The Secrets to Decorating with Jewel Tones for a Colorful and Happy Home
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Bold and beautiful, jewel tones exist in a color class all their own. Whether you’re peppering them into an airy space for extra pizzazz or going all-in with color drenching, these sophisticated shades are capable of turning even the staunchest neutral-lover into a maximalist. Below, we’ll walk you through exactly what shades you’ll find in a jewel tone palette, tell you how to pick complementary colors with ease, and give you tips on bringing home the look with a certifiably country spin. Then, you’ll find some of our favorite jewel-toned rooms with insider, designer-approved tips on making jewel tones work for you.
So What Are Jewel Tones, Exactly?
Jewel tones, like their name indicates, are a range of colors inspired by gemstones. While there is no hard-and-fast rule about what constitutes a jewel tone, these cool-toned shades are typically saturated versions of red, green, purple, blue, and yellow. (Think rubies, garnets, emeralds, amethysts, sapphires, and striking citrines.) Saturation levels, aka how bold a color is, are key in deciphering which shades of a base color actually count as a jewel tone. For example, while aubergine and lilac are both variations of purple, only aubergine would count as a jewel tone due to its deep, power-forward undertone.
What Colors Go Well with Jewel Tones?
The easiest colors to pair with jewel tones are other jewel tones; the second easiest are metallics. Just as you would choose silver or gold for a ring or necklace, you can accent a jewel-tone-filled room with pops of brass or nickel finishes. If metallics aren’t your thing, look to the muddier side of the paint color fan deck. Shades with distinctive gray or black undertones help balance a room that is filled with bold color. Crisp blacks or warm white paint colors are also always good options to pair with jewel tone palettes.
How to Decorate with Jewel Tones
Rustic furnishings are the perfect compliment to jewel tones. Warm, worn woods or chippy painted furniture will help ground a room with saturated colors. For textiles, texture is key to crafting a welcoming feel. Choose nubby wovens or thick woolen materials over equally rich fabrics such as velvet or mohair. Jewel tones are also a popular choice for rooms with fall-inspired palettes, so always be sure to pair them with something that has a little warmth to make your room extra cozy.
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Craft a Jewel Tone Kitchen
In this rustic mountain kitchen, homeowner Amy Whyte created a jewel-tone-infused kitchen by pairing a salvaged sapphire blue apothecary-turned-kitchen-cabinet with a glossy emerald green stove. Brass, copper, and ochre yellow accents pull the palette together.
Get the Look:
Backsplash Tile: “Nostalgia” by Lauren Liess
RELATED: Tour More of This Virginia Cottage That’s Straight Out of A Storybook.
Opt for Ochre
In this historic 385-year-old Cape Cod home, period-appropriate pops of of sun-baked gold pair well with the creamy white paint on the walls and floor. An antique gilt Federal mirror adds a metallic hit to the airy space.
Get the Look:
Door and Trim Paint Color: For similar, Damask Gold by Benjamin Moore
Wall Paint Color: Drop Cloth by Farrow & Ball
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Pick a Bold Purple
In this aubergine mudroom, designed by Whittney Parkinson, brick tile floors laid in a herringbone pattern add a workhorse vibe to the buttoned-up space. Color drenching a small room such as this is an easy, low-lift (and budget-friendly) way to add loads of charm.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: For similar, Grape Juice by Benjamin Moore
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Embrace Emerald Green
A rich, verdant green was the natural choice for landscape gardener Anthony Brewington’s home office. Pair bold shades, like this green, with relaxed, patinaed materials, such as the salvaged desk, to cozy up a colorful space.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: Clover Green by Benjamin Moore
Drafting Stool: Lancaster Stool by Webstaurant Store
RELATED: Our Favorite Home Office Ideas That’ll Keep You Inspired While You Work
Select Sapphire Blues
In this cozy living room designed by husband-and-wife team Stephenie and Chase Watts, deep, dusty blue walls provide a pleasantly toned-down backdrop for bolder hues such as the sapphire blue velvet curtains and faded orange wingback chairs.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: Midnight Blue by Benjamin Moore
Curtain Panels: Velvet Curtains in Blue Indigo from Amazon
RELATED: These Are The 25 Dreamiest Blue-Gray Paint Colors
Gussy It Up with Garnet
Just a hint of purple takes this happy red into jewel tone territory. Crisp white ironstone accents and beadboard paneling add country charm to the display space.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: Magenta by Benjamin Moore
RELATED: The Collector’s Guide to Ironstone Pottery
Go Tone-on-Tone
An antique painted dresser and vintage Popsicle stick lamp add a rustic flair to this bedroom decked out in shades of emerald green. Going tone-on-tone allows bolder shades to take center stage without stealing all the spotlight.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: For similar, Steamed Spinach by Benjamin Moore
RELATED: These Colors Pair Perfectly With Green!
Go for Gold
It’s no secret we’re big fans of painted floors. In this Maine cottage, an airy dining room benefits from a shock of citrine yellow. When paired with scrubbed pine furniture, the happy floors feel rustic rather than preppy.
Get the Look:
Floor Paint Color: Citron by Farrow & Ball
RELATED: Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Painting Your Floors
Add Just a Pop with Paint
A touch of midnight teal adds a sophisticated, masculine feel to this nautical-themed, all-white bedroom. Subtle starry accents and the model ship bring a bit of much-needed playfulness to the mantel.
Get the Look:
Mantel Paint Color: For similar, Country Squire by Sherwin-Williams
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Play Up the Palette with Textiles
If bold painted interiors aren’t your thing, you can still bring touches of jewel tones to a room through furniture and textiles. In this entryway designed by Cameron Ruppert, a happy green hall tree pairs beautifully with a purple patterned Roman shade. The graphic rug ties both together, while the wood and rattan furniture pieces balance out the bold colors and add to the room’s country chic feel.
Get the Look:
Wallpaper: “Klöverblad” by Svenskt Tenn
Roman Shade Fabric: “Bali Hai” by Quadrille
Hall Tree Paint Color: For similar, Celtic Green by Benjamin Moore
Pair Like with Like
Jewel tones will always look good when paired with other jewel tones. In this dining room, a deep, moody teal-green allows a bright, happy purple tablecloth to pop.
Get the Look:
Wall Paint Color: Observatory by Behr
Tablecloth: For similar, “Ambroeus” by Furbish Studio
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