What Colours Go With Terracotta? Palettes for Every Room
Terracotta is the warm, earthy orange-brown of clay pots and Mediterranean tiles. The colours that go best with it are sage, cream, navy, ochre and blush, with natural wood and linen to finish. For contrast, pair it with a cool green or blue; for a softer look, layer it with other warm, sunbaked shades.
Below: eight colours that go with terracotta and where to use them, the combinations to avoid, and how to bring terracotta into your wall art.
Prints for this look
The colour palette
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Colours that go with terracotta
- Sage and olive green. Green sits across the colour wheel from terracotta's red-orange, so sage is its natural complementary colour. The pairing feels fresh and earthy, like plants in clay pots.
- Cream and warm white. The simplest terracotta colour scheme. Cream lets terracotta glow and keeps the room light. Use it on walls if terracotta is the accent.
- Navy and deep blue. Blue is orange's opposite, so navy gives terracotta the strongest contrast. It suits living rooms and dining rooms with a slightly Mediterranean feel.
- Ochre and mustard. An analogous palette: warm neighbours on the wheel that make the room feel sunny. Keep one of them dominant.
- Blush and peach. Soft, warm tones that turn terracotta gentle and modern. Lovely in bedrooms.
- Dusty blue and teal. Lighter and brighter than navy, these give a relaxed, coastal contrast.
- Natural wood, rattan and linen. Terracotta is an earthy colour, so natural materials always suit it. They are the heart of a boho room.
- Charcoal and black accents. Thin black frames, lamp bases and ironwork give terracotta definition and stop it feeling too soft.
Colours that don't go with terracotta
- Bright orange and neon shades. They make terracotta look dull and brown by comparison.
- Pillar-box red. Two reds of different temperature compete. Deeper burgundy or rust works better.
- Cold, blue-grey and stark white. They can make terracotta look heavy, like brick. Warm whites and greige are kinder.
- Warm on warm on warm. Terracotta walls with a tan sofa, an orange rug and brown curtains feels flat. Add one cool colour, such as sage or navy, for balance.
How to use terracotta in wall art
Use the 60-30-10 split from our decorating rules: about 60 per cent neutral on the walls, 30 per cent in furniture and textiles, and 10 per cent accent. Terracotta works beautifully as that accent, and a print is the easiest way to add it without painting.
On cream or white walls, terracotta prints add warmth straight away. Abstracts with organic shapes, wabi sabi pieces and Mediterranean scenes all suit the colour. On terracotta walls, choose art with cream or sand backgrounds and a touch of green or blue, so it stands out from the paint.
Check the undertone. Pinker terracottas suit blush and cream; browner ones suit olive, ochre and walnut. Above a sofa, aim for art about two thirds the width of the sofa, hung with its centre at 145 to 150 cm from the floor.
Browse our terracotta wall art, add a complementary note with sage green prints, or see wabi sabi prints for earthy, textured pieces. For a whole-room look, see boho decor ideas.
Sizes at a glance
| Size | Centimetres | Inches | Works for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4 | 21 x 29.7 | 8.3 x 11.7 | Shelves, desks, small gaps, sets of 3 |
| A3 | 29.7 x 42 | 11.7 x 16.5 | Hallways, side walls, pairs |
| A2 | 42 x 59.4 | 16.5 x 23.4 | Above a sideboard or small sofa, the anchor of a gallery wall |
| A1 | 59.4 x 84.1 | 23.4 x 33.1 | Above a standard sofa or bed |
| A0 | 84.1 x 118.9 | 33.1 x 46.8 | Large walls, open-plan rooms, statement pieces |
All our A sizes fit standard off-the-shelf frames, and every print is made to order on museum-grade matte paper.
