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What Color Is Teal? (+ How to Use It in Your Home)

When it comes to refreshing, calming, happy-go-lucky colors, teal ranks pretty high on the list. Although there are many of us who love it, not everyone can easily define it, so we’re here to help you make sense of this hot hue and show you how to put it to good use in your space.

Part 1 - Your Top Teal Color Questions Answered

Q: What Color Is Teal?

A: Teal is a blend of blue and green mixed with a touch of gray, creating a soothing, medium-to-dark hue. It strikes a perfect balance between the calmness of blue and the freshness of green, making it a popular choice in both nature and design.

Q: Is teal blue or green?

A: Teal is a mix of both blue and green, but skews heavily blue. Fun fact: The name teal is believed to originate from a duck named the common teal, because the blue-green shade surrounds its eyes. Pretty cool, right?

Q: Teal Color Meaning

A: Teal is often associated with tranquility, balance, and sophistication. It evokes feelings of calm and thoughtfulness, while also symbolizing rejuvenation and creativity. Its versatility makes it a cherished color for serene spaces.

Q: What Makes Teal?

A: Teal is created by mixing blue and green in equal parts, then adding a small amount of gray to tone it down. The result is a rich, peaceful color that can lean slightly warmer or cooler depending on the balance of blue and green.

Q: Teal Complementary Color

A: The complementary color of teal is coral, as they sit opposite each other on the color wheel. This pairing creates a striking contrast, with the warmth of coral beautifully offsetting the cool tones of teal.

Q: Things That Are Teal in Color

A: Teal can be found in nature and interior design alike. Think of the shimmering plumage of a peacock, the clear waters of a lagoon, or the subtle greens of eucalyptus leaves. Inside your home, teal often appears in accent walls, patterned rugs, throw pillows, and upholstered furniture. This versatile color adds a pop of elegance and calm to any space.

Q: Is Teal the Same as Turquoise?

A: Teal and turquoise share similarities but are not the same. Teal is darker and contains gray undertones, giving it a muted, sophisticated vibe. Turquoise, on the other hand, is brighter and leans toward lighter blue, exuding a more vibrant and tropical feel. Both are stunning, but their tones set them apart.

Q: What colors go with teal?

A: Now, that is a long and exciting list! From teal and grey, to teal and brown, to teal and pink, to teal and gold, there are almost an infinite amount of colors you can pair with this versatile hue. We’ll even show you a few of our favorite teal color combos below.

Part 2: Decorating with Teal

Teal Accent Walls

If your love of teal knows no bounds, show your commitment with a bold teal accent wall. Teal gives off calming vibes, and who doesn’t want to feel at peace and at ease whenever they walk into their space? Those who like teal are said to be open-minded, creative and artistic, so if you want to bring out those qualities, then bring on the teal.
teal color palette home decor 2023 rug

Teal Decor

If you prefer to sprinkle teal throughout your space, it makes for a great pop of color and even goes well with other shades of blue. In fact, you can create a serene sea-inspired space with teal accents - including lamps, pillows and throw blankets - plus a few coastal, beachy accessories.

Teal Furniture

Because teal goes with a variety of colors, you can use it on a variety of furniture pieces. From accent chairs, to dining chairs, to sofas, a design decked in teal adds just the right amount of flair to any room.
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Take Teal Outside

You can make the outdoors even more enticing by adding outdoor teal decor to your backyard. Thanks to teal’s tranquil and spiritual nature, you can even use this color to create your own personal zen retreat.

Teal Color Inspiration

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Editorial Disclaimer: Articles featuring tips and advice are intended for educational purposes and only as general recommendations. Always practice personal discretion when using and caring for furniture, decor and related items.