Southwestern Paint Colors

Tan

While a specific color might pop into your head immediately when you hear the word tan, this color covers a wide range of shades. If you look through paint samples, you'll find tan colors with both warm and cool hues. These qualities greatly impact the appearance of the color, especially if you use it to cover a large area or wall. Think of natural sand or earth colors from the Southwest when choosing a tan for your paint scheme. Don't be afraid to choose a tan paint with a slight red or brown tint if you feel it works best with your design.

Red

A Southwestern shade of red is usually more subdued than the red you see on a fire engine. These reds often contain brown or orange tints to give the color the appearance of red clay, another natural substance found in the Southwest. Terracotta is a favorite reddish color used in Southwest decorating that most people are familiar with. Whether you choose to refer to these colors as reds or oranges, keep them in mind for a primary or accent colors in your Southwest color scheme.

Green

Using green paint can add contrast to a Southwestern paint palette filled with mostly tan and red earth colors. Look for natural green colors that you might find in plants native to the Southwest, such as sage green or pine green.

Blue

A small amount of blue paint can have a big impact on a subdued palette of natural earth colors. While you might want the blue paint to pop, stick to your Southwestern theme by choosing blue colors that are present in the natural environment. One example of such a color is turquoise. This blue stone is found in the Southwest and often used to make jewelry. You can take a piece of turquoise along when you pick out paint colors if you want to match the stone precisely. You can also use pale or deep shades of blue found in the sky to add a natural blue color to your palette.

Yellow

Choose warm shades of yellow or gold to use in your Southwestern paint scheme. You can use either pale or dark shades of yellow to blend in with your tan or sand-colored paints or provide a soft contrast.