The best green paint colours depend on the mood you want. For depth and drama, Little Greene's Jewel Beetle (303) and Farrow & Ball's Studio Green (93) are hard to beat. For a softer, more versatile green, Green Smoke (47) and Breakfast Room Green (81) work in almost any room. And for a calm, barely-there green, Mizzle (266) and Pea Green (91) are quietly lovely.
Green has become one of the most enduring choices for walls, and it is easy to see why. It sits comfortably with wood, stone, brass and plants, it works in old houses and new, and it ranges from almost black to the palest wash. The difficulty is choosing between so many good ones.
Here are the greens we return to most often, grouped by depth, from all three brands we stock.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Jewel Beetle (303)
Deep, dramatic greens
These are greens for enveloping rooms: dining rooms, snugs, studies and kitchens with plenty of wood and brass.
- Jewel Beetle (303). Little Greene describe it as a deep, iridescent green with a rich, jewel-like character. It is as good on a single piece of furniture as on four walls.
- Studio Green (93). The darkest green in the Farrow & Ball palette, named after the studio where their original colours were mixed. Indoors it can appear almost black.
- Obsidian Green (216). A near-black green with a graphic quality, which Little Greene suggest for statement interiors as well as front doors.
- Bancha (298). A rich, dark olive named after Japanese tea leaves harvested late in the season. Farrow & Ball suggest it with soft pinks and browns.
- Hornblende (186). A serious, deep green with what Paint & Paper Library call a rainy-day atmosphere.
Photo Credit: Farrow & Ball; Colour Used: Green Smoke (47)
Smoky and mid-tone greens
The most versatile greens sit in the middle: strong enough to have character, soft enough to live with every day.
- Green Smoke (47). One of Farrow & Ball's most versatile greens, deep and smoky with a generous dose of blue pigment. It works on kitchen cabinets and panelling as well as walls.
- Mid Azure Green (96). A deep teal that Little Greene suggest using all over for a luxurious, enveloping quality.
- Boringdon Green (295). A perfectly balanced deep green that Little Greene describe as a faultless choice for walls and woodwork.
- Sencha (569). A distinctive green with a refined, modern elegance, which Paint & Paper Library suggest as a backdrop for artworks and decorative detail.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colour Used: Mid Azure Green (96)
Soft, calm greens
Pale greens are gentler than most neutrals and far more interesting than white. They suit bedrooms, bathrooms and rooms you want to feel restful.
- Breakfast Room Green (81). A cheerful mid-toned green that Farrow & Ball say stays lively in all lights, and is particularly striking in the early morning.
- Mizzle (266). A light, misty green-grey without any coolness from blue undertones. Its name is West Country dialect for mist and drizzle.
- Pea Green (91). A soft, peaceful green that Little Greene suggest for dining rooms and relaxed living spaces.
- Raw Chalk (559). A soft green with a natural aqua undertone that sits easily in both earthy and neutral schemes.
- French Gray (18). Despite its name, it leans heavily towards green, and Farrow & Ball describe it as creating very relaxed-feeling rooms.
Choosing a green for your light
Green changes with the light more than most colours. In a cool, north-facing room, greens with a lot of blue in them can feel chilly, so a warmer, yellower green or a deep, enveloping one is often the better choice. In a bright south-facing room, almost any green will sing, and the cooler, bluer greens look fresh rather than cold.
Studio Green is a good example of how much setting matters: Farrow & Ball note that it looks much greener outdoors than it does inside. Always paint large sample boards and look at them morning and evening. Our guide to why a colour looks different at home explains more, and you can browse our colours for north-facing rooms.
Photo Credit: Paint & Paper Library; Colour Used: Sencha (569)
Questions we are often asked
Which green is the most versatile?
Green Smoke is a good place to start. Farrow & Ball call it one of their most versatile greens, equally at home on walls, panelling and kitchen cabinets.
Which white goes with green?
Farrow & Ball suggest a complementary white for each colour: Shaded White (201) with Green Smoke and Bancha, for example. A warm, soft white is usually kinder to green than a brilliant one.
Can I use a dark green in a small room?
Yes, and it often works beautifully. Painting the walls, woodwork and ceiling in the same deep green blurs the edges of the room, as our guide to colour drenching explains.
