How to Make Gold Paint. The Color Mixing Guide

What colors make gold paint?
The simplest way to make gold paint is by mixing yellow with a small amount of brown. Start with yellow and slowly add brown until you reach the desired shade. Other color combos include yellow + red + blue, or black + white + yellow, depending on whether you’re aiming for antique, warm, or metallic gold effects.

Color Combinations That Make Gold Paint

Gold is more than just a color — it’s a symbol of richness, warmth, and creativity. But when it comes to mixing gold paint yourself, it’s surprisingly easy to miss the mark. Get it wrong, and you’ll end up with rust or mustard. Get it right, and you’ll have a warm, glowing shade that feels like treasure.

Below are the most reliable gold paint mixing recipes — some classic, some creative — to help you craft the perfect gold tone for your next painting, craft, or furniture project.

Combination #1: Yellow – Red – Blue

1. Mix yellow and blue to make green.
2. Add red to turn it brown.
3. Add more yellow to warm it up into a golden hue.

Tip: This combo leans toward an earthy, antique gold — great for aged or vintage finishes.

Combination #2: Black – White – Yellow

1. Mix black and white to create a neutral gray.
2. Gradually blend the gray into yellow paint.

This gives a soft, muted gold — more modern or pastel in tone, depending on your gray balance.

Combination #3: Orange – Yellow – Brown

1. Mix orange and brown together to create a deep terracotta base.
2. Add yellow slowly to shift it toward a golden hue.

This mix gives you a warm, rich gold — ideal for natural-looking highlights or faux finishes on wood.

Combination #4: Yellow – Brown

1. Start with a base of yellow paint.
2. Add a tiny amount of brown and mix thoroughly.
3. Adjust by adding more yellow or brown to fine-tune your shade.

Important: Always start with yellow. Adding yellow to brown takes far more paint and may not reach a true gold tone.

This is the simplest and most reliable way to create a warm, classic gold shade — perfect for beginners or quick jobs.

Combination #5: Black – Red – Yellow

1. Mix equal parts red and black to make maroon.
2. In a separate spot, pour some yellow paint.
3. Slowly mix the maroon into the yellow until you reach a golden balance.

This produces a deep, burnished gold with reddish undertones — great for elegant or dramatic effects.

What Two Colors Make Gold?

If you’re looking for the fastest way to make gold paint, this is it.

Yellow + Brown = Gold

1. Start with a generous amount of yellow paint.
2. Add just a small touch of brown and mix thoroughly.
3. Tweak the ratio depending on the look you’re going for:
   • More yellow = brighter, lighter gold
   • More brown = deeper, antique gold

Tip: Always start with yellow. It takes far less brown to darken yellow than to try and lighten brown back up. This simple formula gives you a rich, warm gold with minimal effort — perfect for DIYs, kids’ crafts, and quick fixes.

How to Make Rose Gold Paint

Rose gold is a trendy, elegant twist on classic gold. It blends metallic warmth with a subtle pink hue — perfect for modern accents, crafts, or decor.

Here are three tried-and-true ways to mix rose gold paint:

Rose Gold Combination #1: Gold – Silver – Red

1. Start by mixing equal parts gold and silver paint.
2. Slowly add red paint, a little at a time, until you reach a soft rose tone.

This method creates a warmer, richer rose gold — perfect for painting frames or furniture accents.

Rose Gold Combination #2: Gold – Silver – Pink – Glitter

1. Mix equal parts gold and silver.
2. Add pink paint to shift the hue toward rose.
3. Optional: Mix in gold glitter or a sparkle additive for a metallic sheen.

Great for crafts or feature walls that need a bit of shimmer.

Rose Gold Combination #3: Gold – Silver – Red – White

1. Mix equal parts gold and silver in one dish.
2. Separately, blend red with a bit of white paint to create a dark pink.
3. Combine the dark pink into the gold-silver mix gradually.

This combo gives you control over the warmth and brightness of your rose gold. Ideal for detail work where precision matters.

How to Make Gold Acrylic Paint

If you’re using acrylics, you can still mix a convincing gold tone — even without metallic pigments. The trick is combining warm and cool tones to find that golden middle ground.

Gold Acrylic Combo: Black – White – Yellow

1. Mix black and white paint together to create a neutral gray base.
2. Gradually blend yellow into the gray until it starts shifting toward a golden hue.
3. Optional: Add a small amount of brown or orange to warm up the tone if needed.
4. Optional: Mix in a gold glitter or sparkle additive to give it a metallic sheen.

This combo gives you a matte gold acrylic — ideal for art projects, craft surfaces, or touch-ups where you don’t need a high-gloss finish.

How to Adjust Gold Paint That Looks Off

Even with a good formula, your gold paint might not look quite right at first. Here’s how to fix common issues with gold color mixing:

If Your Gold Looks Too Orange:

• Add a touch of white to soften it.
• Or balance it out with a tiny amount of blue to cool it down.

If Your Gold Looks Too Mustardy or Dull:

• Add a small amount of red or orange to warm it up.
• Try adding a drop of metallic gold or gold glitter to bring out the shine.

If It’s Leaning Green or Olive:

• Neutralize the green with a touch of red or orange.
• Then reintroduce yellow as needed to find the balance again.

If It’s Too Dark:

• Start a new mix — it’s very hard to lighten once it gets too brown or gray.
• Always build your gold from yellow upward — never the other way around.

Pro Tip: Keep a test swatch area nearby to compare shades as you mix. And always mix in small batches so you can control the result!

Final Thoughts: Mix Your Perfect Shade of Gold

Creating your own gold paint isn’t just about saving money — it’s about unlocking the exact shade you have in mind. Whether you’re painting a canvas, decorating furniture, or adding flair to a DIY project, the right color combo can make all the difference.

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Start small, adjust as you go, and remember — a little brown or red goes a long way. And if you want to take your gold to the next level, a pinch of glitter or a hint of silver can turn your project into something truly eye-catching.

🎨 Have fun with it, and don’t forget to tag us if you post your creations!

See Also:

• How to Make Paint Dry Faster
• How Long Does Spray Paint Take to Dry?

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