Make Your Room Sing: Colours That Rhyme With Turquoise

There are many thoughts that pass through an artist’s mind whilst creating a piece of work, and interior design is probably the last. It can feel not in the spirit of things to talk also about art in relation to curtain and paint swatches. But living with art is the ultimate privilege and one we truly believe in. And there are ways to have these conversations that maintain the integrity of the artwork.

Start With Art

Studio Ashby, who recommended us in Vogue, are known for putting art first and this is an approach we wholeheartedly believe in. In this approach, you design a room around a piece of art, using it to inject warmth, energy, and life into the space.

This concept is all about capturing the essence and emotion of the piece, allowing it to dictate the atmosphere of the room. Designers often take a painting or artwork and create a space that feels like a natural extension of that piece. Whether it’s the colours, the mood, or the style of the work, art can lead you to discover unexpected combinations and harmonies within the room.

Inspiration

For inspiration, you can browse our Curated Collections or see work hanging on walls in our blog post Artworks In Collectors’ Homes.

Colour Wheel Theory

Colour wheels are a tool that help us understand how colours interact. Colours are arranged in a circle, two ways to explore combinations in design are: complementary colours (contrasting) and analogous (side-by-side) colours.

Complementary colours sit opposite each other on the colour wheel - think of red and green, blue and orange, or purple and yellow. While these colour combinations can be dramatic and high-contrast, because these are based on primary colours, which can feel a bit harsh in some contexts. Here, we’re looking at a more sophisticated version of this concept - taking more nuanced and refined variations of those colours. For example, instead of using red and green, you might work with deep rust and khaki, or coral and teal, which soften the contrast but still provide that energetic push. These more sophisticated colour pairings create wonderful contrast in a way that feels more luxurious and harmonious.

In a different approach colours that sit side-by-side on the colour wheel are called analogous colours. These colours work harmoniously together, creating a calm, soothing effect in a room. When using analogous colours - such as turquoise with blues, greens, or purples - you’ll find they blend seamlessly and don’t overpower each other, allowing for a gentle, cohesive space.

Turquoise

We’ve featured a few works below that would be particularly effective in a room with turquoise. Perhaps you have a turquoise feature wall, a deep velvet sofa, or soft grey walls with cool turquoise undertones.

Turquoise inhabits a beautiful space between blue and green. For drama, go with an opposite colour like orangey red, pink, or coral. Or to create a gentle and relaxing feeling, pick colours that sit next to turquoise on the colour wheel—blues, greens, purples, and acid yellows.

When incorporating turquoise into a room, think about using it as a focal point or as a supporting colour. For example, a painting with a turquoise accent could guide you to use the same tone throughout other elements, such as turquoise glassware or soft fabrics in similar shades. If the artwork features deep turquoise, accentuate that richness with complementary coral or sienna for warmth and contrast.

Works That Create Drama & Contrast with Turquoise

10M Rise by Rachel Mcdonnell. 90 x 65 cm. Oil on canvas.

Another Day by Imi Williams. 40 x 50 cm. Oil on canvas.

The Three Flowers by Glib Franko. 120 x 130 cm. Oil on linen.

Waiting For the Promise of Spring by Michaela Hollyfield. 51 x 51 cm. Oil on canvas.

11 Bateman Road by Andrew Szczech. 122 x 103 cm.

Painting in pigmented traditional gesso on canvas on board

Overgrown Purple by Sophie Baker. 35 x 45 cm. Oil on canvas.

Jay Bird by Emma Phillips. 10 x 10 cm. Oil on board.

“the Emerald” by Maryna Shkoliar. 30 x 30 cm. Acrylic on canvas.

Tree of Umnollidge by Ed Saye. 120 x 150 cm. Oil on canvas.

Extended Family by Dominika Prinzova. 30 x 24 cm. Oil on canvas.

Reflection in a Train Window by Alice Barker. 120 x 150 cm. Oil on canvas.

You can browse a selection of works that include pink, coral and orange for a dramatic pairing with turquoise. Or blues and greens for serenity and calm.

Works harmonising with Turquoise