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Know Your Greens: Our Experts Handpick the 18 Best Paint Colors

Words by Olivia Lidbury
a kitchen with a stove and a dining room table

Photography courtesy of Brandon Schubert

Not all green paints are made equal.

Just like the lush palette found in nature, the spectrum ranges from deep forest shades to grassy hues with yellow bases. And then, determined by the light, there’s also those that come with hints of gray or brown.

With so many options, we canvassed our Experts to whittle down the greens they have a soft spot for (spinach excluded). The feedback was as generous as an allotment in spring: “Green is my favorite and I could name so many for a million different reasons,” enthuses Monica Stewart of The Misfit House.

Two brands dominate this list, with Benjamin Moore and Farrow & Ball producing the most desired colors. “I love Farrow & Ball paint because of the beautiful undertones to each color and how the depth can be so rich in different spaces,” explains Tiffany Thompson of Duett Interiors.

Keen to up your greens? Keep reading for the shades to know now.

The Most Versatile Greens

a kitchen with green cabinets and marble counter tops

Photography by Kristin Karch; Design by The Misfit House

For Multipurpose Appeal

Bancha by Farrow & Ball has a little bit of brown in it and works really well with other colors. It’s equally suited to a more formal space—like the millwork of a bar—and a kid’s bedroom." —Nicole Salvesen, Salvesen Graham

a bottle of olive green paint
Farrow & BallBanchaSHOP NOW

For a Traditional Feel

Green Smoke by Farrow & Ball is such a classic color, looks great with every other shade imaginable, and carries the perfect amount of depth and mood without overpowering its surroundings.” —Monica Stewart, The Misfit House

a gray paint with a white background
Farrow & BallGreen SmokeSHOP NOW

For Bringing the Outside In

“Benjamin Moore’s Backwoods reminds me of the outdoors, especially in Oregon. It’s warm, rich, and feels like a classic green that can go from your kitchen cabinets to an accent wall.” —Tiffany Thompson, Duett Interiors

a dark green color with a white background
Benjamin MooreBackwoodsSHOP NOW

The Most Statement Greens

a green bathroom with a window and a rug

Photography courtesy of Brandon Schubert

For a Dazzling Kitchen

Herb Garden by Benjamin Moore is perfectly saturated with enough yellow undertones that it carries a freshness. I like its versatility too: the color is fantastic on walls but I also absolutely love it on cabinetry. I once painted an entire pantry Herb Garden in a very glossy finish, and it felt like being inside of a grassy jewel.” —Noz Nozawa

a green circle with a white background
Benjamin MooreHerb GardenSHOP NOW

For That Spirited Touch

“I love Breakfast Room Green by Farrow & Ball. It's super vibrant and fun. I think it's great for millwork or walls. I would put it in an entry or dining room.” —Tali Roth

a bottle of green paint with a white background
Farrow & BallBreakfast Room GreenSHOP NOW

For a Lively Accent

Pea Green from Little Greene is a joyful pop of color that makes me happy to use. It’s quite intense so may not be right for every space, but it works really well as a trim or accent color.” —Brandon Schubert

a light green color with a white background
Little GreenePea GreenSHOP NOW

The Coziest Greens

a living room with a couch and a table

Photography by Nick Glimenakis; Design by Tali Roth

For Hunkering Down

Guerrilla by Porter’s Paints is a moody and gorgeous olive tone but it’s not too yellow or saturated. I would use it in a den or bedroom.” —Tali Roth

a dark brown color with a white background
Porter's PaintsGuerrillaSHOP NOW

For Snug Spaces

Castle Gray is a Farrow & Ball archive color. We used it in the sitting room of our old flat in London and it was such a warm and cocooning space. It’s a dark greeny-gray that makes a wonderful background to art and brown furniture.” —Brandon Schubert

a bottle of green paint on a white background
Farrow & BallCastle GraySHOP NOW

For Unrivaled Comfort

“I used Benjamin Moore’s Van Alen Green in a guest room in my old house in East Hampton. It’s so fresh, surprisingly cozy, and great for the country. Everyone always loved staying in this room.” —Patrick McGrath

a light green paint with a white background
Benjamin MooreVan Alen GreenSHOP NOW

The Most Intense Greens

a kitchen with green cabinets and wooden floors

Photography by Kristin Karch; Design by The Misfit House

For a Little Opulence

Nitty Gritty by Portola Paints is a deep, smoky rich green which is great if you want to create a moody space. Consider this for a small powder room or a bar area and if you are bold enough, use this color in a bright bedroom to juxtapose the light. It can make a huge impact in unexpected areas.” —Tiffany Thompson, Duett Interiors

a black round object with a white background
Portola PaintsNitty GrittySHOP NOW

For Chameleon Spaces

Calke Green from Farrow & Ball is one of the rare colors that can be both dark and happy at the same time. When I was young, my favorite Crayola color was called Forest Green, and this is the paint color that gets closest to it!” —Brandon Schubert

a bottle of green paint with a white background
Farrow & BallCalke GreenSHOP NOW

For Delicious Kitchens

“Benjamin Moore’s Forest Green is a really durable, earthy color. In my old Hamptons kitchen, we used it for the island as a contrast, and to nod to the antique faience pieces that also lived in the room.” —Patrick McGrath

a dark green color with a white background
Benjamin MooreForest GreenSHOP NOW

The Most Calming Greens

a kitchen with a sink, cabinets and a window

Photography by Rachael Levasseur; Design by The Misfit House

For Sweet Dreams

“My latest obsession has been Farrow & Ball’s Mizzle. It’s a soft green that works nicely in a nursery or a bedroom because of the color’s inherent calmness. It feels like a beautiful balance color while still being neutral.” —Tiffany Thompson, Duett Interiors

a white paint bottle with a white background
Farrow & BallMizzleSHOP NOW

For a Serene Vibe

Ball Green by Farrow & Ball is a restful green for woodwork that wants to be interesting but not overly impactful." —Nicole Salvesen, Salvesen Graham

a beige paint with a white background
Farrow & BallBall GreenSHOP NOW

For Relaxed Vibes

“Barely green, Gray Horse by Benjamin Moore works like a charm every time. Even though it’s very light, it’s never pastel or nursery feeling. It’s as lovely in a formal dining room as it is on bathroom cabinetry.” —Monica Stewart, The Misfit House

a white paint with a white background
Benjamin MooreGray HorseSHOP NOW

The Only-Just Greens

a kitchen with green cabinets and a window

Photography by Simon Brown; Design by Salvesen Graham

For Vintage Glamour

“There's something both very vintage and very now about Benjamin Moore’s Webster Green. This hue leans slightly blue, which feels nostalgic, partly because it pairs very nicely with rich, warm woods that I associate with Art Nouveau and late '70s interiors.” —Noz Nozawa

a bottle of green paint on a white background
Benjamin MooreWebster GreenSHOP NOW

For Blissful Bedrooms

Blue Gray by Farrow & Ball might have blue in the name, but I definitely find it to be green at heart. It’s the perfect shade of celadon and you can use it in the same way you would an off-white. It has just the right amount of richness to warm up a room and it changes beautifully between sunrise and sunset.” —Brandon Schubert

a light gray paint with a white background
Farrow & BallBlue GraySHOP NOW

For a Warm Welcome

“We matched a Voutsa wallpaper with Farrow & Ball’s Farrow & Ball Vert de Terre for the entrance of a project in New York City. It turned out so beautifully—I love how it’s sort of natural-looking and changes color throughout the day.” —Patrick McGrath

a light green paint with a white background
Farrow & BallVert de TerreSHOP NOW
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