A History of Mint and Black

Whether you absolutely love or hate the color combination of mint green and black, you certainly can’t deny the combo is trending lately. Home design and lifestyle blog Apartment Therapy even declared the combination the “Freshest Color Combination of 2017,” with the color combination highlighted in bathrooms, bedrooms, and living rooms.

Photo by REX GRAY

While the color duo might be one of the hottest trends this year, the pairing is not entirely new. Mint green and black were a popular color combination during the Art Deco era. Many a tiled bathroom, in residential and commercial structures, sports the colors. Similarly, the color scheme was big in the 1950s. Soft, pastel colors - those that complemented Mamie Eisenhower pink - could be found virtually everywhere. Mint green (and closely linked shades of turquoise) popped up in bathrooms, kitchens, on appliances, and even on automobiles.

In both of these eras, mint green was often paired with black in order to create a striking contrast. A perfect example of this is checkered black and white floors in vintage mint green kitchens. Mint and black are rooted in our past, effectively a part of our collective color memory. By revisiting these colors in a fresh way, you can re-create classic stories meant for today’s lifestyles.

Photo by STRUKTR STUDIOS

Dunn-Edwards Paints offers the highest quality paint trusted by both design experts and painting professionals. So whether you’re searching for a historically accurate color palette to or a more modern take on this classic color combination, we’ve got the colors you’re looking for.

• Among our vast variety of mint green hues are Faint Clover (DE5674), Creamy Mint (DE5632) and Mint Condition (DE5679) just to name a few favorites.
• To balance out the pop of color, consider some of our favorite black paint colors such as Black Tie (DE6357), Black (DEA002), and Salem Black (DE6343).

Photo by ABBEY HENDRICKSON