What Colors Go With Maroon? – Colors that Complement Maroon Décor

Maroon is considered a darker version of red, but in fact, it is more accurately described as a shade of brown. Maroon is created by mixing a bit of red with a lot of blue, and adding yellow until the desired maroon shade is achieved. Being a dark shade of red, maroon has a lot of positive connotations like love and passion. These characteristics together with the strength, quality, and reliability of brown make for a great mix.  When it comes to interior design, maroon can be a great large-scale color for walls, and also does very well as an accent color in the form of décor and furniture. Let’s have a look at colors that complement maroon that will in turn complete those interiors.

Maroon Color Combinations

Very dark shades of maroon tend to be recognized as more of a warm brown. The same rules for finding what colors go with brown apply to maroon as well. It is also important to note that maroon is often confused with burgundy. Burgundy has a prominent purple undertone, which makes the combinations for burgundy entirely different from combinations for maroon. It is important to consider color theory when choosing colors that complement maroon, as certain colors do clash with maroon. The following color theory rules are helpful when referring to the color wheel while using true maroon as your base color.

Complementary Color of Maroon

Complementary c olors are usually the first colors that people refer to when deciding what color combinations work best, and it is no different for assessing what colors go with maroon. The complementary color to maroon is a bright green that sits directly opposite maroon on the color wheel. This bright and cheerful color combination brings to mind holidays like Christmas. 

Muted variations of these complementary colors look great together when used for interior design purposes. 

Split Complementary Colors of Maroon

The split complementary colors of maroon are on either side of maroon’s complimentary green. These colors, identifiable as green and teal, can also be considered as colors that go with maroon. Split complementary colors have a bit more variety and can create very interesting combinations when used in interior design.

Monochromatic Colors of Maroon

The monochromatic colors of maroon range from very dark maroon to a very bright, almost neon pink rose color and everywhere in between. Although this might seem like a large spectrum of colors, it is safe to consider all of these as colors that complement maroon. 

Monochromatic colors are great to use when aiming to create a cohesive environment that won’t cause the eye to jump between different elements in the room and be visually draining.

Triadic Colors of Maroon

The triadic colors of true maroon are dark green-yellow and navy blue. These colors form a perfect triangle on the color wheel at 60-degree angles. Triadic colors to bright colors are usually very contrasting and straining on the eye, but because of the dark hue of maroon, its triadic colors create quite an interesting and contemporary color combination and can work great in an interior setting. Imagine a large red velvet sofa against a navy-blue wall with dark lime green cushions.

This color combination might not be at the top of your list when deciding what colors go with maroon, but it might be worth it to at least consider them as accent colors for maroon.

Analogous Colors of Maroon

Analogous colors appear on either side of the main color on the color wheel. When used in combination, these colors create a very harmonious, rainbow effect that most people tend to gravitate towards. These colors are usually of the same tonal value, in that they are either all warm or cold. In the case of true maroon, its analogous colors range from bright purple to dirty orange. 

These colors can be overpowering when used in combination on a big scale, but there is no harm in making good use of them as accent colors for maroon walls and furniture.

What Colors Go With Maroon?

Through assessment of the above color theories, it is clear that in theory there are many colors that complement maroon. Maroon is a great color to use as a base and can also act as a neutral in some instances. Maroon also does well as an accent color by making use of maroon décor or incorporating maroon in interior trims and rugs.

Maroon is widely known for being incorporated into school uniforms all over the world.

The reasoning behind this is that maroon symbolizes a sense of control, wisdom, and responsibility – all principals that most schools motivate their pupils to strive towards. This is another example of how maroon can be used as a neutral color. The symbolism of maroon makes it a great color to use in an area that requires discipline, such as a study.

Maroon is also renowned for being a spiritual color that emits calm and wisdom, as we can see maroon fabric draped around Buddhist monks. Because maroon has such a strong red undertone, it is also associated with the symbolism of red which includes passion, love, and danger. Red is also known for increasing the appetite, which makes it a great alternative to red when incorporating color into the design of a kitchen. Maroon is also associated with fall, as the changing colors of the falling leaves turn a dark red with time.

Maroon is a very popular color in the restaurant industry, and is especially popular in Italian restaurants, through their branding and interiors. This is most likely the cause of maroon being such a warm, inviting color as well as an appetite stimulant. The complementary color of maroon, which is green, is also used in combination with maroon in these restaurant logos.

Keeping the above color theory and color psychology in mind, we will be looking at different shades and variations of these colors that can be successfully combined with maroon in any interior.

Maroon Combined With Black

Neutrals, such as black, are always a great option when contemplating what colors go with maroon. Combining maroon and black sets the tone for a very dramatic atmosphere, which can look great. This color combination works especially well when you have a maroon wall and black furniture and accessories. A maroon kitchen with black countertops and cabinets will create the same effect. It is also a good idea to set off the dark colors with a pop of white throughout, just to balance everything out. 

Another great combination in a kitchen: maroon walls, white counters, and countertops, with black ironmongery and plumbing accessories. 

Maroon Combined With Taupe

A neutral taupe is a great color to use as a base for maroon accents. If you have any shade of maroon furniture and are unsure of what wall color to combine it with, taupe is a great option. Neutral taupe is best, and a cool taupe is second-best in combination with maroon. Avoid warm taupe where maroon is very prominent in the room.

Maroon Combined With Navy Blue

Navy blue and maroon are quite the popular combination in interior design. The reasoning may be because they are such stark contrasts in every sense – with maroon being as dark a warm red as possible, and navy blue being as dark a cool blue as possible. Although a great combination, these two colors should never be used within the same ratio in an interior. This specific combination works best when a base color is chosen, and the other color is only used minimally as a pop of color. 

Blue walls look great with minimal maroon décor and vice versa.

Maroon Combined With Gray

This combination works very well when a cool gray is used as the backdrop on which maroon décor or furniture is present. If, for example, the desired aesthetic of a space is industrial-themed, a warm maroon rug can do wonders for cold, concrete floors offset with monotone gray walls. Maroon is a great alternative to red in a case such as this, where a bright red would have been too much against the monotonous backdrop and would have taken away from it rather than enhance the industrial aesthetic of the space.

Maroon Combined With Green

We already know that green goes well with maroon because green is the complementary color of maroon, but it is important to consider the shade and tone of green to combine with maroon. Because maroon is such a warm-toned color, it looks great when offset with a contrasting cool green. This creates a very contemporary look as is best used when maroon is the base color and green is used as an accent color for maroon in the form of soft furnishings or décor.

It is important to note that with complementary colors such as these, it is a good idea to use a neutral buffer color, like white, in between. For example, if you have a maroon-colored wall in your bedroom, instead of having full-blown green bedding, rather opt for white bedding with a green throw at the base. 

This method gives the eye a break when moving from one contrasting color to another and creates a much more cohesive environment. 

Maroon Combined With Beige

Maroon and beige are also very popular color combinations in interior design. This is visible in many textiles and patterns such as those on Persian rugs. In most cases, Persian rugs consist of a maroon ornamental pattern on top of a beige background.

Together, these two colors result in a very warm and cozy color combination, and it is a good idea to stay clear of cool colors when using these two as the main combination in interior design. Ensure that the beige is more muted, and not as saturated with yellow undertones, as this has the potential to look very outdated.

Maroon is a beautiful, rich color with lots of personality that can brighten up almost any space. Combining colors with maroon can easily be done by referring to color theory. Think of maroon as a neutral color, and the combinations are endless. Keep in mind that maroon is a very dominant color and the shades used are very important.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Colors Go With Maroon Walls?

If you have or are thinking of painting your walls maroon, you have one of two options: Letting the walls be the star of the show by using neutral colors such as gray, black, and creams as accent colors, or balancing everything out by making use of complementary colors in your furniture and décor, such as green and blue.

What Colors Go With a Maroon Rug?

Maroon rugs are very popular, especially Persian-style maroon rugs. These rugs are usually very oriental and busy, and it is best to let the rug be the focal point of the room and to use paint, furniture, and décor as the backdrop. Neutrals such as black, gray, and beige are great combinations for maroon rugs. If the rug in question is more of a solid maroon color, it is best to balance it out with blue and green complementary colors for furniture and décor.

Is Maroon a Good Color for a Living Room?

Yes, maroon is a great color to use n a living room. The reasoning behind this is that maroon is a very warm and cozy color, which, most likely than not, is a feeling you would like to create in a living room. As previously mentioned, maroon looks great as a wall color, and this applies in a living room as well.  Maroon furniture works well in a living room scenario as well, especially when the living room is of an industrial style, maroon can be used to warm it up.

Are Maroon and Burgundy the Same Color?

Maroon and burgundy get mixed up frequently. Maroon has much more of a brown undertone and burgundy has a very distinct purple undertone. Burgundy results in being a much brighter and more vibrant color with very distinct undertones and is more difficult to create color combinations for.

What Is the Complementary Color of Maroon?

The complementary colors of maroon can be viewed as the same, but darker shades as the complementary colors for red. In other words, green is the complementary color of maroon and is theoretically one of the colors that complement maroon the most. Using very dark, emerald green with maroon works well, as well as muted, cool greens. Avoid pairing very bright greens with maroon.

Kylie Deyzel( Interior Designer )

Kylie Deyzel is an interior designer and sustainability enthusiast from Cape Town, South Africa. She has a passion for writing and educating others on various interior design topics. Her favorite interior design topics include interior design theory, interior design history, and most of all: sustainable interior design.

She received her B-tech degree in interior design from the University of Johannesburg in 2018 and has worked at various interior design firms since and had a few of her own freelance interior design clients under her company name binnekant.

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