We toured a romantic rustic cottage with French country interiors and its gorgeous green accents inspired a few of us to ponder paint colors. My thoughts immediately turned to a lovely green frequently used as an accent on many exteriors in France: Vert Olivier (Tollens). This green paint color graces the shutters on Vivi Et Margot’s French farmhouse in Western France. Today’s French Green Paint Colors are strikingly similar to Vert Olivier for those of us far from France.

French Green Paint Colors, Serene Blue-Greens & Aquas

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Smart Place to Begin
Farrow & Ball sample colors can now be ordered and shipped so you could start by ordering this colour chart HERE.
The Famous FRENCH GREEN

Green Trim Accents in a French Country Cottage

French Inspired Greens in a Utah Home



Green Painted Front Door in Notting Hill

Green Shutters on a Provence Vacation Home

Soft Historical Green Painted Cabinets in an American Farmhouse

Inspiring Greens from Nature

Quiet Weathered Light Green in France

The Magic of Soft Green + White



Blue-Green on a Distressed Bedside Table

Popular Green Paint Color in France
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Similar French Green Paint Colors From Behr




Inexpensive Brush to Apply Samples to Wall

Medium French Green Paint Color
If you’re seeking a more saturated, less frosty version of Vert Olivier but in the same spirit, consider Farrow & Ball’s Breakfast Room Green.


French Inspired Blue-Green Colors
If you love a green approaching teal or quiet, barely there blue-greens, read on!

Atmospheric Barely There Blue-Green Paint Colors



Tollens Vert Olivier Paint Color Inspiration
I think it is so helpful to see multiple photos of surfaces painted in the same paint color because you’re able to appreciate how natural light affects their presentation. Just look at how light and minty, Vert Olivier looks on these exterior shutters in a sunny spot.







Green Inspiration Beyond Paint Colors!

Everyone seems to have a different take on what constitutes a French green…what’s yours?
Find a charming post about blues and greens HERE and another HERE.
In a previous chapter of life, I painted a bunch of rooms Restoration Hardware sage green, in another chapter I painted my kitchen and dining room a minty green inspired by Mary Engelbreit’s St. Louis home…how bout you…have experience with pistachio, moss, sage, or olive?
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Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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There are some greens that really speak to me, especially ones that have a quiet sort of sagey undertone.
In my current home’s laundry room, I did a texture on the wall that resembled the old walls we saw while visiting Europe. Then I painted with PPG’s French Gray Linen in a flat sheen. It looks marvelous and quite authentic. Though the color’s name has ‘gray’ it has an enticing sagey undertone that looks great in the sun-filled room.
Another green I’m getting excited to use in our ‘new to us house’ is the pretty 1950’s perfect condition ceramic green lamps I got from my great aunt years ago. They’ll add just the right little bit of green to the guest room.
Green—a lovely inspiration from Nature in all her prettiest forms. 🙂
Author
Of course I’ll be swiftly googling that French Gray Linen – I love those green-grays. How lucky to have a laundry room with lots of light! The lamps sound perfect – what a lovely way to bring in that color without being drenched in it. Thanks so much for your beautiful feedback, Connie.
I love this color – so warm and relaxing in any space, and how fun are the appliances? The perfect way to add a pop of color to any kitchen. Happy Monday, sweet friend!
Author
I love those frosty French greens too! Thanks so much for reading, lovely! 🙂
SW Seasalt is a wonderful soft pale green.
Author
Thank you so much – I need to get familiar with Seasalt! Happy weekend, friend.
What a beautiful post, I live every image. Love the mini fridge!
Author
I’m so glad you loved it – I am crazy about these French greens even though my current home has none of them. 🙂
I am a designer and have used Benjamin Moore’s Dry Sage in several of my store’s rooms. It looks great with spring greens & garlands, as well as the Christmas greens I use in the shop for my displays. Don’t know if it is even available any longer, but I have always loved it. Currently I am using a gray-bluegreen in my own bathroom which has the French tiles throughout. I believe greens are such a basic color, no matter which way you lean toward.
Author
Love hearing about how you are using green as a timeless neutral! I’ll check out Dry Sage – I love the greyed greens too. Thanks so much for adding to the beauty here.
Thank you so much for this wonderful and informative post! I’m searching for the right green to re-paint my kitchen island that I built when renovating my empty nester home several years ago and painted a dusty aqua blue color. I bought that exact pistachio mixer in your photo back then! And that has been my color scheme inspiration since, but I missed the mark on the island color. A couple of years ago I had the great good fortune to nab a French green dresser that the seller acquired over 20 yrs ago from none other than French antiques shop owner Marston Luce. I will NEVER part with it, it’s that special! Evidently he sourced it in France and it had a coat of white paint on it which he painstakingly removed. There was an article some years ago in Veranda about the French farmhouse he restored and I managed to obtain a copy. You can also find excepts and photos on their website. Of course the French green color plays a role throughout! (There’s a photo of my lovely dresser on my Instagram – cynthiacranespottery)
Author
Wow! I can’t wait to see the dresser, and you have described these colors I love so beautifully. What a treasure you found! Thanks so much for taking the time to share all of this enchantment! 🙂