We toured a romantic rustic cottage with French country interiors and its gorgeous green colors inspired a few of us to ponder paint colors. My thoughts immediately turned to a lovely green frequently used on many exteriors in France: Vert Olivier (Tollens). This green paint shade was chosen for the shutters of this French farmhouse in Western France. Today’s French Green Paint Colors from F&B, Sherwin-Williams, and more that are quite similar to Vert Olivier for those of us far from France and without access to the exact color.

French Green Paint Colors, Serene Blue-Greens & Aquas
If you love a shade of green, you will be inspired by these soft hues which can live as neutrals and vary in their undertones. The best green paint colors? I favor those green-gray hues that feel atmospheric and complex.

Farrow & Ball Offers Paint Samples
START HERE to discover a range of beautiful tones of olive green, Green Smoke, dark greens, emerald, greens with blue undertones, and sophisticated shades. You can order paint sample pots which is the best place to start.

Find Your Favorite Colors Here
Farrow & Ball paints can now be ordered online and shipped so it may be helpful to order this color chart HERE.
A Famous Shade of FRENCH GREEN
In France, this is the most popular green for shutters and exterior trim.

Green Shutters on a Provence Chateau
The sunny yellow toned stone and soft green shutters are the essence of country French.

Green Trim Inside a French Country Cottage
The color on doors in this rustic cottage below appear to be Vert Olivier as well:

Soft Greens in a French Inspired Utah Home
A variety of green subway tiles feel coastal and romantic in this French country kitchen.

Mint, celadon, sage, olive, and French gray are such a pleasing combination.


Soft Historical Green Cabinets in an American Farmhouse
In a friend’s home, green brings an organic, fresh, spring-like interest to the white industrial farmhouse kitchen.


Quiet Weathered Light Green in France

The Magic of Soft Green + White



Blue-Green on a Distressed Bedside Table

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French Green Paint Colors Similar to Vert Olivier From Behr & Sherwin-Williams







Inexpensive Brush to Apply Samples to Wall

Easiest way to see if a paint color will work? Order samples with Samplize and have them delivered straight to your door.
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.


Also see SW 9647 Soft Sage, SW 9648 Frosted Fern, and SW 9630 Moonstone.
Blue-Green Paint Colors to Consider
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 Silver Sage, then there was a season where 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! 🙂