Many shy away from using softer shades in their home as it can be harder to work out what colors go with mint green, powdery pink and baby blue without the space feeling juvenile. But that's precisely what makes them so punchy when you get it right.
In fact, there are a plethora of colors that go with mint green in particular. The sweet, sorbet-inspired shade is bright and zesty, and can lift an interior, adding energy and a sense of optimism. "Where a rich statement shade can be overwhelming in a large space and a pale neutral can appear sterile, a pastel shade such as mint can add warmth and color without being overbearing," says Benjamin Moore's director of international marketing, Helen Shaw.
And there's never been a better time to introduce a fresh mint green into your interiors. The shade is heavily rooted in nature's influence, but also has a retro edge that harks back to the 1950s. So, if you're looking for what colors go with green in this soft, minty form, here are some designer-approved pairings to inspire you.
1. MINT GREEN AND ORANGE
For a vibrant pairing, you may be surprised to discover that mint green is one of the colors that goes with orange. The russet tones give the green warmth, while the mint helps to calm the bold brightness of orange.
New York-based designer Evan Edward demonstrates this particularly punchy pairing in the scheme above, where mint green cabinetry cleverly contrasts with the bright orange walls. "The kids' study is located close to the formal dining room which is full of rich shades of gold, honey onyx and emerald green," he explains. "We carried this palette into the study but wanted to make it feel more playful (the clients have two boys under six years old) while remaining consistent with the formal spaces."
2. MINT GREEN AND GRAY
For a refreshing look, mint green and gray come together in perfect harmony. The stony, at-times charcoal color allows for the fresh green to really pop without it overwhelming the space. The result is a soft scheme that works well, and is a sophisticated mint green bedroom decorating idea (if you're looking for one).
In the gray living room above, mint has been balanced across the room's decor choices. "We decided to give center stage to this painting so we designed the rest of the room to celebrate it," says Fanny Abbes, creative director of Brooklyn-based interior studio The New Design Project.
"The painting has a grayish background so it just made sense to me to echo it with a gray daybed. The same way, we used the other textile accents like pillows and rugs to give even more of a lift to the painting colors to compose a fresh look. Even the wall color, a very light gray has a very soft green undertone," she adds.
3. MINT GREEN AND LAVENDER
The old adage says that 'purple and green should never be seen' but that's simply not true. All you have to do is look to the beauty of the natural world to discover that the two shades, even in their softest forms, make for a pretty pairing; green absolutely is a color that goes with purple.
The lavender plant itself has a soft, minty green stem and flowers, so why wouldn't it work in your home? Case in point: this bedroom scheme by interior studio and paint brand YesColours, who are known for their scientific approach to color matching.
4. MINT GREEN AND RED
This year the unexpected red theory has taught us all that red complements a number of color schemes we may not have previously expected it to have, and that includes mint green.
In the open plan living space shown above, the team at Owl Design have layered a soft mint green and pale blue on the walls, and accented the space with an accent chair upholstered in a deep red velvet. Elsewhere in the space, a red vase, flowers, dining chairs and plant pot, also sing against the soothing pale backdrop, the mix of warm and cool color schemes providing a comforting balance.
5. MINT GREEN AND NAVY BLUE
Another surprising mint green color palette is when the fresh shade is paired with deep navy blue kitchen cabinets. As seen in this kitchen by deVOL, the two shades share a cool undertone, but contrast in intensity and brightness, balancing each other out.
The mint green walls also create a striking backdrop to this otherwise traditional design, and make the artwork and more decorative elements of the kitchen really stand out.
6. MINT GREEN AND WHITE
Mint green also works well when paired with bright white, giving an otherwise pared back and neutral scheme a soft touch of color. It also helps the mint come to the fore in a modern and minimal way. In the example above by Saudi Arabia and Türkiye-based Rejo Design Studio, the white backdrop provides a canvas for the mint green sofa to shine.
"We define the harmony between the two colors by using specific materials and color shades to reach the feeling we want to reflect in the space," says the studio's Reem Olyan. "It's not just the green and white colors here, it is the green velvet and rough white wall mixed with the wood of the table, which produce the harmonious scheme as a whole."
Price: $38.98/gallon
7. MINT GREEN AND WOOD
The minty green kitchen of British cook Rachel Khoo often features in the background of her social videos. Designed by deVOL, the look was custom-made for her, and the fresh kitchen color idea gives a certain vibrancy to the space.
It also demonstrates how it's not just other colors that can complement a tone like mint green, but textures as well. The worktops here are made from reclaimed Iroko, a large hardwood tree, and have been sanded back and oiled to add a contemporary and warm complement to the mint.
8. MINT GREEN AND TAN BROWN
Both often found in nature, mint green is also a color that goes with brown, and more specifically, shades of tan, as seen in the Beverly Hills Spanish Colonial home of interior designer Kelly Wearstler.
Sitting in the vestibule of a powder room is a pair of Utrecht chairs by the Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld that Kelly upholstered in her iconic geometric 'District' fabric, with its cleverly clashing colors of warm pink, tan and pops of mint green.
9. MINT GREEN AND PINK
In this pretty pastel-colored space, a soft mint green and baby pink form the backdrop to an energizing aqua accent color. Interior design firm 2LG Studio say they like to use this palette wherever possible. "This green works beautifully with the pale white-washed oak, as they're both cool tones," they explain. "We used accents of warm pink to complement the combination and a bespoke table with chunks of pink and gold made in collaboration with Olivia Aspinal x 2LG."
In this particular project, each element was inspired by found objects and prints from within the house. Its previous owner had a passion for interiors, and had painted the walls throughout in a pink paint with green carpets. The studio used this fondness for all things retro as inspiration for the new scheme.
What room best suits mint green?
"Mint green always feels like you're bringing the sunshine into your home," says designer Christina Nielsen, of the eponymous design studio. "I always think of a 1950s-esque kitchen with a black and white checkered floor when it comes to mint green. It's great in a nursery and I love the look of mint green in small rooms such as a powder room or laundry. Smaller spaces with color allows for larger visual impact."
But you don't have to cover the entire room in mint green. Instead, find little moments that will make the shade sing. "A great way of incorporating a pop of color is through painting your window in a mint green," Christina continues. "I love the contrast of walls and trim colors. This one will really stand out yet is calm and neutral enough to be timeless."
