Green Paint Colors Our Editors Swear By

On-trend, but completely livable, take a cue from these mint green paint colors to soothe any room. "Mint greens are happy colors that work in a lot of different climates," designer Paige Sumblin Schnell says, as long as the room gets plenty of bright daylight. She favors shades of mint with more blue in them. To find the right shade, she fans out paint chips and goes with a mint that neighbors violet, rather than peach.

There are a lot of great ways to decorate with jewel tones, but we think they look best when paired with other dark, saturated colors. Take jade green, for example. Whether it's marbleized or painted as a solid color, it looks great with charcoal gray and black accents. 

The yellow-green shade seen in succulents is more lively than their mint or sage counterparts. "Succulent greens are very fresh, inviting, and springlike. Even the palest hue still has a happy kick to it," designer John Loecke says.

Love these green paint colors? Click here to get the paint color names.

L.A. designer Sasha Emerson may have finally pinpointed why so many of us love, even obsess over, this soft blue-green color: “It’s a watered-down version of Tiffany blue.” Jewelry fantasies aside, this is a hue that makes you feel good, which is why you see it in a lot of spas, Emerson says.

If you’re trying to replicate the color of a piece of pottery or a sea glass souvenir, Emerson suggests taking it with you to the paint store to match it. If the ideal color is just in your head, “think pale, because if you go too bright you’re heading into turquoise or mint.”

Love these colors? Click here to get the paint color names.

For hues taken straight from nature, try these green paint colors. "There’s something refreshing about green that denotes a healthy vibe. It couldn’t be more fresh," designer Ruthie Sommers says.

To prevent earthy greens from looking drab, keep potential accent colors in mind. Sommers pairs lighter shades of green with creams or butter yellow to wake them up a bit.

Love these colors? Click here to get the paint color names.

Walk the line between boring and over-the-top with green paint colors inspired by farmers market finds. “Market greens nicely accomplish being traditional but still hip,” designer Kishani Perera says. "In places where there isn’t a lot of light—like Seattle—don’t go with grayed-down colors. I choose ones that have a little more white,” Perera says. "Moody" gray-greens hold up well in sunnier locales.

Love these colors? Click here to get the paint color names.

Because green is created by mixing two primary colors, shifting the ratio will yield a shade that either leans blue or leans yellow. These green walls fall toward the blue camp but are enlivened thanks to colorful accessories. To create a similar look, follow this formula: paint colors a green-blue in a mid-range intensity, include fabrics (on furniture, rugs, or window treatments) in blue to help draw out the blue tones of the color, sprinkle in plenty of colorful accents in warm tones, and include strong neutrals on pieces throughout the space to keep the palette away from candy store territory.

Intense but bright greens without any neutral undertones energize a room. Employ this zingy color in a room with wainscoting halfway up the wall or with a chair rail. Paint the upper half of the wall green and the lower half white, which serves as a visual palette cleanser. Honey-hued wood finishes temper the color but also pair nicely with the apple green's yellow undertones.

Paint color: Pittsburgh Paints, Asparagus, #209-6

Paint colors like celadon can read as neutral since they are pale and muted by the addition of gray or brown colorant in the color formula. While they are not as commanding as their more saturated cousins, they are ideal for visually expanding a small space and add just a taste of color when true neutrals seem a little too dull.

Paint color: Mythic Paint, Cirrus Cloud, 145-2 

Basic beige can make succulent hues fall flat, but earthy textures make them sing, Loecke says. Natural accents—wicker, sisal, rattan, grass cloth, stone—are right at home with yellow-greens. Crisp white also tempers these zippy hues, so that the lemon-lime green color is enjoyable and refreshing, not sour.

Modernize an earthy green paint color by including dark and light counterpoints in the room. The pale leaf green wall color in this bathroom inspires serenity, but the bright patterned rug, white fixtures and linens, and darkly painted door introduce contemporary flair.

Step away from white cabinets and into something a little more colorful. In this laundry room, muted forest green cabinets pair with an eclectic mix of wood and stone finishes. To achieve a softer look, pair the color with mid-range neutrals. Pure whites or pale neutrals yield a higher contrast look. If you're not ready to fully commit, paint just lower cabinets or an island. Plus, painting cabinets is a DIY job.

Set a regal tone with shades of jade, emerald, and malachite. While these hues are intense, don't be afraid to use them in large strokes (on walls, rather than just accessories) or in small rooms. "People are nervous to put dark colors in small rooms. But they don’t make the room seem smaller—they just make them darker," Perera says. Use mercury glass and mirrored lamps to make the room less cavelike.

Nearly anything and everything goes with green paint, but finding the right mix depends on what type of style you want to convey and what specific shade of green you're using. Pale celadon paired with blue and white sets a traditional tone when carried out in a room with classic furniture and formal accents. The same color scheme can be considered cottage when it resides alongside timeworn finishes, vintage floral prints, and antique accessories. 

Cherry red and pure white with midcentury accents convey a retro vibe when teamed up with bright green. When the same colors partner with sleek, clean-lined furnishings and minimal accessories, the overall look is decidedly modern. Add touches of gold for a polished finish.