How to Neutralize Gold Tiles

Complementary Colors

• 1

  Go to a paint store or home improvement store. Select paint swatches that you think match the color of your gold tiles. Choose a variety of shades that are darker and lighter as well.

• 2

  Bring the paint swatches home and hold them up against your tile. Pick the one that matches the tile the best. Some gold borders on pale yellow, and other shades are closer to almost a light brown.

• 3

  Find a color wheel online, in an art book or at the home improvement store. Hold the swatch up to the color wheel until you find a color on the wheel that is a close match to your swatch. Look at the color directly across the wheel. It will be a shade of blue, ranging from light blue to closer to purple depending on your shade of gold. Those are the colors you will need to incorporate into your décor to neutralize the gold tile.

• 4

  Paint the walls a very light shade of the complementary color of the gold swatch, in this case a very pale blue. Lay darker blue throw rugs on the tile flooring. Another alternative is to pick area rugs to cover up as much of the gold tile as you can. Use the area rugs to define conversation areas, a dining spot or a nook for reading.

• 5

  Use prints that incorporate a medium shade of blue, the gold in your tile and a lighter shade of gold. All the blue tones down, or neutralizes, the gold.

Dilution

• 6

  Create a color scheme that dilutes the effect of the gold tile by incorporating lots of beige, cream and off-whites.

• 7

  Paint the walls cream. Add off-white draperies to let in lots of light.

• 8

  Cover as much of the gold tile as possible with beige rugs.

• 9

  Choose one other color for accessories that draw the eye away from the gold tile.

Confusion

• 10

  Use colors that are brighter than gold but next to it on the color wheel, such as reds and oranges. These colors confuse the eye so you won't notice the gold tile as much, in effect neutralizing its impact.

• 11

  Paint the walls a pale yellow. For a striking effect, choose one wall and paint it scarlet. You won't notice the gold tile.

• 12

  Add in furniture in strong neutral shades such as charcoal or chocolate brown