The Best Olive Green Paint Colors for Every Room in Your Home

Let’s talk about olive green paint colors. Not the olive green of your dad’s old camping gear or that unfortunate sweater from 2003, but the sophisticated, warm, earthy olive green that’s been taking over Pinterest boards and design magazines.

This isn’t your grandmother’s avocado bathroom (for some reason, people really dislike this color. I get so many comments when I post olive green paint colors on Facebook, and they always harp back to their grandma’s avocado bathroom!) — olive green has always been one of my favorite colors, and it’s about time we gave it the attention it deserves.

If you’ve been thinking about adding some color to your walls but don’t want to commit to anything too bold or trendy, olive green might just be your perfect match. It’s calming without being boring, nature-inspired without screaming “I live in a forest,” and surprisingly versatile for just about every room in your house.

Why Olive Green Paint Works Everywhere

kitchen painted in Farrow and ball bancha — Farrow & Ball’s Bancha – Image credit: **@maria_burke_interiors**

With so many shades of olive green to choose from, it can often feel overwhelming knowing which color to use in your home.

But here’s the thing: it’s basically the Switzerland of paint colors. It plays well with others, doesn’t demand too much attention, and somehow makes everything around it look better.

Olive green works because it’s grounded in nature. It’s the color of olive leaves (obviously), sage, eucalyptus, and that perfect moment in late afternoon when the light hits the trees just right.

Our brains are wired to find these earthy tones soothing, which is probably why olive green never feels overwhelming, even in smaller spaces.

Plus, olive green paint has this chameleon-like quality where it shifts throughout the day. In morning light, it might look fresher and more yellow-toned. By evening, it takes on deeper, moodier vibes. It’s like getting multiple paint colors for the price of one.

Understanding Olive Green

a living room painted with benjamin moore tate olive — Benjamin Moore Tate Olive – Image credit: **@bradleyreiddesign**

Before we dive into specific rooms, let’s talk undertones, because not all olive greens are created equal, and this is where people sometimes go wrong.

Olive green is often compared to sage green; there’s a thin line between each color. Olive green leans warmer towards yellow or brown undertones, whereas sage green is cooler with more gray or blue undertones.

However, just to confuse the color types, Olive can also have cooler tones with blue/gray undertones. Sherwin-Williams Ripe Olive is a good example of this – it is a deep green with blue undertones, but as the name suggests, an olive!

sherwin-williams ripe olive in the bathroom — Image credit: **Vintage Revivals**

Warmer olives feel cozy and vintage-inspired, while cooler olives come across as more modern and sophisticated. Neither is better than the other; it just depends on your space and what you’re going for.

The best way to figure out which direction your olive leans? Paint large swatches on your wall and look at them at different times of day.

Morning light versus afternoon light can completely change how a color reads. And definitely check it against your existing furniture, flooring, and fixed elements. That warm oak floor might clash with a cool-toned olive, or vice versa.

Choosing the Right Shade

a kitchen with olive green cabinets and sash windows

Olive green comes in a variety of shades, from light, yellow-tinted olives to deep, almost blackish greens. The shade you choose will depend on the mood you want to create and the other colors in your space.

Light Olive: Perfect for creating a fresh and airy feel. It works well in kitchens and bathrooms where you want a clean and lively atmosphere.
Medium Olive: A great all-rounder that can add warmth and coziness to living rooms and bedrooms.
Dark Olive: Ideal for creating a dramatic and sophisticated look in dining rooms, studies, or accent walls.

My Favorite Olive Green Paint Colors by Brand

olive green panelled walls — Image Credit: Benjamin Moore

Olive green is a popular choice, and many well-known brands have numerous shades to choose from. These specific shades can help you visualize and choose the right olive green for your home.

Tate Olive, shown above, is a sophisticated and versatile shade of olive green that brings a sense of calm and refinement to any space. The tone is medium, not too dark or light, which provides flexibility in various lighting conditions and room sizes.

Sherwin-Williams

It’s like a lovely bowl of mixed olives :)

Ripe Olive SW 6209 – LRV 6, Hex #44483D
Basque Green SW 6426 – LRV 11, Hex #5F6033
Laurel Woods SW 7749 – LRV 6, Hex #44493D
Palm Leaf SW 7735 – LRV 10, Hex #635936
Andiron SW 6174 – LRV 5, Hex #424036
Foxhall Green SW 9184 – LRV 7, Hex #454B40
Artichoke SW 6179 – LRV 21, Hex #7F8266
Oakmoss SW 6180 – LRV 13, Hex #65684C
Secret Garden SW 6181 – LRV 18, Hex #4F523A
Olive Grove SW 7734 – LRV 20, Hex #857C5D
Relentless Olive SW 6425 – LRV 16, Hex #71713E
Garden Gate SW 6167 – LRV 10, Hex #5E5949

Benjamin Moore

Avocado 2145-10 – LRV 16.52, Hex #726F38
Green Grove 2138-20 – LRV 8.84, Hex #574F42
Chopped Dill 496 – LRV 18.01, Hex #857C57
Jade Romanesque 476 – LRV 13.65, Hex #62624E
Trailing Vines 1505 – LRV 13.65, Hex #6F7956
Dark Olive 2140-30 – LRV 13.52, Hex #636153
Mediterranean Olive 2142-10 – LRV 11.05, Hex #605740
Shady Lane 497 – LRV 18.01, Hex #7A714C
Springfield Sage 510 – LRV 23.02, Hex #858367
Windsor Green CW-505 – LRV 8.84, Hex #4A4D31
Eucalyptus Leaf 2144-20 – LRV 8.84, Hex #86825E
Tate Olive HC-112 – LRV 13.52, Hex #837E66

Behr Colors

Secret Meadow S360-6 – LRV 17, Hex #6F7147
Oregano Spice PPU9-23 – LRV 24, Hex #8A8360
Eastern Bamboo PPU9-25 – LRV 11, Hex #5C5D3E
Amazon Jungle PPU9-24 – LRV 11, Hex #666443
Green Scene S350-5 – LRV 23, Hex #88805A
Truly Olive S350-6 – LRV 17, Hex #756E4A
Knotweed QE-37 – LRV 21, Hex #837F67
Freshwater Marsh ECC-37-3 – LRV 9, Hex #484c37
Ecological S380-6 – LRV 22, Hex #7B7F61
Garnish S340-7A – LRV 18, Hex #79774A
Crushed Oregano MQ6-28 – LRV 11, Hex #615D46
Classic Avocado M340-7 – LRV 15, Hex #6A6B3C

Valspar

Japanese Seaweed V143-6 – LRV 7.3, Hex #494e42
Olive Smudge 6001-2C – LRV 8.816, Hex #585445
Ironclad 5008-2B – LRV 16.241, Hex #797056
Hyde Park 8004-26G – LRV 9, Hex #59563f
Thai Basil 8004-26F – LRV 14, Hex #6d6953
Tarragon 6001-4C – LRV 12.071, Hex #636347
Native Henna 6001-4B – LRV 20.957, Hex #808063
Ripe Olive 6005-4B – LRV 21.502, Hex #87805f
Dusty Olive 6005-4A – LRV LRV33.993, Hex #a49e7e
Summer’s End 6005-4C – LRV 9.906, Hex #605930
Urbane T609 – LRV 9.733, Hex #5d583f
Blanched Thyme 6001-4A – LRV 26.915, Hex #8f9073

Farrow & Ball

Finally, Farrow & Ball Olive Green paint colors. They don’t have as many to choose from, but they’re one of my favorite paint brands, so I had to include them!

Bancha No. 298 – LRV 13 (approx), Hex #676746
Sap Green No. 199 – LRV 19 (approx), Hex #747C51
Olive No. 13 – LRV 26 (approx), Hex #8D8B6E

Olive Green in Different Rooms

Each room in your home can benefit from the unique qualities of this beautiful shade. Here’s how you can use this versatile color in various spaces:

The Best Olive Green Paint Color for Your Living Room

olive green panelling around the chimney breast in a neutral living room — Image Credit: Behr

Your living room is probably where you’ll spend the most time staring at your walls, so you want an olive green that feels both relaxing and pulled-together. For living rooms, look for mid-tone olive greens that aren’t too dark or too light.

Some great options include colors that have enough depth to feel intentional but won’t make the room feel cave-like. You want something that creates atmosphere without overwhelming your space.

If your living room gets lots of natural light, you can go slightly darker. If it’s on the dim side, stick with lighter, grayer olives that won’t absorb all the light.

Truly Olive (as shown above) is a sophisticated and versatile shade of olive green that brings a sense of calm and elegance to any space. The tone is rich and muted, making it an adaptable choice that can work well in various settings and styles.

olive green bookcases in the living room — Image credit: Farrow and Ball

Bancha has to be one of the most popular olive green paint colors. It is a deep, earthy green with strong yellow undertones, reminiscent of the rich, leafy greens found in nature.

This shade is relatively dark, offering a cozy and intimate atmosphere while still maintaining enough brightness to avoid feeling too heavy.

Get the Look:

Olive green can create a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere in the living room. Consider painting all the walls in a light olive shade for a soft and cohesive look.

Alternatively, use a darker olive green on one accent wall to create a focal point. Pair the walls with neutral furniture and add pops of color through accessories like cushions, rugs, and artwork.

However, if you want to go all in with olive green, paint your walls a lighter shade and introduce darker olive green in your furnishings, such as a velvet sofa and plush curtains.

Bedroom Bliss with Olive Green

olive green panelled walls in the bedroom — Image credit: Benjamin Moore

If there’s one room where olive green truly shines, it’s the bedroom. Remember how we talked about olive being naturally calming? That quality makes it perfect for a space designed for rest and relaxation.

Louisburg Green (as shown above) is a classic and versatile shade of green that evokes a sense of timeless elegance and tranquility. It is a muted, medium-to-dark green with subtle gray undertones and is perfect for a bedroom.

For bedrooms, you have more flexibility to go darker and moodier with your olive choice, especially if you’re into that cozy, cocoon-like vibe. Deeper olive greens create an intimate, restful atmosphere that’s perfect for winding down at night.

Just make sure you have good lighting, both natural and artificial, so your room doesn’t feel too heavy.

olive green in the bedroom — Rolling Hills by Benjamin Moore. Image credit: Elizabeth Street Post

If you’re not ready to commit to full walls of dark olive, try an accent wall behind your bed or just the lower half of the walls with wainscoting or board and batten.

Layer in white or cream bedding, warm wood furniture, and maybe some rattan or cane details for texture. Add in some plants (real or faux, no judgment), and you’ve got yourself an instant sanctuary.

Get the Look:

In the bedroom, olive green can promote a sense of tranquility and restfulness. Opt for a medium olive green on the walls and pair it with natural wood furniture for a rustic yet sophisticated look.

Soft white or beige bedding will keep the room feeling light and airy. For a more dramatic effect, use a dark olive green on the walls and complement it with gold or brass accents.

Kitchen-Friendly Olive Greens

kitchen cabinets in tate olive — Benjamin Moore Tate Olive – Image credit: **@oak_and_tenon**

Olive green in the kitchen is having a major moment, and for good reason. It’s sophisticated enough for a modern kitchen but warm enough not to feel sterile.

Whether you’re painting walls, cabinets, or both, olive green brings an organic, welcoming vibe to the heart of your home.

For kitchen walls, consider lighter, more muted olive greens, especially if you have darker countertops or cabinetry. You want the color to complement your space, not compete with it.

Get the Look:

Olive green is an excellent choice for the kitchen as it evokes freshness and cleanliness. Light olive green on the cabinets or walls can brighten the space, while darker shades can add depth and character.

Pair olive green with white subway tiles and wooden countertops for a modern farmhouse look. Stainless steel appliances also work well with this color.

Kitchen Cabinets

olive green cabinets in the kitchen — Farrow & Ball Olive – Image Credit: Farrow and Ball

If you’re brave enough to paint your cabinets olive green (and you should be, it looks incredible), go for richer, deeper tones that won’t show every fingerprint and cooking splatter.

Olive (as shown above) is a deep, muted green with strong brown undertones, giving it an earthy and natural appearance. Olive creates a serene and inviting atmosphere in living rooms.

It works well as a main wall color or an accent, paired with neutral or warm-toned furniture and natural textures to add depth and comfort.

olive green kitchen cabinets — Sherwin-Williams Palm Leaf – Image Credit: Kayla Payne

Palm Leaf is a vibrant and refreshing shade of green that brings the lush, tropical essence of palm leaves into your home. The tone is bright and vibrant, making it an energetic and uplifting choice for any space.

Olive green pairs beautifully with brass or gold hardware, white or light gray countertops, and open shelving with natural wood or white dishes. Avoid matching your walls and cabinets in the exact same olive, vary the tones for more visual interest.

Bathroom Sophistication

Southern Vine by Benjamin Moore – Image credit: **briahammelinteriors.com**

Olive green in the bathroom might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but trust us on this one. It works surprisingly well, especially in powder rooms or bathrooms without much natural light, such as Benjamin Moore’s Southern Vine in this picture.

For bathrooms, consider richer, more saturated olive greens that create a jewel-box effect. Since bathrooms are typically smaller spaces, you can get away with deeper colors that might feel too intense elsewhere.

The key is balancing the olive with plenty of white or light-colored elements. Think white tiles, chrome or brass fixtures, and white towels.

Oregano Spice, Behr in the bathroom — Oregano Spice, Behr – Image Credit: Behr

If an entirely olive bathroom feels like too much, try it on just one wall, in a wallpaper pattern, or on your vanity cabinet instead. Even small doses of olive can completely transform the look and feel of a bathroom from basic to boutique-hotel chic.

Pair it with white fixtures and natural stone or wooden accents. For a bold statement, consider a dark olive green vanity or tiles.

Home Office Energy

a home office painted in ripe olive — Sherwin-Williams Ripe Olive – Image credit: Home Bunch

Working from home? Olive green might be exactly what your home office needs. It’s professional enough to keep you focused but organic enough not to feel corporate. Unlike stark white or gray, olive provides visual interest without being distracting.

For home offices, medium-toned olive greens work best. You want something that energizes you during morning Zoom calls but doesn’t feel jarring when you’re trying to concentrate. Pair it with plenty of natural light (or good artificial lighting), white or light wood furniture, and pops of warmer accent colors in your artwork or accessories.

jade romanesque in a home office — Benjamin Moore Jade Romanesque – Image credit: @**enigma.design.cabinetry**

Olive green also photographs beautifully on video calls, giving you a sophisticated backdrop that’s way more interesting than a blank white wall but more professional than a busy bookshelf.

Dining Room Drama

Sap Green, Farrow & Ball. Image credit: Farrow & Ball

The dining room is another space where you can have some fun with olive green. Since you’re typically in this room for shorter periods—meals, entertaining, game nights—you can lean into more dramatic, saturated olive tones.

Consider deeper, forest-leaning olives that create an intimate, dinner-party-ready atmosphere. These richer shades look especially beautiful by candlelight or with dimmed lighting, making every meal feel a little more special. Pair with a statement light fixture, dark wood or marble dining table, and upholstered chairs in complementary colors like caramel, navy, or even deep plum.

If your dining room flows into other spaces, make sure your olive plays nicely with the adjacent room colors. You want distinction without clash.

Olive Green Exterior Paint

While we’ve been focusing on interiors, olive green deserves some love on the outside of your home, too. This versatile color works beautifully on contemporary homes, suburban ranches, modern farmhouses, and everything in between.

Go with cleaner, more saturated olive greens that feel intentional and bold. You want something with presence.

bancha on house sidings — Farrow & Ball’s Bancha – Image credit: **@31westgate**

Consider Sherwin-Williams’ Relentless Olive or Secret Garden, Benjamin Moore’s Fernwood Green, Behr’s Back to Nature, or Farrow & Ball’s Bancha. These have enough depth to make a statement without being too dark or heavy.

Pair your olive green with crisp white trim for maximum contrast, or go monochromatic with varying shades of olive and sage for a more subtle, layered look. Black window frames are having a major moment and look absolutely stunning against olive green.

Add natural wood accents (like a wood front door or horizontal wood slats) and you’ve got a magazine-worthy exterior.

Using Olive Green as an Accent Color

If painting entire walls in olive feels too bold, consider using it as an accent color. Here are some ideas:

Furniture: An olive green sofa, armchair, or cabinets can become the centerpiece of your room.
Textiles: Incorporate olive green through cushions, throws, curtains, and rugs.
Artwork: Choose artwork with olive elements to tie the room together.
Accessories: Vases, lamps, and other decorative items in olive green can add subtle touches of color without overwhelming the space.

Complementary Colors and Pairings

a bedroom with olive green walls, brass bed and terracotta bedding

The above olive green paint color ideas should help you get started in choosing the right color for your home. However, you’re probably wondering, if you are using such a bold color in your home, how do you decorate the rest of the room?

To make the most of this shade, pair it with complementary colors that enhance its natural beauty.

Neutrals: Whites, creams, and beiges create a classic and timeless look when paired with olive green. These colors keep the space light and balanced.
Warm Colors: Terracotta, mustard yellow, burgundy, and burnt orange add warmth and richness to olive green, making the space feel inviting and cozy.
Cool Colors: Blues and purples can create a striking contrast, adding depth and interest to your space.
Metallics: Gold and brass accents pair beautifully with olive green, adding a touch of glamour and elegance.

I think one of my favorite colors to use with Olive green is burgundy!

Tips for Painting with Olive Green

Test Samples: Always test paint samples on your walls before committing. Observe how the color looks in different lighting throughout the day.
Consider Your Light Sources: Natural light, warm bulbs, and cool bulbs all affect how olive green reads. Make sure you like how it looks under all the lighting conditions you’ll actually be living with.
Prep Your Space: Ensure your walls are clean and primed before painting to achieve the best results.
Don’t Forget the Fifth Wall: Sometimes, painting the ceiling in a lighter version of your wall color (or even just a soft white) can tie everything together beautifully.
Quality Paint: Invest in high-quality paint for better coverage and durability.
Balance: Balance olive green with lighter colors and neutral tones to avoid making the room feel too dark or heavy.
Embrace the Mood: Olive green creates atmosphere, so lean into it. This isn’t the color for stark, minimalist spaces—it’s for layered, lived-in rooms with personality.

Olive green is a versatile and timeless color that can enhance the beauty and comfort of your home. Whether you use it as a main wall color or as an accent, olive green brings a sense of tranquility and sophistication to any space.

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I also use Artificial Intelligence Image generators to create some of my images. These are to show you examples of my ideas and inspiration when I cannot produce the real images myself.

The Best Olive Green Paint Colors for Every Room in Your Home

Why Olive Green Paint Works Everywhere