Little Greene Olive Colour (72) is a rich, earthy olive green: a mid-to-deep shade with a yellow-brown warmth that stops it ever feeling cold. It is one of those rare strong colours that behaves almost like a neutral, sitting happily alongside dark blues, warm stone, natural wood and brass, which is why it works in so many different rooms.
It has a long pedigree too. Little Greene link this shade to Mrs Delany, the Georgian writer and artist, who chose an olive green for a room in which to hang her pictures. A backdrop for art is still one of the best uses for it today.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colours Used: Olive Colour (72), Basalt (221)
What colour is Olive Colour?
Olive Colour is a true olive: green, but softened and warmed with yellow and brown. In strong daylight it looks livelier and more golden; in low or evening light it settles into a deeper, more muted khaki. It is darker than a sage and lighter than the inky greens such as Jewel Beetle (303), which makes it a comfortable middle ground for anyone who wants depth without darkness.
Its closest relatives at Farrow & Ball are the darker Bancha (298), named after Japanese tea leaves, and the greyer Treron (292). Both are worth sampling alongside it if you are torn.
Where Olive Colour works best
- Sitting rooms and dining rooms. On walls, it gives a room warmth and a quietly traditional feel. Pictures, gilt frames and books look particularly good against it.
- Panelling and woodwork. On panelling or a lower wall, as in the photograph above, it brings structure to a room without overwhelming it.
- Kitchens. Olive cabinetry with a warm white or stone wall feels relaxed and timeless, and it hides the marks of daily life well.
- Hallways. A practical, forgiving colour for a busy space, especially in a wipeable finish.
If you love the colour but are wary of a whole room, try it in one place first: the inside of a bookcase, a run of panelling or a single door. It is easy to build on from there.
Photo Credit: Little Greene; Colours Used: Book Room Green (322), Sage Green (80)
What goes with Olive Colour
Little Greene suggest a range of partners, from soft neutrals to confident accents:
- Portland Stone (77), a warm stone neutral for walls or ceilings when Olive Colour is on woodwork or furniture.
- Book Room Green (322), a softer green for a tonal, layered scheme.
- Citrine (71) and Apple (137), brighter greens for a lively, modern contrast.
- Trumpet (196), a warm yellow that picks up the gold in the olive.
- Dock Blue (252), a deep blue that shows how well olive and navy sit together.
For ceilings and woodwork, a warm white such as First Light (49) keeps things soft. A deep blue-black like Basalt (221) on a floor or a door gives the scheme a strong, grounded edge.
Choosing a finish
- Absolute Matt Emulsion for walls in living rooms and bedrooms, where you want the richest, softest colour.
- Intelligent Matt Emulsion (2% sheen) for kitchens, hallways and children's rooms that need to stand up to cleaning.
- Intelligent Eggshell (10 to 15% sheen) for panelling, doors, kitchen cabinets and furniture. It is self-priming, so on most surfaces you only need to clean, lightly key and apply two coats.
Olive Colour is also a lovely shade for a single piece of furniture. Our guide to painting IKEA furniture shows how to do it with one tin of Intelligent Eggshell.
Questions we are often asked
Is Olive Colour a warm or cool green?
Warm. The yellow and brown in it give it an earthy, sunlit quality, which is why it works well in north-facing rooms that need warming up.
Does Olive Colour go with grey?
Yes, especially warmer greys and stone shades. Very cool, blue-based greys can make it look muddy, so sample them side by side first.
How do I know it will look right in my room?
Order a sample pot, paint two coats on a large piece of card and look at it in daylight and in the evening before you commit.
Shop Little Greene Olive Colour (72)
Sample Pots · Absolute Matt Emulsion · All Little Greene colours
