Turquoise Blue Color – How to Create a Turquoise Color Palette

The color turquoise is a favorite among many, as it is a shade of blue that has a calming and friendly feeling. Not only that, but it also conjures images of beautiful beaches and clear blue ocean water. Interested in using the turquoise blue color? Stick around to find out about the color combinations with turquoise, and how to make turquoise acrylic paint amongst other interesting facts about the color turquoise.

What Color Is Turquoise Blue?

Is turquoise a shade of blue? Turquoise can be described as a bluish-green color that is positioned between green and blue on the color wheel. You can say that it is a shade of blue, but it is more accurate to say that it is a shade of cyan, as it is a mixture of blue as well as green. However, there are many varieties of this color, some will lean more toward green while others will contain more blue.

When looking online for the color turquoise, you might also find different options, each with its own hex code that identifies them as a separate color. The only difference is in the color composition, which can vary slightly. In the table below, you can see an example of turquoise as well as different turquoise-blue. Each color displays a hex code, as well as other color codes related to printing and web design respectively.

Turquoise Blue Color: A Brief History

The color originally comes from a mineral with the same name. This mineral was first mined in Turkey and was then introduced to the European market in the 17^th century. The mines were located in the Province of Iran, which was then Persia as well as Afghanistan. The word “turquoise” is French and means “Turkish”. The name turquoise was first used as a color name in English in 1573.

The mineral itself is a beautiful blue-green color and is a rare and valued gem, which has been used in jewelry pieces for thousands of years.

In many cultures, the stone is seen as a talisman that can bring prosperity as well as protection. There is evidence that turquoise stones were used in items that date back to Ancient Egypt. Certain cultures like the Ancient Persian Empire believed that the gemstone could protect from unnatural death. If the gemstone appeared to change color, it was an indication that something awful was about to occur. However, it has been discovered that color changes can be caused by things like skin acidity or chemicals from cosmetics.

Today, wearing turquoise gemstones is also believed to have various benefits, such as helping to remove negative energy and improving emotions.  The turquoise gemstone is also seen a lot in the interiors and domes of large mosques in Iran as well as Russia, and Central Asia. The turquoise-blue color remains popular in all areas of design from web designs to fashion and interior design.

Meaning of Turquoise Blue

The color turquoise offers tranquility and has a calming effect and can help to improve emotional balance. Turquoise has a positive and uplifting energy and can help to lessen stress and feelings of loneliness. The turquoise blue color helps to calm the nervous system and can also help to improve concentration and builds confidence. The turquoise color is perfect if you wish to achieve clarity and open communication. However, too much turquoise can have a few negative effects. 

Instead of creating a tranquil atmosphere, it can do the opposite and becomes overstimulating, which can cause stress.

Shades of Turquoise Blue

There are various shades and tints of turquoise blue, some predominantly bluer, while others lean towards predominantly green. Below are just a few examples of shades of turquoise blue, however, there are many more for you to choose from.

Celeste

Celeste is a pale cyan or turquoise color that can be considered to have a bluer undertone. The color has been inspired by the clear blue skies from the word “celeste”, which means heavenly. 

The color is quite bright and is medium in saturation. 

Keppel

This particular color leans more toward a green undertone and can be described as a calming darker cyan color. Keppel is associated with intellect and creativity, which makes it the perfect color for larger businesses and other establishments.

Teal

Teal, also known as “Stormcloud”, is a popular color that can also be described as a darker shade of cyan that has gray undertones. The name comes from the color of the Common Teal bird, and the color around the eye. 

The color is calming and promotes balance and a sense of renewal. 

Color Combinations With Turquoise

You can easily create a beautiful turquoise color palette by combining it with colors like white, black, cream, green, pink, gray, brown, yellow, or various shades of blue. Learning all about color theory and understanding the color wheel can help you determine the best color palettes. Some of these color combinations can be seen below.

The color wheel represents all the colors visually, and their position helps to determine the color combinations. Other factors like color temperature also play a role, this means all your warm colors like red, and orange are on one side, while cooler blue and green colors can be found on the opposite side.

Complementary Turquoise Colors

Colors that play off each other or form contrasting colors, and are positioned opposite one another on the color wheel, are called complementary colors. When it comes to our specific turquoise blue color, its complement is pure red. 

However, you can also try various shades of red from darker varieties to pinks, or even a pink-orange color like coral.

Analogous Turquoise Colors

Colors that are close to one another or neighbors can be considered analogous colors. All of these colors should then have similar characteristics, for example, they are all cool colors. So, when taking turquoise blue, the analogous colors will be various greens and blues.

Monochromatic Turquoise Colors

Both analogous and monochromatic colors are easy to view and work harmoniously when paired together. Monochromatic colors are even more so, as it is a variety of a single color like turquoise. 

So, a turquoise color palette will have lighter and darker versions that can help to add depth to a design.

Triadic Turquoise Colors

Complementary colors and triadic colors are similar in that they both create colorful contrasts. Triadic colors are perceived as an even-sided triangular shape when you consider the color wheel. Other similar contrasting colors can be found in a square or tetradic color combination.

How to Make Turquoise Color Acrylic Paint

A turquoise color paint can be achieved by mixing some blue and green paint. To this, you can add white or yellow to lighten and brighten the color. However, achieving the best turquoise color is not as simple as it sounds. This is because some blue and green paints can have a different bias, meaning you can get blues that have more of a green undertone, or they can have more of a red undertone. 

Blue paint with a red bias will not produce the best turquoise, so you are looking for blue with a green bias.

Different paint manufacturers and paint colors are not the same, as each company has its own formulas. This is why you need to take note of paint labels when purchasing. This goes for all colors, which makes it quite possible for you to inadvertently mix all three primary colors, which will not give you the turquoise color you want. In color theory, mixing all primary colors will produce a muddy or brownish color.

When mixing turquoise, you can also experiment with different proportions. This should provide different shades of turquoise. You can try starting with a ratio of two parts blue to one part green. Also, remember to create a color chart of the color you mix, so you can refer back to it. Below are some examples of blue and green color paint choices you can use.

Turquoise Blue Interior Design Tips

The turquoise color is a great choice to add pops of color to a neutral color scheme. The color can easily be added through accessories like cushions, throws, chairs, rugs, or art pieces. If you are thinking of painting the walls, consider paler shades of turquoise or patterned wallpaper so that it does not become overstimulating. You can also bring in other patterns and textures to create more interest and depth. For example, the rug can have a pattern with turquoise or a darker turquoise shade velvet headboard.

Turquoise can be incorporated into most rooms, but it can also be used in office spaces or playrooms, as it helps to encourage creativity. Turquoise is a nice calming and cool color that can work in a bedroom, however, consider using it as an accent color because it can become too energetic if used as the base color. The turquoise blue color can also add pops of color to outdoor seating or as a playful color to kitchen cabinets. Remember, turquoise pairs well with neutral colors like white, gray, cream, or beige, and back. You can also layer colors by trying darker and lighter shades of green and blue with turquoise.

The turquoise blue color is a fairly easy color to work with, and many colors will pair well with it. Whether you wish to paint an ocean paradise landscape or incorporate it into your interior design color palette, the color turquoise is a popular and fashionable choice to benefit from!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Color Is Turquoise Blue?

Is turquoise a shade of blue? The turquoise blue color can be defined as a blush-green hue that can be found somewhere between blue and green when looking at the color wheel. There are many different shades of turquoise, but most would consider it a shade of blue.

What Are the Best Color Combinations With Turquoise?

Turquoise is easy to work with and goes well with most colors. However, neutral colors like white, gray, and brown work exceptionally well. Other colors that go with turquoise include various shades of blue and green. To create contrast, different shades of yellow, red, and orange can also work well.

Is Aqua the Same As Turquoise?

These are two distinct colors that are very similar. These two colors fall in the same family and only have slight variations in composition. Aqua can be considered a lighter shade of turquoise and is bluer, while turquoise is darker and has more of a greenish undertone to it.  

Charlene Lewis( Content Creator and Creativity Writer )

In 2005, Charlene completed her Wellness Diplomas in Therapeutic Aromatherapy and Reflexology from the International School of Reflexology and Meridian Therapy. She worked for a company offering corporate wellness programs for a couple of years, before opening up her own therapy practice. It was in 2015 that a friend, who was a digital marketer, asked her to join her company as a content creator, and this is where she found her excitement for writing.

Since joining the content writing world, she has gained a lot of experience over the years writing on a diverse selection of topics, from beauty, health, wellness, travel, and more. Due to various circumstances, she had to close her therapy practice and is now a full-time freelance writer. Being a creative person, she could not pass up the opportunity to contribute to the Art in Context team, where is was in her element, writing about a variety of art and craft topics. Contributing articles for over three years now, her knowledge in this area has grown, and she has gotten to explore her creativity and improve her research and writing skills.

Charlene Lewis has been working for artincontext.org since the relaunch in 2020. She is an experienced writer and mainly focuses on the topics of color theory, painting and drawing.

Learn more about Charlene Lewis and the Art in Context Team.