Are you considering using some variation of a gray green paint color in your home? Gray/green, or sage, is a very popular color that you may have seen showing up more and more lately. Perhaps you have seen pictures of classic sage green kitchen cabinets or a eucalyptus paint color on walls.
Sage is a sophisticated shade of green composed of green (blue+yellow), and gray (black+white). With the addition of gray, the intensity of green is knocked back giving it a more reserved, grown-up look. Sage in many shades has been gaining popularity for the last several years as designers and homeowners are beginning to experiment more with color.
If you are accustomed to an all white, neutral, or gray interior scheme. Sage is a safe place to start when you are begining to add color to your home. There is no need to feel intimidated because it is a very safe color. This lovely muted green tone can be used as a neutral color.
I would like to share with you my favorite gray green paint color from several paint companies. Then, let’s talk about places you can use these sagey colors in your home, and some tips on picking the perfect shade for your space.
Best Gray Green Paint Colors by Company
Sherwin Williams
Sherwin Williams has a lovely selection of true sagey gray green colors. With this range of shades you can suit any mood.
Soft Sage would read as a sophisticated neutral pairing well with a warm white and earthy browns.
Frosted Fern has a bit more green and is slightly darker ~ a great shade to introduce color subtly.
Evergreen Fog reads more blue and is perfect from someone who is looking to create a serene space.
For those who like the darker, moody vibe Sage Green Light is a great choice.
Benjamin Moore
Here is another great selection of sage green.
This family has warm sages, cool sages, and a light almost minty sage.
Pesto Paste that has a larger dose of green making it more intense. See the end of this post where we’ve used this color in our home.
Farrow and Ball
Farrow & Ball is an English company with the reputation of producing historical, timeless colors. In this selection they offer a gorgeous selection of sage greens.
Mizzle is this clever chameleon of gray, green, and beige? I imagine this color would be the perfect neutral in many lighting scenarios.
Pigeon leans more gray, while Lichen is a soft greener sage.
Treron is moodier and would ground a space well.
Behr
This range of sage greens by Behr has the greatest difference between the shades.
If you are looking for a hint of sage then Gray Mist is your choice.
Frosted Fern would be a good choice for a calm, cool feeling in a space.
Both Chopped Dill and Guacamole will add a bolder move for those who are ready for a good dose of color.
Where to Use Gray Green Paint Colors
The widely varied shades of sage green offer many uses for interior spaces. If you have a specific space in mind I suggest looking to Pinterest for examples to study. One space where it is popular (and timeless) to use sage green is in the kitchen.
Kitchens: A two-toned color scheme with a warm white color painted on the upper cabinet and a sage green on the lower cabinets is a traditional way to get an injection of color without committing to an entire room.
Of course you could begin by painting your room’s walls with a gray green paint color. Many of the tones of gray green mentioned above would look great as a wall color. If you are feeling adventurous I encourage you to try a green room.
Bedrooms: A cool grey green shade of sage is perfect for creating a calm resting place.
Powder Rooms: This is a fabulous place to go bold. Choose a fabulous wallpaper that you love with sage tones and have those color matched at the paint store. Then paper the top portion of the room, add bead board to the lower half and paint in the gray green color you had custom matched. This will give you a custom look that expresses your personality without being overwhelming in a common area.
How to Pick the Perfect Gray Green Paint Color
If you are uncertain on the shade of gray green to choose I suggest looking to your wardrobe. Green is one of my favorite colors and I’ve selected pieces I wear often. As you can see I lean towards a warmer shade of sage. chances are if you are comfortable wearing it you will be comfortably with it in your home.
Ask yourself what kind of feeling you want to create. Cool or warm? Moody? Serene? Light and airy? Sophisticated and more neutral? Answering these questions will help you narrow down the options.
Just for fun I’ve included a section where I’ve gathered wallpaper samples with sage green in the scheme. Then I played around with color swatches to see what would look good with the patterns. It was delightful to see how the various shades of green would pull the same shade out of the wallpaper and change the look.
Once you are ready to narrow down the exact shade of green you want for a space this simple exercise is more beneficial than scrolling online for examples. There is something about holding tangible items in your hands and seeing how the various shades effect you and look in your space.
From this exercise I noticed the paint chips I’d chosen went with so many of the samples. Don’t be afraid to play with color and learn to trust your eye. If you are the one choosing the colors and wallpaper or fabric samples there will be a continuity among them.
Here are a couple examples of where we’ve used Behr’s Pesto Paste in our home. I hope this post has given you food for thought and some inspiration to get out there and enjoy using color!