Color trends are as fickle as fashion, but one thing’s for sure: designers’ love of green is, well, evergreen. For the past five years at ELLE DECOR, we’ve seen kitchens painted sage, entryways lacquered emerald, and—most recently—the internet doused an acid shade of “brat.” Green, especially in its paler variations, is known to soothe the eye and evoke the biophilic magic of the natural world. But increasingly, we’ve seen designers turn to its darker, moodier cousin, dark green. And it’s easy to see why: Not only can a deeper verdant shade create an enveloping and snug atmosphere, but it can also bridge the void between what’s inside your home and what’s just outside your window. Plus, because of its associations with nature, green has the uncanny ability to feel neutral, even if it may be a bit bolder than you’d typically venture.
“Colors in a home can be a very powerful tool to convey emotion,” affirms Studio Muka’s Neda Kakhsaz. For a recent California project, that hue was—you guessed it!—a lush deep green. “The way we approached selecting particular shades of green was by looking outward onto the site and context of the home,” Kakhsaz continues. “The lush tree canopies of the monumental redwood trees surrounding the home inspired our desire to reflect their weight in the interiors. We wanted to capture the feeling of being nestled in a cabin in the trees.”
Before you whip out the drop cloths and rollers, make sure to get a few different dark green paint samples to test and note how light impacts the colors at different times of day. Kakhsaz says that she, along with her partner Zabie Mustafa, tested many tones to get the forest-inspired color just right. Not sure where to start? Below, we’ve listed 10 favorite deep green paint colors that top interior designers love. Read on and get ready to make your home feel like your own cozy treehouse.
1
Calke Green by Farrow & Ball
Farrow & Ball’s deep sage is timeless for a reason: A similar shade appears on the walls of this breakfast room in a centuries-old English abbey. Robert Couturier, for this elegant Gramercy family home, used the hue in this enveloping music room.
2
Cedar Path by Benjamin Moore
This den, in a Brooklyn townhouse renovated by Civilian, takes its garden-level position literally: Here the designers doused the room in this rich green, Cedar Path. Benjamin Moore describes it as “a quintessential shade of forest green that fits comfortably in rustic or refined spaces”—and we couldn’t agree more!
3
Dyrehaven by Farrow & Ball
“This for us is a California fantasy,” designer Pamela Shamshiri says of this easygoing ranch house. The kitchen cabinets received a coat of Farrow & Ball’s Dyrehaven, an “earthy deep green that takes its name from the historic deer park.” That park is in Denmark, but this look is 100 percent California dreamy.
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4
Studio Green by Farrow & Ball
Studio Green is one that continually pops up in the projects we showcase here on ElleDecor.com. But we particularly love this Parisian example from Lorenzo Castillo, where the deep, enigmatic green offsets a sky-blue ceiling—just like Mother Nature intended!
5
Vintage Vogue by Benjamin Moore
This “ultra-dark, smoky green” is as stylish as the name implies. Designers Jayne and Joan Michaels of 2Michaels favored the paint color in the kitchen of this Manhattan brownstone. “It’s a warm and inviting atmosphere,” Joan says. Swap this sexy hue in for more expected neutrals, like black, brown, or gray.
6
Alligator Alley by Benjamin Moore
Design firm Charlap Hyman & Herrero have a penchant for the surreal. No surprise, in the study of a Miami apartment, they turned to one of Florida’s mascots—the gator—for inspo. Benjamin Moore’s Alligator Alley is a “classic forest green that can bring a touch of drama to any space,” per the paint company’s website, and looks mighty fine in a monochromatic color scheme. “Using one color or material everywhere sublimates forms, blurring the edges of a room and the pieces of furniture within it,” explains firm cofounder Adam Charlap Hyman. “The effect is something expansive, even infinite.”
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7
Oakmoss by Sherwin-Williams
This down-to-earth paint from Sherwin-Williams has a slightly brown cast, making it suitable for virtually any room. Here, designers Eric Hughes and Nathan Turner used it in the sitting area of their bedroom, a move that adds sophistication to the more rustic California ranch aesthetic.
8
Hawthorn by Bauwerk
Bauwerk describes this soft limewash paint as the “perfect moody khaki.” It was also perfect for this California home, designed by Studio Muka, as a way to reference the colors of the surrounding redwood-punctuated landscape. We love the soft dimension that the limewash finish brings to this versatile olive.
9
Mountain Olive by Behr
“I am still pushing myself to expand my colors!” says ELLE DECOR A-List designer Augusta Hoffman. “But it’s true, I do love green. I think of it almost as a neutral.” There’s no better example than her kitchen, which she painted in Behr’s ever-so-sophisticated Mountain Olive, described as “a nod to the Earth’s array of verdant hues.”
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10
Lafayette Green by Benjamin Moore
Dark green also makes a striking trim color. Here, in the entryway to a Millbrook, New York, farmhouse, David Netto painted the moldings and fireplace surround in Benjamin Moore’s Lafayette Green. The deep green shade is part of the paint company’s Historical Collection—a line inspired by centuries of American design—ensuring you’re in for a green that will stand the test of time.
Anna Fixsen
Deputy Digital Editor
Anna Fixsen, Deputy Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, focuses on how to share the best of the design world through in-depth reportage and online storytelling. Prior to joining the staff, she has held positions at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record magazines. elledecor.com
