What Colour Goes With Magnolia Walls? [The Best Colours]

As a lover of neutral décor, I’m appreciative of how versatile magnolia is as a colour and have done my research when it comes to knowing what colour goes with magnolia walls.

As the colour magnolia is a bright white with a warm yellow undertone, it’s a colour that complements a wide range of colours that have a warm yellow undertone too. Colours that go with magnolia include warm-toned blues like indanthrone blue, greens like lime and olive, and oranges.

It was only yesterday that I was debating what shade of magnolia to paint my own hallway and what colour I should paint my Chung Chang-Sup inspired DIY art, that will hang alongside the magnolia colour on the walls. So, I thought I’d share some of my favourite colours that go with magnolia to help provide inspiration for when you’re decorating and enhancing your own home too.

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Magnolia and white

Now this may be the most obvious complementary colour combination ever but bear with me as there’s a deeper reason behind stating the obvious.

The name ‘magnolia’ tends to illicit different reactions from different people, and has commonly been referred to as a safe, boring, and even a dated colour – how could they!

The reality is magnolia is essentially a white with a warm yellow undertone and depending on an individual’s perception it could even be called cream, antique white or buttermilk which all seem to have connotations of purity, crispness, sophistication, and elegance – poor magnolia.

I’d argue that magnolia deserves more positive connotations, especially when it’s characteristics can enhance North facing rooms that tend to have cool or/and very little natural light. The cooler tone of natural light in North facing rooms tends to highlight any shadows, and cool colours with grey and blue undertones can appear quite flat and dull in the space.

By opting for a colour such as magnolia, with its bright but warm yellow undertone, it will help to bring warmth to the room by balancing the cool natural light. This doesn’t mean that the room will look too yellow either, try testing different shades on different walls of the room to find the perfect tone.

*Images courtesy of The Socialite Family. Photography by Constance Gennari.*

So, when paired with a neutral white or a white that has a touch of yellow, this combination can create a beautifully elegant and fresh room, with a touch of warmth.

Magnolia and green

This colour combination is high up my favourites list. I love the versatility of creating either a serene and calm space with pale or deep greens or creating a vibrant and lively space with greens such as lime.

The key with this combination is to create harmony between the two colours by ensuring that the green colour has a yellow undertone.

If you’re conscious that the space may becoming a little sallow when using lighter greens with magnolia, try adding white furniture or home décor items such as wall art. This will help to keep the space looking fresh.

This kitchen is a great example of how the magnolia wall and green kitchen cupboards complement one another and add a serene warmth to the space, whilst the white marble worktop helps ensure everything looks fresh and contemporary.

In addition to furniture, there are a lot of green plants with warm undertones that look extremely cohesive against a magnolia-coloured wall.

Magnolia and pink

For a combination that’s sweet and sickening in the best possible way, opt for magnolia with pink. The combination is often associated with nurseries and children’s rooms, but it can be elevated and appear more elegant with the addition of details such as wall panelling.

Adding vibrant accent colours, such as the lime green in this example, will help to make the space look more contemporary and vivacious.

Magnolia, orange and brown

To really ramp up the cosy feeling within a room try the complementary combination of magnolia with yellow-based oranges and browns. This combination will amplify the warmth in each of the colours which is ideal if you’re trying to achieve a cosier feeling within a room.

*Image courtesy of Colombo and Serboli Architecture. Photography by Roberto Ruiz.*

As the warmth of these two colours can envelop the room, adding dramatic black accents or crisp whites will ensure that the room remains visually dynamic and fresh feeling.

Take for example this elegant living room by interior designers Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent. Keeping the ceiling a bright, crisp white helps to lift the room whilst the white furniture helps to balance the warm tones of the walls, chairs, and flooring.

*Image courtesy of Jeremiah Brent. Photography by Trevor Tondro.*

Magnolia and yellow

You can’t try this colour combination half-hearted. It’s an approach that needs to be bold and intentional, otherwise please step away from the paint brush.

In this example, the deep shade of magnolia almost veers towards being a pastel yellow and has been intensified in the room with bold warm yellow furniture. There’s a playful feeling throughout this playroom due to the modern trend of painting the skirting and architrave in a contrasting pastel colour, and the addition of colour blocking the walls with a warm hue of orange.

In summary, there are numerous colours that go with magnolia. Choosing a complementary warm toned colour will create a harmonious conversation between the two colours and not look jarring within a room.

I hope you’ve been able to take inspiration from the shared examples and now know what colours go with magnolia. If you do choose this colour when decorating let me know how you get on. I love to see everyone’s approach to decorating. If you’d like to see more decorating inspiration take a look at these decorating ideas.

If you’d like to see the decorating approach that I take with my own 2 bed Victorian terrace renovation watch my renovation series, here.