The effect is organic and uplifting, and although I haven’t used sage since 1999 (remember RH’s Silver Sage?), the lush green landscape outside my windows creates serenity. While soft green colors seem to fall in and out of favor (1970s avocado, anyone?), just wait until you see how elegant it can set a mood. The Wisest Sages: Green Inspiration & Paint Colors considers possibilities and color stories to enliven your home.
The Wisest Sages + Green Paint Colors
Sage Greens With an Elegant French Feel
Good gracious, I would never leave this breathtaking bath (from an amazing Newport estate that has hardly changed since 1974!) dressed in earth angel dreamy greens. The trim offers a touch of contrast to calm green walls.
Which paint color would give you a similar look?
Benjamin Moore Sherwood Green
To get this look, focus on natural, leafy greens that aren’t too cool and aren’t too warm. While the color seems delicious to me, it isn’t as bright as say, an apple green. Sherwood Green has a light reflectance value (LRV) of 43.09. While this paint swatch of it (below) may appear a bit darker than the green paneled walls in the image above, bear in mind a color will get washed out with natural light.
Sherwood Green is described as “A spirited medium green with just a dash of gray.” If you like that flavor but want a slightly yellow-green, here’s a contender:
Farrow & Ball Cooking Apple Green 32
Cooking Apple Green is a Farrow & Ball classic they call “a fresh iconic green…which always feels charmingly familiar and, like all greens, creates the feeling of health and vigour. It has a rich, traditional look in darker situations, but often feels much fresher and brighter in well lit rooms and when contrasted with a bright white.”
And can you even imagine creating a moment like this with a minty sage and a warm limestone at your entrance like the one in Provence above?
These gorgeous greens would be amazing on a front door.
When I think of European Country and French farmhouse green accent colors on shutters, I think of those marvelous pastel greens. Here’s a pretty one:
Warm & Natural Sage Greens to Soothe
When you’re after a grayer green suggestive of stone, you may like BM Silver Sage.
BM Silver Sage 506
This dining room’s paneled wall and fireplace remind me of Silver Sage and…
BM Saybrook Sage
While I don’t know the exact shade of sage on paneling and fireplace surround in the elegant dining area above, it seems reminiscent of Benjamin Moore Saybrook Sage. And notice how the adjacent mural is a much cooler green-blue. Such an interesting and unexpected pairing.
The unexpected and even a bit of tension are often the goal in timeless design. Rather than match safely, there’s an aliveness when colors don’t “match.” Such combinations suggest evolution over time.
Here is that yummy Saybrook Sage (combined with a warm buttercream) on a beautiful Victorian house exterior:
I could eat it right up. And notice how the warm sage siding is paired with a cooler pine green on window frames and the door.
Earthy Green Paint Colors Perfect in Casual Settings
Notice all of the tone on tone happening in this sitting room! An emerald green sofa with an earthy paint for walls.
BM Cedar Mountains 706
So often, we automatically think of shades of white to paint paneling, applied moldings, and doors. However, a gorgeous sage can make a lively statement:
Here’s another possibility to liven up beadboard or wainscot with green…Farrow & Ball Whirlybird.
Farrow & Ball Whirlybird
“For “an upbeat space, try this lively green. A lighter version of Breakfast Room Green, Whirlybird is inspired by the papery winged seeds beloved by many playful young gardeners and nature lovers. It looks particularly lively in morning light and is complemented by Beverly and James White.” – FARROW & BALL
Popular BENJAMIN MOORE Sage Paints
Even when you decide you’ll paint a room or a piece of furniture an earthy green, it can be tricky to know where to begin.
A smart place to start is to look to those tried and true green paint colors that have become popular:
Pin this graphic above so you’ll have it for future reference!
Gloucester Sage HC-100 for Exterior Trim
What a beautiful combination on a house with BM Harbour Gray and Gloucester Sage!
Need a Green Patterned Wallpaper Idea?
Instead of simply suggesting nature or the outdoors with green pigment, you can also do it with pattern and texture.
Here’s a closer look at the various greens in the tree pattern:
Add green underfoot! Since I’m a huge fan of hydrangea everything, this pretty rug in the sage colorway caught my eye:
Another green wallpaper to check out is this Canopy pattern from Rifle Paper Co.
Isn’t that green glorious with the soft browns?
Earthy Greens You May Overlook
Not all beautiful green paints have “green” in their name.
Benjamin Moore Fieldstone
On that mood board above is this soothing shade of green that has become quite popular for kitchens and beyond.
It works beautifully with white in Shaker style kitchens or even French-inspired homes like Mary Ann’s former remodeled cottage in Newport:
What a subtle green that can appear grey or even seafoam depending on the lighting:
We Need Our Greens
I’m still wearing skinny not saggy jeans like these from Paige:
Are you more of BLUE lover? Collect paint color ideas in THIS.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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