What goes with it, and 3 palettes

Terracotta color palettes

Terracotta is the color of fired clay: warm orange-brown that makes a room feel sunny even on a gray day. It loves natural partners, cream, sage, olive and wood, and a cool blue or green to stop it running too hot.

#B8653F

What colors go with terracotta

Cream #F1EBE0

Cream keeps terracotta warm and fresh rather than heavy.

Sage green #9CAA8C

Sage and terracotta are a soft, earthy, near-opposite pairing.

Navy #25344D

Navy cools terracotta down and adds depth.

Olive #6E7148

Olive and terracotta feel Mediterranean together.

Dusty blue #8FA3B3

A soft blue balances terracotta's warmth without competing.

Natural oak #B8935F

Wood sits next to terracotta and keeps the room natural.

Terracotta palettes, on real rooms

Hex codes to match against paint and fabric samples. Colors on screens and in daylight never quite agree, so hold a sample up in the room before you commit.

Terracotta Sofa

A terracotta sofa on white with sage, warm and bright. Pictured: a Scandinavian living room.

Warm white Walls #F3F0E8
Terracotta Sofa #B8653F
Sage green Cushions and plants #9CAA8C
Light oak Wood furniture and floor #CDAF86
Oatmeal Rug and curtains #D9CCB6

Design with this palette

Terracotta Walls

Terracotta walls with cream and dusty blue, like waking up in the sun. Pictured: an Organic Modern bedroom.

Terracotta Walls #B8653F
Cream Bedding #F1EBE0
Dusty blue Cushions and throw #8FA3B3
Pale oak Headboard and bedside tables #CFB58F
Oatmeal Rug and curtains #DCCFBA

Design with this palette

Terracotta Kitchen

A terracotta backsplash with white and oak, warm and simple. Pictured: a Minimalist kitchen.

White Walls and upper cabinets #F4F4F1
Terracotta Backsplash #B8653F
Light oak Lower cabinets #CDAE82
Cream stone Countertop #E3D8C3
Matte black Hardware and faucet #232323

Design with this palette

How to use a palette

Every palette here is listed from the most of the room to the least. Keep roughly to that order and the colors hold together.

1
Most of the room: the first color

The walls, and often the ceiling. A light, quiet color that everything else sits against.
2
A third: the next two

The big pieces: the sofa, the rug, the wood. They set the mood of the room.
3
A tenth: the last two

Cushions, a lamp, frames, a vase. Small, so a bold accent stays an accent.