13 Curtain And Wall Colors That Look Great Together

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Matching colors in a room can be an overwhelming task, especially when you're dealing with core fixtures like walls and window dressings. As color-drenching steps aside and the next biggest color trend, color-maxxing, is called out, you might be confused about which style to lean into. The rapid changes in interior fashion today don't make it easy to figure out which shades to use. Thankfully, whether you're jumping onto a new trend or sticking with unadorned neutrals, pairing wall and curtain colors is simpler and more forgiving than you might think. You can easily find a beautiful mix of colors in tried-and-true or in-vogue pairings, such as pink and gray, blue and cream, and yellow and purple.

There are a few guidelines worth following when it comes to picking out curtains to match your walls — or vice versa. For example, if a room is already decorated, you can pull a color from a prominent decor item, throw pillow, or piece of furniture and find window dressings to match. You should also stick to the same tones throughout the room. If your walls are adorned with a warm hue, avoid cool-colored curtains or you risk them clashing. Similarly, be careful when choosing bold wall and curtain colors, or the space will feel chaotic. Of course, even with these guidelines in mind, it's not always easy to imagine how hues fit together on paper. Unless you're willing to risk buying potentially pricey wall paint or window dressings, get samples first. Seeing the colors in person can help you better understand how they'll work together in the space.

Blue walls work really well with neutrals and creams, especially when the room is dressed with simple curtains in a solid color. In fact, hanging ivory or soft white curtains with walls in a darker, cooler shade of blue can give a space a coastal vibe. Blue can feel heavy sometimes, so pairing it with a light neutral or cream will brighten a room and add softness. If you have a warmer shade of blue on the walls, like turquoise or baby blue, you can pick beige curtains.

When you choose a daring orange for your walls, it's going to make a statement. You need to select a curtain color that reins the walls back in a little. Warm gray window dressings are an easy pairing. With a little care, you can also match bold blue or green curtains to orange walls. However, the combination can be overwhelming and limit what else you add to the room. Gray is a safer option that blends better into a bright space and allows you to incorporate other colors.

Yellow is a curtain color that beautifully complements gray walls. This bright, bold hue contrasts dramatically with neutrals like gray, bringing a sense of warmth to a room. Get the shade of yellow just right and you'll add cheer without creating a clash. The best way to bring gray and yellow together cohesively is to add touches of sunshine throughout the room — think pillows, tablecloths, wall art, and lampshades. If you're worried that solid yellow curtains will be overwhelming, pick a textured textile in a lighter yellow.

Tone-on-tone curtains and walls are always a great choice. You pick the same color for your walls and window dressings, but choose a darker or lighter shade for subtle contrast. The result is a gradual blend of shades across two of a room's foundational fixtures. This is a great option for modern, minimalist or layered interiors, or when you just can't find a curtain color you like to pair with your walls. It also reduces the number of colors fighting for dominance, keeping a room from feeling chaotic.

While using a color wheel can help you choose the best curtains for your space, you sometimes need to focus on the undertones rather than the main hue. Greens can be cool or warm, so it's important to find curtain fabric that matches the specific green on your walls. You can pair warm greens with similar colors — as the pairing in the photo proves. The curtain has a heavy black base, but the warm-colored flowers go well with the sage green walls and help to break up the black.

Lavender is one of the best bedroom curtain colors because it's so serene. If you have an opportunity to use it in a room, don't miss it. Lavender is a surprisingly versatile color; it can be warm or cool, depending on whether the undertone is pink, orange, yellow, or blue. This cottagecore hue blends well with walls in light shades, like baby blue, pale yellow, and soft green. It also pairs well with neutrals — think grays or whites — adding interest without overwhelming a space or being too bold.

Got large windows? You can go bold with the curtains and treat them like an accent wall. One of the best paint colors for sophisticated bedroom accent walls is creamy off-white, which pairs beautifully with green or brown curtains. These earthy hues are a great choice for dressing large windows in a light, bright room. Depending on your mood, you can cover the entire wall in color by closing the curtains. Or you can pull them open to make the contrasting hue an accent rather than a focus.

Do you have a white room you find boring but you're unable to paint it? Dressing the window with a sheer curtain in a bold color can make a world of difference. When the light enters through the window, it will bathe the entire room in the hue of the curtain. Sheer orange curtains are a popular choice because they produce a warm, cheery light. You can adjust the intensity of the effect as you wish simply by drawing the curtains closed or pulling them open.

Green and pink make another great pairing that's reminiscent of summertime cheer. This color combo works well within almost every interior style, from mid-century modern to eclectic boho. The two colors contrast with each other without fighting for attention, striking an odd but wonderful balance. Choose softer rather than brighter shades of each hue to avoid recreating the inside of a watermelon in your home. Alternatively, choose rich, saturated pinks and greens for a more modern feel.

Gray curtains add a sense of calm to a bedroom when paired with bold green walls. This neutral hue helps to tie the room design together, creating a muted, restful space for sleeping. You can choose heavy gray curtains without fearing that they'll be too overwhelming. In fact, they will add some sophistication, elevating your bedroom decor. Thick curtains will help block the light, creating the darkness you need for a good night's sleep. Choose darker shades of green and gray to add drama to living rooms or dining rooms.

Like pink and green, yellow and purple are classic complementary and contrasting colors. You don't always have to choose the brightest shades of these hues to get the most out of this pairing. Choose lighter or darker purples and yellows to better match your vibes. For example, add elegance to a room with golden curtains and deep plum walls. Or pair lilac walls with butter yellow curtains to create a space that feels like it's perpetually spring. Choose yellow floral-patterned curtains to really lean into the spring aesthetic.

Dark gray and pink are a trendy color combo for a moody bedroom that, perhaps surprisingly, doesn't make a space feel heavy. A deep gray wall balances curtains in bold shades of pink, especially when the pink is carried across the room through furniture and accent pieces. Alternatively, you can subtly brighten a gray-walled room with pastel pink. Choose gray walls with a metallic finish to make the space feel richer and bolder. Light gray walls will make an otherwise plain room feel cheery.

Black walls and rich red curtains are bold; the pairing will almost certainly create a statement in a room. These colors work well together because they're simultaneously classic and contemporary. However, the pairing may simply be too much in a small home. If you like the combination of black walls and ruby curtains but don't have the mansion to pull it off, incorporate the pairing through textures or patterns — for example, a floral wallpaper on a black base with red velvet window dressings can create a less imposing look.