These green room color combinations come from paintings where green already shares a canvas with other colors. Two greens lead, and four companions show what painters placed beside them.
Quick answer
Use light green #9FD991 on the walls, deep green #4E5746 for furniture, and add gold #C0A859 and brick red #883D31 as accents.
Every color on this page was measured from one of these public-domain paintings.
Shades of green
#4E5746LRV 9
Deep Moss Green
A deep green with an LRV of 9, good for cabinets, a sofa or a feature wall. It was measured from Gérard's Monsieur Tortoni, and its closest match is Sherwin-Williams SW 65 Vogue Green.
A deep warm red with an LRV of 9, which sits opposite green on the color wheel. Use it for a rug, wood or a single accent. It comes from the Portrait of Emperor Jahangir.
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
Fresh Leaf Green
Antique Brass Gold
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 Monsieur Tortoni.
What colors go with green in a room?
In these paintings, green is paired with warm colors: gold, olive khaki, brick red and a very dark brown-black. That gives you a simple formula. Choose one green for the main surface, one warm mid-tone for fabric, and one deep accent.
The light green #9FD991 is lively and works best in a room with plenty of daylight. The deep moss #4E5746 is quieter and suits a room you want to feel settled.
Try not to use both greens at full strength in the same room. Let one lead and use the other in small touches, such as a cushion or a plant pot.
What should you pair with green: trim, ceiling and floor?
Neither green on this page is a trim color, so choose a light neutral for trim and the ceiling. A warm white works with both, and a cream suits the deep moss best.
For floors, warm wood is the usual partner. The brick red #883D31 shows the depth of a red-brown wood or rug that sits well beside green.
The black olive #26241E works for a door or the edge of a frame, and the antique brass gold for lamps, hardware or a mirror frame. Avoid adding a third strong color. Green, one warm neutral and one deep accent is usually enough.
How do these greens behave in different light?
The light green has an LRV of 59 and is the most sensitive to light. In north light it looks cooler and a little grayer. In strong sun it looks fresh and clear.
The deep moss has an LRV of 9 and absorbs most light. It looks almost black in a dim corner, and shows its green near a window.
Under warm evening bulbs, both greens look yellower, and the gold and the khaki glow. If you prefer a cooler green in the evening, use bulbs with a slightly cooler tone, and keep them consistent across the room.
A glossy floor or a mirror will bounce green light back into the room and make it look stronger. Matte surfaces keep the color calmer, so think about what else in the room reflects light.
How do you test green samples?
Paint a board about two feet square for each green. Place the boards next to each other and then next to your sofa, wood and curtains. Green changes more than most colors depending on what sits beside it.
Check the boards in the morning, at midday and at night. A green that looks fresh at noon can look yellow at night under warm bulbs.
Dry samples look different from wet ones, so wait until the paint is fully dry. If you plan to use the brick red or the gold nearby, put those samples on the same wall for the final check.
FAQ
What colors go with green in a room?
Gold, olive khaki, brick red and a very dark olive are the companions measured next to green in these paintings.
What is a good green room color combination?
Light green walls with deep green furniture and gold and brick red accents is one combination from this page.
What trim color goes with green walls?
A warm white or cream. Choose a lighter shade than the walls to give a soft edge.
Can I use two greens in the same room?
Yes, but let one lead. Use the light green on walls and the deep green on furniture, or the other way around.
Does green look different at night?
Yes. Under warm bulbs greens look yellower and richer, so test samples in the evening.
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, 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 Monsieur Tortoni, baron François Pascal Simon Gérard
