Decorating in Green

Grassy green bedding adds a splash of character to this all-white bedroom. Although the walls are white, the bold pop of color and pattern help make the bedroom feel vibrant and alive. An eclectic collection of wall art adds to the casual, laid-back vibe of the room.

See how to use green in a color scheme.

A spring green can brighten even the darkest of rooms. Fresh green walls and whimsical floral patterns envelop this sunny living area. A reclaimed wood coffee table adds another level of natural appeal. Neutral splashes of white, tan, and black add crispness while allowing the green hues to shine.

Give plain dining chairs a splash of personality with a fresh coat of paint. These wooden dining chairs got a lift with a coat of Kelly green spray paint and playfully patterned seat cushions. The simple update is an easy and cost-effective way to spruce up a neutral dining space.

Learn how to spray-paint chairs and other furniture.

Tone down an bright color with white and you'll get a much more liveable shade of a zingy hue. These vibrant walls are a more mellow version of lime green and add freshness to traditional accessories in this guest bedroom, without being overly electric. Although many of the pieces are antiques, a playful mix of colors, patterns, and textures ensures everything looks up-to-date. Chocolate brown bed linens and dark-stained woods add stark contrast to break up the bold green hue.

Taking its cue from the ocean, the sea green shade in this kitchen creates a light and airy atmosphere. If you love a particular color but think it might be too intense to use in your decor, opt for a neutral-hinted version. While sea greens are often more vibrant, the shade used on the island is toned down with a bit of gray. The same shade is variegated with clouds of white on the backsplash tile for an effervescent look.

Color inspiration can come from anywhere: fabrics, artwork, and more. Patterned chairbacks featuring an eye-catching floral print inspired the energizing green color of this dining room. Green colors are the perfect complements to gathering spaces such as the dining room or kitchen, as the hues tend to make people feel comfortable and relaxed.

Walls covered with green glass tiles reflect light and help to expand the look of this small master bathroom. With a large window along one wall, the green hue of the tiles helps connect the bathroom to the outdoors. Extending the tile from floor to ceiling throughout the bathroom creates a distinct style statement that wouldn’t have been possible using paint alone.

A smattering of Kelly green accessories gives this stately living room graphic presence. From the window treatments to the chairs to the rug, the bold green hue infuses the space with a youthful energy. Leaving the walls, sofa, and console tables neutral allows the bold green elements to truly shine.

Pairing accessories in different colors creates contrast, while keeping the colors within the same family is unifying. Peachy pink accents add pop to this youthful dining room, and the various green hues used on the rug, pillows, and drapes create a harmonious look.  

A soft green hue infuses this living space with vitality and elegance. The gentle green walls function as a neutral backdrop for a variety of soft patterns and bold colors found on the sofa, ottoman, and throw pillows. Vases filled with fresh flowers are natural accents for the earthy green hue.

A green-and-white-striped area rug adds a splash of personality to this all-white dining space. A playfully patterned table runner features the same green hue that is found in the rug, but also adds rich browns and soft blues to the mix. Subtle orange accents scattered throughout the space introduce needed contrast.

Warm neutrals and eye-catching greens create a calming vibe in this cozy sunroom. A grid of bold artwork -- birds painted on lime green wooden panels -- creates a stunning focal point along one wall. Window treatments featuring a subtle bird motif and a collection of plants further emphasize the nature-inspired vibe of the room.

Whether you use it in the furniture, cabinets, floors, or walls, color gives your kitchen a dose of character. Bold green barstools team up with steely-gray countertops, rich brown cabinets, and sky blue walls to create an eclectic vibe in this kitchen.

Sometimes color takes a backseat to other features. In this dining room, a mixture of accessories creates a modern-meets-rustic atmosphere, but hints of lime green add personality to the industrial look. Featured on the throw pillows and in the artwork above the mantel, the hue injects unexpected vitality to the otherwise neutral dining space.  

In this living room, lime green is applied in small doses as a subtle yet impactful way to add panache to a brown-and-white design scheme. Citrus hues appear on the armoire, end table, and several accent pillows to add personality to white furniture and built-ins. The bold color also acts as a colorful balance to the rich brown walls and flooring. Painting an existing piece of furniture, such as an armoire, in a new, bold color can update a tired piece and give a room a refreshed look in just one step.

Green, in almost every shade, is tied to nature and gives off a decidedly fresh vibe. In this living room, spring green mixes with sky blues and earthy browns to create a sophisticated yet casual atmosphere. The nature-inspired look is carried through in motifs, the stylized botanical-print drapes, and items that bring the outdoors in, such as the ceramic garden stool and potted plants. A single shade of green is repeated throughout the space to create a sense of unity.

Sometimes, adding character to a space can be as simple as updating a single piece of furniture. A mossy green sofa adds a splash of personality to the white walls and neutral flooring of this living room. Incorporate a few accessories, such as throw pillows, that also bear the shade to bridge the gap between a neutral space and a bold block of color.

Green recycled-glass subway tiles add sparkle to this kitchen. Stretching all the way from the countertops to the ceiling, the tiles create a bold style statement while also helping to cocoon the open kitchen, which could feel a little too spacious without the blanket of tile surrounding it. The rich green color of the tiles echoes the hues found in the mossy-color perimeter cabinets and reclaimed wood flooring.

Who says bold color doesn’t have a place in cottage style? This charming room proves that vivid color creates a homey feel wrapped in coziness. The walls’ green hue, inspired by the lamp, is countered by the wide swath of white wainscoting below. Breezy window coverings bordered in green buffalo plaid and white-painted open-frame furniture keep the small room light and bright. When using a vivid color, such as apple green, limit accent colors to one or two, and use in small doses.

Make a small room feel big by using lively color and maximizing every square inch. Instead of white walls, choose a muted hue such as this celadon green that will make the room feel colorful, not cramped. Pick neutral colors for expensive furnishings, and reserve bold colors for easy-to-replace accents such as these storage ottomans, baskets, and pillows. Open shelving allows you to take color vertically, adding storage options and enlivening the walls.

Take a look at your fruit bowl or use a trip down the produce aisle for color inspiration. The green in this palette takes its cue from shiny Granny Smith apples, and the shades of orange are reminiscent of tangerines. Use doses of crisp white to balance the juicy hues.

Give tired cabinets new life with a fresh coat of paint. These outdated cabinets were updated using a soft, mossy green. Soft green subway tiles blend perfectly with the new cabinetry and add subtle sheen to the walls. Orange-red accents, such as the chair cushions and window treatments, provide contrast. Pairing green with a red-based hue creates a complementary color scheme and offers plenty of visual variety while relying on only two colors.

• Learn how to paint cabinets.

In this dining room, antique shelves stand out against a bold green accent wall. Crisp white dishware on the shelves pops against the striking hue. The accent wall adds a splash of modernity to other antique fixtures as well, such as the dining table and painted Windsor chairs.

In an all-white stairway, a painted green runner helps ground the space. The runner’s Kelly green shade is repeated elsewhere throughout the home and is repeated on a collection of photo frames displayed in the stairway. Dark wooden floorboards and railings help to balance the striking green and white hues.

Moss green Shaker-style cabinetry creates a vintage aesthetic in this restored old-house kitchen. A rich glaze over the green paint adds to the patina. A porcelain farmhouse sink and beaded-board backsplash in crisp white also honor the vintage vibe and provide crisp contrast to the green trim and cabinets and the black countertop.

Families spend more and more time socializing in the kitchen, so decorate your kitchen table area with the same level of comfort you do your family room. In this spacious kitchen, a cozy banquette and upholstered chairs take advantage of a wide expanse of windows for light and color inspiration. Green moves from the backyard to the chairs and pillows in the seating area and into the kitchen beyond. Natural wood surfaces help to blend indoors and out.

One-of-a-kind pieces imbue a home with warmth and character, so let your collections and favorite finds guide your color palette and bring a sense of order to eclectic vintage treasures. In this serene dining room, old metal soda shoppe chairs contribute a minty green to the neutral palette. Underfoot, a striped rug adds additional shades of green for depth. The old desk and table share a fresh finish of white paint, while the taupe walls put the focus on the furnishings.

Decorative touches create an inviting aesthetic in this laundry room. The bold lime green, white, and pink color palette creates an uplifting atmosphere, making the often-dreaded laundry day a breeze. A playful wall mural of oversize clothespins breaks up the bold lime green hue and adds a splash of style in an unexpected place.

Nothing complements natural wood surfaces like green. Pairing the two in this small bathroom creates the aura of a leafy forest. Fern green walls set off the rich grain of the door moldings and the workbench repurposed into two separate vanities. Wooden crates enrich the space with ample storage for towels.