15 Top Green Paint Colors From Interior Designers

Bring nature's lush abundance into your home with gorgeous green paint

The color green is strongly associated with the beauty of nature. It's an increasingly popular paint color in all its shades now that everyone is discovering the joys of biophilic design. Shades of green can turn a space into a serene sanctuary, a vibrant playroom, or a dramatic bedroom. It all depends on the shade and the setting. Green is also more versatile than you may think so it's lovely next to other colors you wouldn't typically imagine. Get a jump on the greenery trend by enlivening your home with a healthy dose of green paint colors.

Kitchen with sage green-like painted cabinets with white marble tops and stainless steel appliances

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Overview

  • Color Family: Neutrals to jewel tones
  • Complementary Colors: Reds and oranges
  • Pairs Well With: Pinks, corals, oranges, blues, yellow, off-whites, brown, taupe, black accents, gold
  • Mood: Soft and refreshing to moody and dramatic
  • Where to Use: Walls, accent walls, floors, furniture, cabinetry, doors, exterior trim, porches

Here are 15 top shades of popular green paints shared by interior designers who love using botanical-inspired colors inside and out.

  • 01 of 15

    Farrow & Ball Green Smoke

    Green Smoke No. 47, Farrow & Ball

    The Spruce

    Interior designer Mark Cutler likes Farrow & Ball's Green Smoke (No. 47). "It is a deep moody green, not as bright as Kelly green but more intense than khaki; it is the perfect color for a painted floor where you want a deep richness to anchor a room, but not one so bright that it would take over." He recommends pairing this smoky green-blue with a smoky pink for a unique contrast and off-whites for a classic take.

    Tip

    If your worn floors need some TLC, opt for painting them instead of choosing a costly refinishing job.

  • 02 of 15

    Benjamin Moore Limesicle

    Limesicle Benjamin Moore

    The Spruce

    "Green is one of my favorite colors to use because it plays well with so many other colors. It is, after all, one of nature’s neutrals," says interior designer Janet Lorusso. Pale green like Benjamin Moore's Limesicle (2145-50) is crisp and refreshing. It pairs beautifully with other light neutrals such as beige and taupe but looks equally as stunning against deep, dark jewel tones.

  • 03 of 15

    The Spruce Best Home Matcha

    The Spruce Paint color swatch in Matcha

    The Spruce

    "An inviting shade of green, such as The Spruce Best Home in Matcha (SPR-07), looks amazing in rooms with windows on more than one side of the room," says John Mochelle, an architect out of New York City. "If you increase the paint sheen level, this medium green color will change as the sun moves throughout the day." The soft hue is also muted enough to work as a colorful neutral in certain rooms. It's a perfect shade for living room walls and guest bedrooms.

  • 04 of 15

    Benjamin Moore Saybrook Sage

    Saybrook Sage (HC-114) is part of Benjamin Moore's Historical Colors collection. It's a supremely serene green, described as an aloe hue with a hint of gray. It's a muted, classic sage that looks fresh when paired with white trim in a green nursery or works beautifully as part of a palette that includes slate blue, rich brown, and other history-inspired colors.

    Continue to 5 of 15 below.
  • 05 of 15

    EasyCare Paint Garden Sage

    Garden Sage True Value Paint

    The Spruce

    A dustier sage green paint color like this is a great option when you want to use a hint of green color, but prefer the look of a subdued neutral. Adding a hazy finish over any hue, such as the Garden Sage (C215) green from True Value's EasyCare paint line, instantly gives it a sophisticated twist and makes it more complementary to a variety of palettes.

  • 06 of 15

    Benjamin Moore Sea Haze

    Close your eyes and think of a misty day on the Pacific Northwest coast. The color that comes to mind is Benjamin Moore Sea Haze (2137-50). It's a subtle green gray that changes with the light throughout the day. It can take on a refreshing look in a green living room with abundant natural light, or it can read moody gray when the light is low.

  • 07 of 15

    Sherwin-Williams Hazel

    Sea Green Hazel Sherwin-Williams

    The Spruce

    Alice Chiu, the principal interior designer at Miss Alice Designs, appreciates the calming presence that Sherwin-Williams' Hazel (SW 6471) green color brings into a space, and it's considered one of the best shades of green for a bedroom. "It is a beautiful shade of bluish-green that is peaceful and relaxing, perfect for a bedroom," she says. "With the craziness and chaos in the world, it is a soothing color to unwind to after a long day at work. It can also make a small space appear larger because it naturally brightens up a room with its vibrancy. It is like being in the middle of an expansive sparkling ocean."

  • 08 of 15

    Benjamin Moore Cedar Mountains

    Benjamin Moore Cedar Mountains (706) is saturated take on a usually muted shade of sage. This rich blue-green reads crisp and clear, and it's striking when paired with lighter shades of green and blue in a relaxing bedroom. Or try it in a moody dining room with walls and trim in the same color.

    Continue to 9 of 15 below.
  • 09 of 15

    Benjamin Moore Avocado

    Avocado Green Benjamin Moore

    The Spruce

    "We love the retro vibe of Avocado by Benjamin Moore (2145-10)," says Susan Williams, an interior designer at Siren Betty Design. "This color looks just right with midcentury modern furniture and has a bold personality—'Mad Men's' Megan Draper would love it for her living room!" Use this bold, saturated vintage green paint color in a den or try it out in a kitchen for a throwback to the 1960s.

    Tip

    Depending on the paint manufacturer, avocado green (sometimes called guacamole green) can look slightly brighter or darker and earthier, but it can always look more contemporary when paired with black, gray, or white accents or bold graphic fabrics.

  • 10 of 15

    Benjamin Moore Webster Green

    Webster Green Benjamin Moore

    The Spruce

    Another lovely classic shade is Webster Green (HC-130) by Benjamin Moore. Taryn Bone, the principal architect at Interior Designer at Bone Collective Studio says, "It works so elegantly as a kitchen base cabinet or in a moody powder room. It is one of those colors that works in different settings from minimal to traditional."

  • 11 of 15

    Benjamin Moore Soft Fern

    Soft Fern Benjamin Moore

    The Spruce

    "I recommend Benjamin Moore's Soft Fern (2144-40), which is a soft, elegant, light green hue," says interior designer, Anne Michaelsen. "It is a great green paint color for bedrooms because it is tranquil and exudes a sense of nature while still adding some color and flair." She recommends pairing the muted shade with warm neutrals or colors with a similar light hue.

  • 12 of 15

    Sherwin-Williams Softened Green

    Softened Green Sherwin-Williams

    The Spruce

    Jessica Salomone, the interior designer behind Lotus and Lilac Design Studio loves Softened Green (SW 6177) from Sherwin-Williams. The gray-infused green paint color is a great subtle shade for living rooms, nurseries, and guest bedrooms.

    Continue to 13 of 15 below.
  • 13 of 15

    Benjamin Moore Mediterranean Teal

    Mediterranean Teal Benjamin Moore

    The Spruce

    "Mediterranean Teal (2123-10) by Benjamin Moore has a luxurious, retro feel—we especially love it for wooden paneling or painted furniture in a living room, or for cabinetry in a kitchen," says Siren Betty Design interior designer Susan Williams. "It would be gorgeous as a headboard or for an accent wall in a bedroom—it is a very sexy dark green paint color."

    Tip

    Do you want to go dark but can't decide between deep green or deep blue walls? You can have both. Teal has dark blue undertones, and it is a perfect substitute for navy blue.

    Determine how much paint you need with The Spruce's Paint Calculator.

  • 14 of 15

    Benjamin Moore Hunter Green

    A classic dark shade, Benjamin Moore Hunter Green (2041-10) is an elegant green that adds depth to vintage-inspired green kitchen or a timeless look to a library. Try pairing it with brass details, cognac leather furniture, and other colors that play to its nostalgic appeal. While darker colors are often used in rooms that get lots of natural light, you can also use this deep green in a room with lower light to add to its moodiness.

  • 15 of 15

    Benjamin Moore Crystalline

    This clear hue of jade green is as refreshing as a cool spring morning. Benjamin Moore Crystalline (AF-485) has a subdued silver shade that makes it feel crisp, particularly in rooms with lots of natural light. Try it with a light ballet pink, white, and a darker jade green for a feminine look that feels reminiscent of your grandparents 1960s guest bedroom.

How to Choose Green Paint Colors

Green can be an exceptionally versatile color, but there are some guidelines to help you choose paint colors accordingly. Consider the following tips for using light vs. dark greens and choosing an undertone for your space.

  • Start small. Opt for an accent wall in green and add a few green accents.
  • Painting a large, bright space in a rich dark green can make the room feel cozy and moody at the same time.
  • Painting light, pale shades of green in a naturally brightly lit room can help it feel fresh throughout the day.
  • Paint walls in a soft green and use wood and other natural accents to accentuate the color.
  • Dark saturated green looks beautiful on cabinets against neutral walls and sage green cabinets are stunning against bright white walls.
  • Kitchen and dining room walls look stunning painted in a soft, light green-gray tone.
  • Green with blue undertones is calming and relaxing and best used in bedrooms.

Tip

Green also makes a fabulous exterior color! From olive to sage to pistachio, here are 12 shades of green paint that will give your home a crisp, refreshing look.

FAQ
  • Are green walls in style?

    Green walls look great with nearly every decor style! From calming shades in bohemian decor to dark greens in moody rooms to those who love sage green for its nostalgic look, green is one of the most popular paint colors in 2023.

  • What feelings does green elicit?

    Green rooms in entertainment are green for a reason. The color elicits feeling of calm, peace, abundance, and security. It's one of the most serene colors you can choose for a room.

  • What colors pair well with green?

    Depending on the shade of green, you could pair it with coral, orange, yellow, blue, or even neutrals like black, white, brown, and gold.