The journal

Which Colours Work With Green?

11 March 2022 6 min read

Green is such a refreshing, versatile colour, spanning a huge range of shades from vibrant emerald to soft, light green or muted olive. It evokes nature and the outdoors, so it pairs naturally with other earthy tones, and it works with both warm and cool colours; just look at your scheme to spot the complementary and contrasting options.

It's an easy colour to build a palette around. Green is made from two primaries, blue and yellow, so either sits well beside it, but there are other, more surprising combinations too. Here's our pick of the best colours to pair with green.

Tall kitchen cabinetry painted in Myrtle Green No.168 under a Pure White No.1 ceiling and cornice — Kitchen cabinetry in Myrtle Green No.168 with a Pure White No.1 ceiling and shutters

Bright green and bold blue

Green and blue make a striking pair, working outdoors between sky and grass and indoors too; the key is complementary shades that sit close on the colour wheel, so a verdant grass green looks good beside a bright sky or dark blue, while a grey-blue (think a slightly rainy sky) pairs with a seafoam green that also carries grey undertones. Green and blue can create a coastal style using shades close together that echo the sea, seafoam with teal, or turquoise with emerald, both greens leaning blue-green. A blue-green scheme is fantastic in a living room, bringing energy and uplift and stamping personality onto the space.

Sitting room with Sorrel Green No.207 walls and Bedford Square No.229 woodwork around a bay window — Left, Sorrel Green No.207 walls with Bedford Square No.229 woodwork; right, a Proper Blue No.67 wall, Sorrel Green No.207 woodwork and Cotton Street No.3 beyond

Dining room with a Proper Blue No.67 wall, Sorrel Green No.207 panelling and a Cotton Street No.3 wall beyond — Left, Sorrel Green No.207 walls with Bedford Square No.229 woodwork; right, a Proper Blue No.67 wall, Sorrel Green No.207 woodwork and Cotton Street No.3 beyond

Forest green and golden yellow

Because yellow is a key component of green, it makes an ideal companion, a bright, playful, warm and uplifting palette that would create elegant children's room décor, as below. Mylands' Golden Square™ No.131 on the walls becomes the main colour, and a bold forest green as an accent on the chair adds vibrancy and another pop of brightness. A subtler take would pair mint green with a rich, buttery yellow, since yellow-green shades also work well with their complementary colour.

Child's attic bedroom with Golden Square No.131 walls, Lemon Salts No.43 joinery and a Brompton Road No.205 chair — A child's room with Golden Square No.131 walls and Lemon Salts No.43 woodwork

Lime green and rose pink

Green and pink make a fresh combination, the softness of pastel pink complementing zesty lime, an eye-catching pairing that isn't for the faint-hearted, but if it worked for Kermit and Miss Piggy it can work for you. Again it's drawn from nature, just look at green and pink blooming together in the garden, which makes it the ideal base for floral patterns, so use a green-and-pink combo alongside bold floral wallpaper or textiles.

If rose pink is too pastel, go for lilac or fuchsia for more depth. Below, Mylands' New Lime™ No.149 on the cabinetry has a yellow tone that sits comfortably against pale pink walls; for a beautiful soft rose, try Mylands' Kensington Rose™ No.22.

Bedroom with soft Kensington Rose No.22 walls and door, architrave and skirting in Brompton Road No.205 — Left, Kensington Rose No.22 walls with Brompton Road No.205 joinery; right, Palmerston Pink No.243 walls with New Lime No.149 and Clerkenwell No.21 woodwork

Dressing room with Palmerston Pink No.243 walls, New Lime No.149 wardrobe doors and Clerkenwell No.21 shutters — Left, Kensington Rose No.22 walls with Brompton Road No.205 joinery; right, Palmerston Pink No.243 walls with New Lime No.149 and Clerkenwell No.21 woodwork

Deep green and luxe gold

To create a grown-up, sophisticated space, this is the scheme; luxe gold accessories add warmth and shimmer against dark green, so elegant, the gleam lifting an otherwise dark setting and playing with the natural light, bouncing it around. Mylands' Brompton Road™ No.205 (below) is a very traditional green, and the gold adds modern style while drawing out its yellow undertones.

Drawing room with deep green Brompton Road No.205 walls and a gilded overmantel in FTT-001 Rich Gold — Brompton Road No.205 drawing room walls with FTT-001 Rich Gold on the overmantel

Different shades of green

If you love green, pair it with another green, teaming a dark shade with a lighter one to great effect. All-green schemes evoke woodland or jungle, where varied natural greens work harmoniously together, so try a dark leafy green with a lighter fern or sage for a calming, comforting feel. Break up the immersive green with lighter touches, bright white woodwork or ceiling, and in the second room below, light blue window frames add a fresh contrast.

Writing room with pale Beauvais No.195 walls and dark Myrtle Green No.168 skirting, door and brackets — Left, Beauvais No.195 walls with Myrtle Green No.168 skirting; right, Stockwell Green No.203 walls under a Clerkenwell No.21 upper wall and ceiling

Snug with Stockwell Green No.203 lower walls and Clerkenwell No.21 above the picture rail and ceiling — Left, Beauvais No.195 walls with Myrtle Green No.168 skirting; right, Stockwell Green No.203 walls under a Clerkenwell No.21 upper wall and ceiling

Olive green and sleek black

Hearing 'green and black' you might think of rich, indulgent chocolate, and the scheme can bring those same qualities to a space. Muted greens like olive or sage team especially well with black, adding luxury for a refined, stylish look, while touches of gold lift it further and heighten the opulence, metallics also adding light to a palette that can otherwise feel dark. In the kitchen here, black cabinets work well with olive-green walls, and a white ceiling and grey marble counters balance the look with light.

Kitchen with Myrtle Green No.168 and St Clement No.11 walls and black Blackout No.41 cabinets — Left, Myrtle Green No.168 and St Clement No.11 kitchen walls with Blackout No.41 cabinetry; right, Myrtle Green No.168 stair walls under a Threadneedle No.262 ceiling

Stair hall with Myrtle Green No.168 walls and a dark Threadneedle No.262 ceiling above the landing — Left, Myrtle Green No.168 and St Clement No.11 kitchen walls with Blackout No.41 cabinetry; right, Myrtle Green No.168 stair walls under a Threadneedle No.262 ceiling

Cool green and crisp white

For a super fresh, clean look, choose green and white; crisp white works equally well with a sharp apple green or a subtler sage. Muted greens tend to suit slightly warmer off-whites, while warmer forest, emerald or zesty lime greens combine best with a crisp, pure white. Green and white is especially good in a kitchen, clean, crisp and fresh, making the space feel light and airy, while natural green adds relaxing vibes that help everyone unwind in the heart of the home.

Farmhouse pantry with Myrtle Green No.168 fitted cupboards and plate rack against Pure White No.1 walls — Pantry cupboards in Myrtle Green No.168 against Pure White No.1 walls and ceiling

Soft green and natural wood

Green is the colour of the environment, so enhance that theme with natural elements, wood, stone and accessories like shell or rattan work wonderfully against a green backdrop, providing textured accents that complement the surroundings, and don't forget real greenery in the form of plants. Natural wood adds warmth to a pale green room, whether a gorgeous wooden floor, shelving or furniture, a classic natural pairing that works every time.

Bedroom with Beauvais No.195 walls, Myrtle Green No.168 skirting and door, and bare oak floorboards — Left, Beauvais No.195 bedroom walls with Myrtle Green No.168 skirting and bare oak; right, a Beauvais No.195 garden room full of natural wood

Garden room with a pale Beauvais No.195 wall behind a pine bench and an oak potting table — Left, Beauvais No.195 bedroom walls with Myrtle Green No.168 skirting and bare oak; right, a Beauvais No.195 garden room full of natural wood

Go bold

For real impact, try bolder contrasts alongside green; a mix of jewel colours can look stunning and joyous. Green and purple make a regal, opulent combination. Green and orange are bright and uplifting together. Green with a hint of red is warm and welcoming. Green and hot pink is striking and vibrant.

Go green

Green is a truly versatile colour, evoking calm and relaxation or vibrancy and zing depending on the shade, and with such an array it combines well with so many others. Look to nature for pairings like green and pink or green and blue, but also bolder mixes like green and orange or purple. Take a look at the gorgeous selection of Mylands greens to find the one that works best for you.