An incredibly fun and versatile colour to decorate with, green has a serene yet powerful energy that makes it a great choice in the living room. Long associated with wellness and nature – two things that modern life often lack – green is grabbing the spotlight in a time when many of us are trying to build a home that allows us to truly relax.
And where better to start than the first room many of us encounter in the home: the living room. Depending on the tone you opt for, green can be a neutral (think sage and olive), or a statement maker (think emerald and mint). And it does all that while also matching beautifully with other hues and tones, which is no small feat!
Enjoy the calm of sage and olive 
The desaturated, soft hues of sage are a wonderful neutral – light enough to replace white and cream but just unusual enough to offer a chic update, especially when used on the walls. To accompany it, colours such as grey and brown go well with sage green for a nature-inspired tonal approach, while you could also go for pops of red and terracotta as accents and this Natuzzi Autentico does just that.
Similarly, the grey undertones of olive make it a lovely alternative to darker neutral colours in the living room. If you’ve been considering painting your walls taupe or light brown, olive would work just as well and provides an intriguing touch to the living room. Olive goes well with most colours but really shines against warm tones such as caramel, red and galss.
Use grey and neutrals to anchor the space 
If you really want green to be the standout colour in your living room, then a good technique would be to ground it with grey, white, and other neutral tones.
The simplicity of these minimalist, fresh colours gives you a clean palette to really feature green and let it shine.
In this cheerful living room, kelly green walls pair beautifully with a white sofa and a light wood table and cabinet.
Go classic with a twist in mint green
If you’re a fan of the vintage aesthetic but want a modern twist, pale mint green is a great way to update a look. This shade has its roots in both mid-century modern styling and millennial pastels, making it a perfect way to give a shoutout to both looks. If you opt for a matte shade of mint, you can play with texture by pairing it with fabric sofas in hues such as mustard and pale pink – velvet looks especially good here.
For an even more playful approach, consider mixing up your patterns and the perfect way to do is this with the Arianne Love from FAMA. To shop Fama click here!
Go bright with teal and lime 
Teal and emerald also offer bold jewelled takes on this colour and are great for tonal looks. And while you may have heard the old adage that blue and green should never be seen, we think this is a perfect opportunity to throw that rule out the window! Blue and green actually have similar undertones, and can look great side by side – the key is to look for colours that have a bit of contrast, especially in terms of tone. In this dark teal living room, light green cushions add brightness and texture for a modern, chic touch.
For all its calming qualities, green can also inject some energy into a room, especially in its brighter, more saturated forms. For instance, lime green’s zingy, fresh quality makes it a great choice for a more youthful, sparky living room – it would look great as a feature wall, or even in a statement armchair or footstool. With a colour this bright, you can really lean into it and create an eclectic space with contrasting warm tones and patterns, or go in the complete opposite direction with simpler colours and fabrics. Cream linen curtains, for instance, would look beautiful against green walls.
Pair green with darker, traditional furniture 
When it comes to going classic with a twist, another cool approach is to ground green walls with traditional furniture in dark finishes
The trick here is to look for shades of green that aren’t usually used as wall colours – think kelly green and grassy tones – or even bright patterned wallpaper, and then simple, classic furniture such as mid-century modern sofas and dark wood armchairs for a fun juxtaposition.
Which is why this Soho Green Sofa from Westbridge fits so perfect with the wall paint.
Get inspired by natural greenery 
Lastly, take a cue from nature and incorporate greenery and plants into your living room.
Aside from colour, indoor plants also create lots of visual texture and personality in the home – and as a bonus, they’re great for your health too. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could DIY a planter feature wall for height, colour and drama.
But you could also look at distributing plants around your space, and then using it as a theme throughout, incorporating natural textures and colours in the living room, for a serene, warm look.
You may also enjoy this indoor garden guide for more tips and tricks on going green indoors!
