Introduction
Mint green is a pale tone of green that resembles the color of mint leaves. It’s a light, cool color that can vary slightly depending on the specific shade. When trying to determine the closest colors to mint green, there are a few key factors to consider.
Some of the most notable attributes of mint green are its vibrancy and brightness. It’s definitely on the lighter end of the green spectrum. At the same time, it has a touch more color saturation than a pastel green. The undertones also lean toward cool and blueish rather than warm and yellowish. With all that in mind, the colors that are likely to be closest to a true mint green hue are other light to medium greens with a cool, crisp feeling.
Colors With Similar Hues
Starting with the actual hue, there are a couple of greens that sit right next to mint green on the color wheel. The first is a color called celadon. Celadon is a pale grayish green that is sometimes described as a “washed out” mint hue. While more muted than mint green, it shares a close proximity on the color wheel. Other similar hues include pea green and maximum green. Pea green pulls a bit more yellow but remains light and bright. Maximum green, on the other hand, has a stronger blue character.
Additional greens in the same exact hue family as mint green include Maya green and soap green. Maya green is another pale, cool green named after the hue of the leaves of the Maya bay tree. Soap green describes a pale green color resembling classic green bars of soap. All of these colors share the same essential mint green qualities while having slight variations in saturation and lightness.
Colors With Similar Values
Beyond just hue, looking at the value, or lightness, of mint green can further help identify the closest shades. Mint sits on the lighter end of the spectrum. It’s much closer to white than black. With that in mind, pastel colors in similar hues also tend to be near matches.
Two examples of pale, light greens that align with the value of mint are honeydew and pistachio. Honeydew green is a very pale green, almost verging on a neutral grayish green. Pistachio is a pale yellowish green, lighter and less saturated than the actual nut color. While their hues vary subtly from mint, their lightness makes them appear closely related.
Going a bit darker in value leads to colors like tea green and inchworm green. Tea green is reminiscent of pale green tea leaves. Inchworm green takes its name from the greenish-yellow caterpillars. While not as vibrant a green as mint, their closer proximity on the value scale links them together.
Colors With Similar Saturation
The intensity and saturation of mint also distinguish it from darker, duller greens. When evaluating saturation, brighter spring and summery greens emerge as the closest matches.
Green colors that have a similar pop of intensity as mint include lime green, neon green, and harlequin green. Lime green is a vivid, almost acidic green. Neon green has that intense artificial glow. Harlequin is also a bright, bold green, sometimes leaning toward a yellowish hue. What they all have in common with mint is their ability to stand out and catch the eye.
Some more subdued greens can also be close to mint in saturation. While not quite as intense, seafoam green and spearmint still retain their vividness. Seafoam is a soothing pale green, sometimes mixed with a hint of blue. Spearmint looks like a natural mint leaf, lighter and less saturated than forest greens. Both have enough crispness and vibrancy to align with the mint color profile.
Colors with Similar Undertones
In addition to hue, value, and saturation, the undertones of mint green contribute to its distinctive look. Mint contains blue undertones rather than yellow, giving it a cooler, crisper feel. Colors that share these undertones inevitably coordinate well with mint shades.
Some examples of greens and blues that have similar cool undertones as mint are malachite, aquamarine, and viridian. Malachite is a green mineral rock with vivid cool green hues. Aquamarine is a pale sparkling blue gemstone. Viridian is an intense bluish green, almost teal. The presence of blue rather than yellow in these colors let them pair naturally with mint green’s cool personality.
Colors outside of the green family can also align with mint green if they share those blue undertones. Pastel purple, sky blue, and silver are just a few cool-toned options that complement the look of mint when paired together.
Colors that Contrast with Mint Green
Considering contrast is also helpful when evaluating a color. While many warm-toned shades can clash with mint green due to their differences, those very distinctions can also make them rich companions in the right context.
Some examples of colors that contrast sharply with mint green but still coordinate beautifully include peach, terracotta, and lilac. The orange undertones of peach and red-based terracotta play against the cool crispness of mint. Soft lilac with hints of pink and purple also provides an accent that distinguishes it from mint.
Certain warm beiges and browns like tan, taupe, and chestnut have an earthy richness that contrasts the freshness of mint but pairs nicely. Golden yellows and rich reds like crimson pop against a mint backdrop, giving contrast while also harmonizing in tone.
Comparing Mint Green to Actual Paint Colors
When envisioning what mint green looks like, it can be helpful to compare it to real paint shades. Several major paint companies provide specific mint green paint colors. Seeing these actual hues in context illustrates how they sit in relation to pure mint green.
This table compares mint green paints from leading brands:
| Brand | Mint Green Paint Color | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Moore | Mint Wisp Green | Soft, hazy green with barely a hint of yellow |
| Sherwin-Williams | Requisite Mint | Crisp, cool green with subtle blue undertones |
| Behr | Spa Green | Pale green with faint yellow undertones |
| Valspar | Cool Celadon | Silvery seafoam green with hints of blue |
| PPG | Moonlight Forest | Light spring green with yellow-green undertone |
Looking at these real mint paint options shows how mint green can vary in undertones and saturation while still retaining its essential cool, pale green character.
Using Mint Green in Design and Fashion
Understanding what colors go with mint green helps inform design choices when using mint as an accent color. In interior design, mint works well in cool-toned rooms, paired with colors like sky blue, lavender, and even pale pink. It can add a fun pop of color to white walls or neutral beige and gray color schemes.
In fashion, mint green is a spring staple, flattering many skin tones with its soft green hue. It pairs naturally with ocean blues, pinks, light yellows, and cream neutrals. Mint is commonly seen in spring wardrobes, light sweaters, florals, dresses, and accessories. Its versatility works with many styles from preppy to boho chic.
In both design and fashion, the ability to coordinate mint green with colors in the same hue, value, and saturation families helps extend its use. Matching its cool blue undertones with analogous cool-toned shades creates harmonious palettes. Contrasting its hue with warm accent colors helps mint green stand out.
Conclusion
When evaluating the colors closest to mint green, celadon, honeydew, and spearmint all share similarities in hue, value, and saturation. Pastel purples, sky blues, and seafoam greens parallel mint green’s cool blue undertones. Contrasting shades like peach, terra cotta, and crimson differentiate from mint while still coordinating. Comparing paint color options shows how mint varies from more blue-based to subtly yellow-tinged. Understanding mint green’s relationship with other shades allows designers and color enthusiasts alike to use it effectively.
