IDEAS
What colour goes with taupe? 11 cosy colours
Updated 02/26
By: Sarah P
Taupe is a beautiful colour; with its natural hue and many shades, taupe can blend in with almost any colour scheme. Check out all of our favourite taupe pairings to tone down or liven up any room.
Do not, under any circumstances, assume that taupe is boring.
Taupe is a classic, personality-infused, versatile colour and a great partner to many neutral and novel colours.
With taupe, you can choose from a broad spectrum of shades, from light to dark.
Choose light shades of taupe for a sleek and straightforward base
Use darker shades to show a little creativity in your colour scheme
Interior design ideas for taupe
Complementing taupe
Colours that go well together
Room layout and colour matching
If you’re looking for the ultimate autumn vibes in your redecorating project but are unsure what colour goes with taupe, we've got you covered.
Find out what colour taupe goes with and how to use it to decorate your home.
What colour is taupe?
Homeowners commonly ask, ‘Is taupe brown or grey?’ Or, you might hear taupe referred to as ‘greige’ (a mix of grey and beige), but neither is right.
Taupe is a blend of brown and grey tones with warmer undertones.
Available in many shades, taupe can appear warmer or cooler based on the hue and saturation.
It is natural, earthy shade
It can add a sense of calm to any room
Taupe can also make it look like an interior designer has been at work
Before choosing taupe, always consider the natural light your chosen room receives in a day. Taupe can change its tone and mood depending on how much natural light it gets.
What colour goes with taupe?
With over 50 shades of taupe to choose from, what colour taupe goes with depends on the room and interior design scheme.
A light shade of taupe makes small and dark rooms brighter and more spacious
A darker shade of taupe creates a sense of luxury and intimacy, making a large open space feel cosy.
Choose taupe with warm undertones like yellow, pink or red for a cosy, warm glow. Or, for a cooler, more contemporary vibe, go for taupes with green or blue undertones.
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Popular taupe colour pairings
Before you get to the decorating stage, decide if you want a warm or cool base. This will help you decide which colours to pair taupe with.
We also recommend hiring a professional painter/decorator to achieve the clean lines and smooth paint job your home deserves.
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Keep reading to see all our favourite taupe colour pairings below.
1. Opt for all taupe
A popular way to style taupe is to simply use taupe in various shades in a monochromatic colour scheme.
You can use taupe in its darkest to lightest shades on multiple surfaces for a cohesive, interesting, timeless design
Different sheens, like matte on walls and satin on wood surfaces like skirting and furniture, create a subtle contrast
Choose deeper taupe pillows, throws and rugs to add depth and interest
Using a monochromatic colour scheme also shines the spotlight on any interesting architectural details like moulding or old windows.
2. Do Grey and taupe go together?
Yes, you should absolutely consider pairing taupe and grey if you want a modern and minimalist space.
Combine cool grey with warmer taupes, like greens or browns, for a look with more depth
Add accents of dark and warm grey for extra interest
To avoid these two colours looking too similar and drowning each other out, pair taupe and grey in alternate undertones.
3. Be bold with blue and taupe
‘Do blue and taupe go together?’ Yes, taupe is the perfect base for bold blue colour schemes.
When choosing a taupe base, bright and bold blues blend seamlessly while adding interest points. In contrast, warm, brown-based taupes look great with pale and pastel blues like periwinkle and seafoam.
To balance this neutral colour palette, bold blues add some serious excitement to your home.
4. Pretty in pastel pink
Because taupe has warm undertones, it pairs nicely with pink.
You can choose either blush pink or pastel pink
Pink and taupe match to create a subtle tonal finish
When looking for a colour scheme a little brighter, but not bold, choose pink in pastels, jewel tones or blush for a timeless look.
5. Taupe and trusty green
Spruce up any neutral shade with lush, warm undertones of vivid greens like forest green or dark emerald.
If more natural shades of green are your thing:
Sage
Olive green
Moss green
However, for a cooler design scheme, use taupe as a base with sage or olive green accents in combination with gold metallic details for a sense of luxury.
Darker shades of green look stunning as an accent wall.
Add some green accent pieces like pillows and throws, and throw in some industrial style lighting and furnishings for a real contemporary finish.
6. Wrap taupe in warmth
The cosy undertones of taupe make it a perfect choice for:
Warm woods
Brass
Gold accents
Use taupe as a dominant colour on walls and combine it with deep, devilishly warm tones and accents to create a sense of elegance and sophistication.
For a rustic look, keep your walls neutral or off-white, paint your trim and doors taupe, and pair them with real bare wood.
When it comes to rustic colours for your kitchen, several shades naturally fit this aesthetic, including dusty blue, sage green, beige, taupe, burnt orange, and lots of medium to dark woods.
If you love the bare wooden ceiling and barn style doors of the above bedroom, a carpenter can help you achieve this rustic look.
If you need help finding a carpenter, check out our helpful article here.
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7. Burgundy and taupe
If you need your bedroom decor to pop, consider combining taupe and burgundy to create a warm and cosy feel.
Paint your walls in burgundy
Choose taupe and burgundy for flooring, textiles and accent pieces
This is a great way to create a living room that oozes warmth and luxury, as you can see from the contrasting colours in this concept image.
8. Try terracotta
Using taupe as a base and terracotta accents in your living room lets you create a sense of harmony.
Both colours have warm, earthy undertones, making them a perfect pairing.
Throw in cooler undertones of taupe, mixed with some grey and green like the stunning living room below, to add texture and interest without overdoing it.
9. Do taupe and beige go together?
Taupe is a perfect addition to a modern neutral living room or farmhouse monochromatic theme.
Pair taupe with:
You can keep your neutral colours for the walls. You can then pair with deeper beiges and taupes in fabrics and accents like bed linen, curtains and cushions.
Why not try a dark taupe rug under a coffee table? How about taupe curtains and throw pillows?
Alternatively, textured woven blankets, or beige upholstered furniture. Ask a painter/decorator for their advice.
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10. Do brown if you dare
With slight brown undertones, taupe pairs exceptionally well with brown accents for spaces made truly for relaxing.
Go for subtle brown pieces and clean lines so you don’t overpower the taupe
Add a touch of black or charcoal for definition and contrast
As you can see from the bedroom below, brown and taupe combine to create a stunning, cosy and inviting space fit for a cosy lodge.
11. Don’t forget metals
As a neutral tone, taupe is brought out of its shell with shiny metals.
If you’re in the design process now:
Consider adding metal tones to your taupe interior design
Combine metallics with taupe for a more luxurious, elegant feel
Use copper, bronze and gold that boast warmer metallic tones
Use metal to contrast and to subtly accentuate taupe's subtle, earthy undertones
When choosing taupe with cooler, grey undertones, gold accents can create a stunning sense of contrast.
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What rooms look best with taupe?
Choosing taupe in your colour scheme creates a calm and snug atmosphere. As a colour, it can be perfect for entertaining, relaxing, family time, and sleeping, like bedrooms and living rooms.
However, taupe’s serene nature is also perfect for spa-like bathrooms and modern kitchens.
Use taupe bathrooms to create a spa-like peaceful space - try taupe walls with crisp white tiles and vanities, or vice versa.
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Summary for taupe design ideas
If you're feeling overwhelmed by all the taupe shades, try out a colour wheel to find the best colours for your living room. Or, simply lean into bolder, warmer tones to match the undertones of taupe.
You can also use taupe to avoid pesky beige flags in any room in your home.
You can also call in a professional interior designer to help you achieve the home decor of your dreams.
Recommended read before hiring a tradesperson: how to find a good tradesperson.
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