Pairing gold with royal blue conforms with the standard practice that the best match for a color is found opposite the base color on the color wheel. Since gold is going to skew more yellow, which is the purest complement of pure blue, the darker royal blue is going to be best for it.

On the Other: Maroon is the Best Choice

When used in decorating, gold is best paired with other warm colors. The best among these are warm reds, often in the maroon family. These colors are a popular color combination in interior design and across popular culture. Many sports teams use gold and maroon in their colors, including Southern California, Arizona State and the Washington Redskins.

Bottom Line

Choosing the best paint color to complement gold depends on what you are trying to convey with your painting. The gold and royal blue often recall the night sky, while the gold and maroon combination is used to recall the warmth of a fire. Blue may be a better choice for a living room or bedroom, while maroon may be better for a dining room or kitchen. Both of these combinations exude class and sophistication, thanks to the gold color.

Source:

Decorating Colors: Wall Colors

Colors on the Web: Color Wizard

More Information:

Sherwin-Williams: Color Selection Tools