, or even coffee table. Consider mixing in neutral shades, such as browns or whites, to balance the two hues. Also, add some touches of green to complement the teal. Since teal is a versatile color to play with, add a bright splash of pink or purple to perfectly offset your tan walls and teal sofas.
7. Dark Brown
Consider this color pairing if you live in a busy household and want to create an atmosphere of peace. Dark brown and tan can even create a cozy feeling, making the room the perfect place to relax after work. Use it in your bedroom to help you fall asleep faster. You can also use it in other areas of your home where you relax, such as a home library.
Consider adding a tan area rug or window curtains to help pull together the design. Also, add wooden pieces, such as a coffee table, to help bring in the brown hue. Add silver and powder blue to enhance the darker palette and the tan and brown.
8. Bright or Bold Blue
Blue is a great color to pair with tan because it creates a beautiful contrast. The two elemental colors draw attention to the decorations within the room. A vibrant blue can also help balance out the more neutral tan color.
Consider pairing your blue tones with black or white pieces to help them be the focal point. Decorating with bold colors can also draw even more attention to your blue accents. Incorporate some cooler tones in an analogous color scheme to create a more cohesive look. Succulents are an inexpensive way to introduce other elemental colors.
9. Soft Blue
This pairing can create a more calming atmosphere, even lowering your heart rate in restful spaces. Consider using lighter shades of tan with a more green undertone to enhance this effect. The relaxing vibe is perfect for a bedroom or bathroom. In your bedroom, add touches of blue to your wall art, cushions, or blankets. Try mixing blue into your bathroom flooring, shower tiles or vanity.
Also, add some decor with fun patterns, like stripes, in blue shades. This can help add visual interest to your space while complementing your tan walls. Pillows, blankets, or bedspreads are easy ways to add patterned decorations. Also, consider adding a blue-hued lamp to help brighten your room at night.
How to Choose What Colors Go With Your Tan Walls
Painting your walls can be a fun design project! It’s a chance to add some personality to your space. Tan walls are a good choice because their natural hues make them easy to match with multiple colors. With so many tone choices, it may initially seem a little overwhelming. When picking one, you may wonder what colors go with tan walls, so pick similar hues and try one or more of these nine colors to create a cozy and beautiful home interior.Â
Original Publish Date 06/29/2022 – Updated 01/02/2025