Emerald green paint ranges from a soft mid-tone to a deep jewel shade. These four greens and two companions were measured from paintings, with LRV, undertone and closest paint match for each.
Quick answer
Use the mid-tone #609179 for a living room or bedroom wall, the deep #235F47 on cabinets or a small room, and the pale green-white #E0DFCD for trim and ceilings.
Every color on this page was measured from one of these public-domain paintings.
Shades of emerald
#609179LRV 24
Soft Emerald
A mid-tone green with an LRV of 24, the lightest emerald here and the easiest on large walls. It was measured from Cézanne's Standing Bather, Seen from the Back, and it is a near-identical match for Sherwin-Williams SW 60 Alexandrite.
The same paint reads differently in cool north light, warm south sun and under evening lamps. Find the column closest to your room.
Color
Neutral daylight
North light
South light
Evening lamps
Soft Emerald
Pale Sage White
Try these colors in a room
Pick which color goes on the walls, the big furniture and the bold piece. Floors, shadows and trim follow your choice.
The framed picture on the wall is Standing Bather, Seen from the Back.
Which emerald green should you choose?
The four greens differ in depth. #609179 is the lightest at LRV 24. #517C60 and #4B7E4C share an LRV of 17 but differ in character, with the first cooler and the second brighter. #235F47 is the deepest at LRV 9.
For a whole room, the soft emerald is the easiest. It reads clearly green without absorbing most of the light. For a room you want to feel rich, such as a library, dining room or powder room, choose the jewel emerald.
If you are unsure, take the two middle shades side by side and look at them on a wall. Their LRV is the same, so the difference you see is only the undertone.
What goes with emerald: trim, ceiling and floor?
A pale green-tinged white such as #E0DFCD makes a gentle trim and ceiling color against deep green. It has an LRV of 73 and a green undertone, so it feels related to the walls rather than stark beside them.
For floors and furniture, warm woods suit emerald well. The brick brown #774139 shows how a red-brown tone sits opposite green, and it is a good guide for leather, rugs or a painted door.
If you want a more contrasting look, use a bright white trim with the deep emerald. Bright white will look sharper than the pale sage and make the green look darker. Brass or warm metal fixtures also pair easily with these greens.
How does emerald behave in different light?
Deep greens depend strongly on light. In north light, the soft emerald looks cooler and grayer, while the jewel emerald can look nearly black in the corners. In south light, they brighten and show their green more clearly.
Under warm evening bulbs, the greens turn richer and a little yellower. The leaf emerald, with its brighter cast, can look olive under very warm lamps.
A room with large windows can carry the deepest shade. A room with one small window is better with the soft emerald, or with the deep shade on only one wall, so the room does not lose too much light.
How do you test emerald samples?
Paint two coats on a board about two feet square. Deep greens need two coats to show their true depth, and a single coat can look lighter and patchy.
Place the board against the wall where you plan to use it, then move it near a window and into a corner. Compare it with your sofa, wood and curtains.
Check the sample in the morning, at midday and at night. Emerald can look very different between them, so choose the one you still like under the bulbs you use most. Let the sample dry fully before judging, since wet paint looks darker.
FAQ
What is emerald green paint?
It is a rich green with a slightly cool, jewel-like cast. The shades here range from LRV 24 to LRV 9.
Is emerald green wall paint good for a living room?
Yes. The soft emerald #609179, at LRV 24, is the easiest shade for large living room walls.
What color goes with emerald green walls?
A pale green-tinged white for trim, warm wood, and red-brown accents such as leather or brick-colored textiles.
Will emerald green make a room look smaller?
Deep shades with an LRV under 10 absorb light, so use them on one wall or in a room with good daylight.
What trim color works with emerald green room paint?
The pale sage white #E0DFCD gives a soft look, and a bright white gives stronger contrast.
Save these colors
A card with every color on this page, its LRV and the paintings it comes from. Pin it, or take it to the paint store.
Painting images: The Art Institute of Chicago, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, public domain (CC0).
Colors measured by Light & Pigment. Paint names belong to their brands and matches are approximate. Colors look different on screen than on a wall, so always test a sample.
From Standing Bather, Seen from the Back, Paul Cezanne
