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What are the best olive green paint colors? Designers and color experts share their top 7 shades
Olive green has emerged as a well-loved and highly versatile color in interior design, offering depth and sophistication to any space. Its increasing popularity is attributed to its ability to evoke a tranquil sanctuary, taking on varied tones depending on lighting and placement. With a broad spectrum of olive green shades available, narrowing down the best choices can be challenging. To assist in this selection process, interior designers and color experts have identified their top seven preferred olive green hues, ranging from subtle and light to deep and moody.
Benjamin Moore’s Dark Olive is a rich, subdued green that introduces an outdoorsy feel indoors. Hannah Yeo, senior manager of color marketing at Benjamin Moore, highlights its natural allure and versatility, noting that it pairs beautifully with warm colors such as creams, beiges, and leathery browns. To balance its depth, ample lighting or lighter complementary hues are recommended. This shade is particularly effective for built-in projects like cabinets, bookshelves, and wainscoting, offering timeless elegance. Trish Knight, co-founder of Knight Varga Interiors, considers Dark Olive a sophisticated, dark gray-green suitable for moody dining rooms, primary bedrooms, or kitchen millwork.
For a lighter and brighter option, Farrow & Ball’s Bancha is highly recommended. Emma Beryl, a Brooklyn-based designer, includes Bancha among her top three olive greens, alongside Farrow & Ball’s Olive and Behr’s Oregano Spice. She notes that painting an entire room or cabinetry in this shade adds a luxurious depth. Julia Baum, principal designer at Julia Baum Interiors, favors Bancha for its calming effect in comfort-centric areas like libraries or studies, where it acts as a neutral when combined with earthy-toned furnishings, creating a cozy atmosphere. Artem Kropovinsky of Arsight adds that Bancha pairs well with natural wood and creamy whites, establishing a classic and timeless palette ideal for relaxation or concentration.
Behr’s Dusty Olive is a versatile, muted earthy green with gray undertones, fitting well with current trends for earthy neutral paints. Erika Woelfel, VP of color and creative services at Behr, explains that its softness can warm a space and create an inviting ambiance, making it perfect for shiplap walls or sunrooms where natural light can enhance its dynamic qualities. In living room settings, it harmonizes with natural light, neutral furniture, and fresh greenery.
Sherwin-Williams’ Messenger Bag is a cool, dark green with a comforting feel and gray undertones, making it compatible with soft white and creamy hues. Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, points out its ability to bring a sophisticated, moody tone to functional yet aesthetic spaces, serving as an excellent backdrop for styled console tables. Another Sherwin-Williams favorite, Pewter Green, is praised for its balance of freshness and earthy depth, making it suitable for kitchens, especially when accented with lighter green tiles and black elements. Jessica Cinnamon, principal of Jessica Cinnamon Design, has used it on dining room ceilings.
Behr’s Truly Olive evokes the French countryside with its timeless appeal and warm, neutral undertones. Erika Woelfel suggests using it in rooms with large windows to bridge indoor and outdoor spaces, noting its compatibility with lighter colors like Chanoyu for bold contrast. Finally, Benjamin Moore’s Mediterranean Olive is a rich green with gold undertones. Trish Knight recommends it for casual family rooms, children's rooms, or cottages, pairing it with White Dove for a striking effect. This shade, also considered a favorite sage green paint by designers, adds sophistication and a sleek sheen to eclectic spaces, complemented by pops of red and natural textures.
With these expert-vetted options, ranging from light and bright to dark and sophisticated, selecting an olive green paint is straightforward. When layered with warm, inviting neutrals, these shades can transform any room, making it ready for both daily life and entertaining.
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