As everyone is gearing up to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this weekend, I thought I’d put together a different type of post revolving around “green”. You guys already know green is my favorite color and I love sprinkling bits of it throughout my home! Lucky for us, green paint is continuing to gain popularity and I don’t see it becoming dated anytime soon. If you’ve been on the fence to paint a room, a wall, or a piece of furniture green- now is the perfect time! Click through for my all-time favorite green paint colors…
As you know, pretty much all of the paint in our house comes from Sherwin-Williams. I have the entire swatch library and fan book system that I often use for interior client presentations, so all of the paint colors within this post are vetted by yours truly. I looked at each and every swatch included in the roundup under natural light, as well as in low light, and they’re all really good greens… my “go-to” greens, if you will.
First up, let’s take a look at the best light green hues. I like to stick to colors that aren’t super bright or saturated- they have a more timeless feeling.
I’d classify the tallboy dresser in the above image as a “light green”. It adds the perfect amount of color, while still looking balanced and neutral. If you’re non-committal and are having trouble “going green”, the lighter tones are the perfect place to start.
Moving onto my favorite medium green paint colors, you’ll find a similar approach. None of these colors are screaming, but are rather deep and sophisticated.
I’d put my fireplace into the medium green category. It’s not crazy dark, but it’s also not light. Medium greens have been in my comfort zone lately. The slightly muted and muddy quality these colors possess is something I’m really attracted to.
The dark, moody, and rich green hues really sing to my soul. If you’re in need of a bold pop of color, look no further! Check out my favorite dark green paints below…
The first time I used a deep green paint was in the dining room of our Ohio house. Years ago, I remember being a nervous that it was too weird or crazy. After the entire room was finished, my stress was alleviated by a deep love for the dark color. Everyone who visited commented on the gorgeous color, and I knew it was a great decision. That was later affirmed when HGTV Magazine asked to feature the dining room solely because of the paint color.
These days I don’t need affirmation to know that green is a great (and my favorite) choice in interior settings. It almost reads like a neutral… navy is the same way. Long story short, you can’t go wrong! Even if you’re not 100% sold- paint isn’t permanent. That’s something I enjoy reminding people of.
Compiling this monochromatic post made me really happy! Did you find the paint colors helpful? Be sure to pin them for later if you don’t have anything to paint at the moment. Are there any other green paint fanatics out there? Any other colors I should add to the list? I suppose the Irish knew what they were doing. Ha!
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54 Comments
Mary
March 14, 2018 at 8:45 amSarah,
I’d love your honest feedback… (and help!). We own a duplex down, so our little girl (and future boy) bedrooms are in the lower level. I had originally painted the nursery “white dove” but i’m not convinced it’s right even if I do fix the lighting. I was seriously considering one of the lighter green colors. I’ve heard that if a room has bad natural the light, that it actually looks better to paint the room a warmer/cozier color. Do you agree with this? What would you think about painting a nursery in one of the colors from the “light green paint color” section? Do you think it might be “too dark”? We have a natural colored crib and blue rug (desaturated blue)
https://www.stokke.com/USA/en-us/104301.html
https://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-gothic-rosette-medallion-tassel/blue/200MBPR03B-76096.html
Regardless, love these green colors you selected and even if we don’t end up using one in the nursery, I definitely want to use it somewhere else!!
Sarah
March 14, 2018 at 1:28 pmHi Mary, Happy to help! I actually disagree that if a room has poor natural light, that painting it a “warm” color is a must. I think each room and circumstance is unique… there are so many factors that make a space feel cozy and inviting: furniture, textiles, decor, color palette, etc- and how all of those things interact with each other. I actually think the lighter green hues would be perfect for a nursery! You might even want to add luxe textures (like drapery, a soft rug, etc) to the space. Maybe even some contrasting art or accents… think burnt sienna / rust tones to compliment the blue and green. I definitely don’t think it would be too dark. Hope this helps! xo
Debby
January 31, 2023 at 7:59 amHi Sarah, I’m really struggling with which color to paint living room based off a oil painting. Should I go with brown/beige in the painting or a green/sage? Wish I could send you pic of painting. Please help
Sarah
January 31, 2023 at 10:17 pmIt really depends on the look you’re going for, Debby. I definitely recommend swatching both options to see which you like best!
Jacqui
March 14, 2018 at 10:48 amI’ve been thinking about painting my bathroom an olive color. I feel like this is fate telling me it’s a go. :) Thanks for the round up!
Sarah
March 14, 2018 at 1:14 pm100% yes!! I think you should go for it, Jacqui :)
Marie rivera
March 14, 2018 at 8:24 pmWhere would I get bamboo shades like those?
Sarah
March 15, 2018 at 3:33 pmHi Marie Check out this post: https://roomfortuesday.com/how-we-choose-roman-shades/
I think you’ll find it helpful. Those specific roman shades are linked. xo
Connie Peck
July 31, 2018 at 6:15 pmSpecial order from Lowe’s. I have them and they are good quality. I don’t know how to attach a pic or I would. Back to the greens. I’m using seafood color in my bathroom but I really like Magolica.
Sarah
August 3, 2018 at 3:09 pmYes! Special order from Lowes. I’m late on checking comments after a week of work travel. Sorry guys! xo
Jacqui
March 16, 2018 at 11:42 amYour gorgeous green fireplace is on Studio McGee today!! Yay!
Sarah
March 16, 2018 at 1:22 pmThanks so much for letting me know, Jacqui! I had no idea :) Happy Friday- hope you have an amazing weekend. xo
Cheryl
March 20, 2018 at 7:31 pmHi there,
My kitchen is in the center of my house with orangey oak cabinets. There is a window in ythe adjoining dining room whuuch faces north so there is no direct sunlight. My counters are desert gold with crezm grey and gold. Can I use a light to medium green or grey with off white subway tile backsplash or is all this too dark? Thoughts?
Abigail Kelly
March 24, 2018 at 10:37 amWhat green is used in the dining room pic? Thanks!
Sarah
March 25, 2018 at 11:01 amIt’s Evergreens by Sherwin-Williams! xo
Kate
March 27, 2018 at 7:30 pmYes! I have been wearing greens as neutrals for probably 15 years. It makes complete sense to me that I should be using some of these beautiful olive colors on my walls… oh where to start ;)
Kimberly Watkins
August 23, 2018 at 8:31 amI am currently loving Dried Thyme, but afraid it will be too dark for my master bedroom. It gets good light and has high ceilings. Should I maybe just do an accent wall or go for it? Jade Dragon is 2nd choice, ut I love the tones in Dried Thyme!
Ana Lopez
September 30, 2018 at 8:37 amHi Sarah, I would like to paint the exterior of my house green. It is 2-story with orange/red brick across the 1st floor. Could you suggest shades that could work?
Ray
October 26, 2018 at 5:40 amHi Sarah, I love green too. I live in a rambler and have a galley kitchen. My dining area is at the end of my kitchen and has wainscoting. My thought is to paint the upper portion of my dining area in artichoke green. The wainscoting if a neutral tan. What do you think?
Sarah
October 26, 2018 at 7:18 pmI typically like to paint the heavier (darker) color on the bottom… rather than the top so it feels visually balanced. Have you considered painting the wainscoting? Or reversing? Hope this helps you start brainstorming!
claire
February 1, 2019 at 12:40 pmHello!
what shade of medium green did you use on your fireplace? It is beautiful!
Sarah
April 22, 2019 at 10:04 amHi Claire! It’s Sherwin-Williams Olive Grove
Elizabeth Nestos
April 8, 2019 at 9:57 amHi, Sarah!! I LOVE green!! I just painted my front door a color similar to Secret Garden/Artichoke. My home is all brick and, sadly, a salmon/orange color. I intend to paint our shutters same color as front door but I’m struggling with color for garage door and trim!! Any thoughts? You seem to be a green-guru!! Anything you could offer would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!
Kathy
April 20, 2019 at 11:51 amI dug a little deeper because I, too, loved the color of the fireplace! Olive Grove by S-W! Hope that helps!
Sarah
April 22, 2019 at 10:04 amThank you Kathy! It is indeed, Sherwin-Williams Olive Grove :) one of my very favorite greens! xox
Katharine
May 26, 2019 at 7:42 pmHi! Thanks for this great post! Can you share with me the light green color of the cabinet/dresser?
Sarah
May 27, 2019 at 2:04 pmAbsolutely! It’s Army Green by Benjamin Moore.
Ashley
June 25, 2019 at 8:06 amHi! Would love some guidance on picking a green for my house exterior! I’m drawn to the medium greens because I love these muddy hues, but I’m not sure if it will be too dark on my tiny 1,200 sq foot single story house. Especially because our new windows are dark brown. Currently, trim is cream. Would love your advice! Thanks!
Racheal
August 16, 2019 at 12:08 pmWhich dark green is used in that last dining room photo? Would be really helpful if the photos themselves were captioned!
Mandy
September 20, 2019 at 9:37 amHello, my home is Sherwin Williams Earth Green and were getting ready to freshen the paint up. The previous owners had the door painted a dark red (maroon) and had brown shutters. Should we leave those colors alone and refresh them or change them completely? We have a brown metal roof so I feel I dont have allot of options.
Jeane
April 29, 2020 at 10:10 amI used Rice Terrace for my kitchen and laundry room, Oyster Bay for my master and Sea Salt for my master bath. Love these greens.
Sarah
April 30, 2020 at 9:52 amThat sounds gorgeous, Jeane! xo
D. G.
July 29, 2020 at 1:56 pmI Love Green!
What is the paint color on your drawers. Im thinking of doing green on my bathroom cabinets .
Sarah
July 30, 2020 at 8:33 amMe too! That is army green by Benjamin Moore :)
Jenn
September 1, 2020 at 11:14 pmHey Sarah what colour paint is in the picture of wall with the roller on it? Would love to paint our main area that exact colour. Thank you!
Sarah
September 2, 2020 at 8:21 amThat is Army Green by Benjamin Moore, Jenn!
Colleen
September 15, 2020 at 7:20 pmI’m loving the greens! I’m looking for a warm dark greenish black or deep moody grey with a green undertone like rock garden, bottle green or olive garden. It’ll be on the lower kitchen cabinets and Calcutta marble counter and also looking for a modern not too yellow off white for the top cabinets. I’m looking for Alabaster as the wall color. I’m going for a minimalist Scandinavia modern look.
Pamela Weiler
October 18, 2020 at 6:08 amHi Sarah!
Love the article….love Greens too!
I just used Sherwin Williams Etheral Mood in my newly remodeled kitchen, pantry area, and dining room now that the space is all open. It is such an amazing color. It’s grayish with green undertones. I have cream colored cabinets, dark island and dark wood floors with a creamy base mixed with bits of browns, blacks, rust and sage / gray tones granite. It all came together using the greenish paint color!! Now, I’m thinking of using it in the living room too! Any thoughts for a coordinating color? If I don’t use the same? Thanks!
@ Colleen, I think Etheral Mood may work for you too.
Sarah
October 19, 2020 at 9:21 amI love hearing that, Pamela! It sounds beautiful :)
Jewel Vecchio
December 22, 2020 at 11:23 amI love all of these colors! I need help with the darker pallet? Would you be able to provide the maker of the paint colors? Are they all Sherwin Williams? I like the darker greens for our living room/dining room area but I’m having trouble finding these exact colors in either Behr or SW.
Sarah
December 23, 2020 at 9:32 amSherwin-Williams :)
Ellyn Schill
March 22, 2021 at 4:20 amI love the evergreen color in your dining room! We have a big open space on our third floor. It has an old bar that I think would look great in evergreen. Do you have a recommendation for a lighter/medium green that would complement it for the walls? The room has lots of natural light space and it will be a casual fun space so trying to stay away from white. I have a gray sofa for the room.
Thanks!
Sarah
March 22, 2021 at 7:21 pmThanks so much, Ellyn! We used Olive Green in our previous home (which is a bit lighter) and I really loved that color :)
Martha
March 27, 2021 at 9:30 pmWhat warm white would you suggest for a north facing living room with an east wall painted with basil?
Jon Mazei
September 12, 2021 at 5:58 amHi Sarah, just moved into a new home and we are trying to decide on a color to paint our kitchen. Beautiful cream cabinets and trim Akard already in place. Trying to decide on a few shades of green including sage, basil, rock garden and others. Any thoughts?
Sarah
September 13, 2021 at 10:02 amCongrats on your new home, Jon! It really depends on your space, the light, and the look you’re going for :) happy painting!
Joanne Blackburn
January 16, 2022 at 2:25 pmOmgosh you made my day today! I’ve been eyeing paint colors for a couple of furniture pieces that need an update…green is my favorite color and the tall boy you painted is my vision! Which SW green did you use on it?
Sarah
January 17, 2022 at 6:00 pmLove hearing that, Joanne! It has been years since I painted the dresser, but I want to say it’s Army Green by Benjamin Moore.
Grace Marini
February 3, 2022 at 12:03 pmThese greens are all gorgeous. You have exquisite taste! Thank you for posting this. Now the hard part….picking just one (or two!)
Sarah
February 3, 2022 at 4:05 pmThank you so much, Grace! Happy painting :)
Anna
August 2, 2022 at 1:19 amI just painted an accent wall in Carolina gull Benjamin Moore it is fabulous,I’m also a big fan of green.
Sarah
August 3, 2022 at 7:55 amI love that one, Anna! I bet it’s beautiful!
Andrea E
January 21, 2023 at 12:02 pmWhat a great post, just what I was looking for! I also was a 100% S-W girl until I moved to Europe. Now I’m designing my next kitchen and was thinking of Rookwood Jade for cabinetry, which seems more medium than light to me (It’s cool that’s actually a historical color because I’m planning to use Wm. Morris Golden Lily wallpaper). My question is this: your fireplace is gorgeous but I don’t see anywhere you naming the color. What is the color? (I can’t get S-W anymore, just plan to get a swatch and have it matched here.) Thank you!
Sarah
January 25, 2023 at 8:41 amThank you, Andrea! Rookwood Jade would be such a lovely cabinet color. My previous fireplace color is Olive Grove by Sherwin-Williams! That was in our old home… I loved that color!