Green is a versatile color that can complement a wide range of other colors. However, there are certain colors that do not pair well with green and can make an unappealing or clashing color combination. As a color commonly found in nature, green goes well with other earthy and natural tones, but should typically be avoided when paired with certain shades that have starkly contrasting undertones.
Warm Colors
In general, green does not look very good when paired with warm colors like red, orange, and yellow. Green is a cool-toned color, meaning it has blue undertones. On the other hand, warm colors have yellow, orange, or red undertones. When you put a cool color together with a warm color, the result is often a high-contrast, visually jarring pairing.
For example, combining a leafy green with a bright orange or tomato red can overstimulate the eyes. The high contrast of the shades right next to each other creates too much visual tension. An analogous color scheme that uses colors next to each other on the color wheel tends to be more pleasing to the eye.
Some shades of green work alright with warmer yellow-greens or chartreuse, but mixing a cool green with a hot red or orange rarely looks good. It’s best to avoid placing a vivid warm color like vermilion, pumpkin orange, or sunflower yellow directly next to a cool emerald, mint, or forest green.
Purple
Purple is another color that traditionally clashes with green. Like green, purple is a secondary color on the color wheel. But rather than being a cool color, purple has both warm and cool undertones. The clash comes from purple’s combination of warm red undertones with cool blue undertones, which green does not mesh well with.
Vivid purples like royal purple, orchid, or eggplant tend to look garish and off-putting when combined with kelly green, viridian, or other blue-toned greens. Clear variations of purple with less red in them, like lilac or lavender, may work if the green is also muted down.
For example, a soft sage green could pair decently with a pale mauve or lavender shade of purple. But in general, green and purple are very different colors with competing undertones that make them uneasy bedfellows in most cases.
| Color | Undertone |
|---|---|
| Green | Cool, blue |
| Red | Warm, yellow/orange |
| Orange | Warm, yellow/orange |
| Yellow | Warm, yellow |
| Purple | Cool and warm, blue and red |
Browns
Brown is a controversial color pairing with green. Some shades of brown work well with green, while others clash. Generally, greens pair best with browns that have yellow, green, or blue undertones.
Warm brown shades with orange or red undertones tend to clash with cool greens. For example, pairing hunter green with a red-brown terra cotta shade would be jarring. But pair that same hunter green with an olive brown, taupe, or soft brown with subtle blue undertones and the combination can look very harmonious.
When working with greens and browns, look at the specific undertones of each shade. Muted greens work well with complex earthy browns that have a mix of undertones. Avoid matching a vibrant teal or emerald green with a rich mahogany or umber shade of brown.
Gray
Gray and green can be a sophisticated color combination when done properly, but there are a few caveats. The main issue with pairing green and gray is that both colors are inherently muted and subtle. Putting two soft, muted shades together can sometimes create a bland, boring combination.
To make green and gray work, choose a vibrant, energizing green and pair it with a cooler grey. For example, a bright lime green will pop against a light to mid-range gray. Or a cool sage green could complement a blue-gray nicely. Steer clear of matching a pale, muted green with a pale, muted gray as it will just wash each out.
It’s also best to avoid pairing a green with a distinctly warm gray, as the red/orange undertones in the gray will clash with the green. Stick to neutral grays or those with blue/green undertones when combining with a green hue.
Pink
Pairing green with pink can be seen as tacky or suggestive of the colors of mold, making many designers and artists shy away from this combination. There are a few exceptions where green and pink can work together though.
Pastel greens and pinks can make for a cute spring or Easter color palette when done carefully. A seafoam green could complement a baby pink nicely. Or a pale sage green could pair alright with a muted dusky rose tone.
Vibrant hot pinks should generally be avoided with greens though, as the high contrast will be visually abrasive. Stick to softer, lighter pinks and pair them with similarly pale greens to avoid a clashing neon color combination.
Conclusion
When it comes to determining what colors clash with green, looking at the undertones is key. In general, green does not pair well with warm colors that have yellow, orange, and red undertones. Colors like red, orange, bright pink, and warm shades of purple, brown, and gray can often clash with green hues.
The safest color pairings for green involve neutral, cool colors like blues, cooler browns and grays, and pastel pinks and purples. Pay attention to keeping the shades cohesive in lightness/vibrance as well. Avoid matching a bright green with a pale, muted color as the contrast will be too stark.
With some awareness of undertones and contrast levels, green can be combined tastefully with a wide array of complementary hues for beautiful, nature-inspired color palettes.