Palatable Palettes: Green Goodness for

Bedrooms

Green is a much-loved hue by designers because of its versatility. It has a warm side via

yellowy chartreuse and lime greens, or it can run cool with minty or watery greens.

Lighten it up and add some gray to it, or use sage green as a nice alternative neutral to

beige. Green has a level of pep to it, the way certain shades of yellow or orange might.

We associate green with nature — it reminds us of running through the grass barefoot

during the summers of our youth, or eating fresh vegetables at their peak of ripeness.

Check out a selection of bedrooms that take advantage of the beauty and versatility of the

perfect shade of green, along with examples of color and material palettes inspired by

each room.

Green and Gray (Bold and Elegant)

This is how to do a bold shade of green for an elegant bedroom. The bright leafy-green

wallpaper is grounded by the gray-colored bedding. The effect is eye catching and

luxurious.

Example palette: This is an intense green, so you may want to limit it to one wall (or a

partial wall) in your bedroom. The various shades of gray are soothing, perfect for

catching some Zs. Clockwise from top left (all from Sherwin-Williams): Gecko SW

6719, Essential Gray SW 6002 and Mink SW 6004, with walnut-stained bamboo.

Green and Gray (Contemporary)

Here we have a nice contemporary spin on green and gray. This shade of green has more

yellow in it, making it a bold choice for this slick bedroom. The chartreuse wall and the

print on the bed cover are balanced out by the cool gray fabrics and metal-edged

wardrobe doors. The effect is sublime against the white backdrop of the floor, ceiling and

walls.

Example palette: Bold yellow greens look fantastic with grays and white. If you are

nervous about adding such a bold color to your bedroom, consider using it in ways that

are easy and affordable to change on a whim — such as through paint, fabrics and

accessories. Clockwise from top left (all from Mythic Paint): Slip of Silver 139-3,

Avalone Lime 073-3 and Florentine Flash 075-5, with a white painted wood floor.

Minty Fresh

This modern bedroom with shades of soft, cool greens is a relaxing place for reading the

newspaper from cover to cover on a lazy Sunday morning.

Example palette: Transform your bedroom into a relaxing sanctuary with shades of cool

greens. Clockwise from top left (all from Behr): Winter Fresh 470C-2, Water Mark

470E-2 and Athenian Green 440F-4, with maple.

Green With Wood

Perhaps because it reminds us of nature, green plays well with wood. If you have a

bedroom with lots of dark wood in it, consider adding touches of a bold green hue, such

as this happy shade of green apple, to brighten it up.

Example palette: Clockwise from top left (all from Glidden): Elegant Lace GLC28,

Pebble Grey GLN50 and Granny Smith Apple GLG02, with walnut.

Green and White

If you are fortunate enough to have a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows in your bedroom,

and with a killer view to boot, you almost don't need to gild the lilly with lots of color.

But I love this bedroom with its bright olive-green walls, rustic wood floor and fluffy

white bedding. I would never want to get out of bed!

Example palette: A simple palette for the ultimate lounging bedroom, clockwise from

top left (all from Serena & Lily): Grass and Rain, with a reclaimed wood floor.

Green and Coral

You could never wake up on the wrong side of the bed in this room. The unexpected

palette of citrusy greens and coral pinks is fun, and the tropical vibe makes you feel like

you are always on vacation.

Example palette:Transform your bedroom into a tropical getaway with a heavy dose of

lime greens and dashes of coral. Clockwise from top left (all from Benjamin Moore):

Smashing Pink 1303, Apples and Pears 395, Electric Slide 404 and Birds of Paradise

1305.

Green With Neutrals

Toned-down greens — those with a touch of gray in them — are elegant when paired

with other rich hues, such as soft, buttery yellows and rich burgundies. If you prefer

muted colors to bolds, pick a light mushroom color for the walls and use the more

dominant colors as accents.

Example palette: You don't need to use bright colors to make an impact. This palette is

rich and sophisticated — perfect for a calming, restful space. Clockwise from top left (all

from Farrow & Ball): Hound Lemon No. 2, Elephant's Breath No. 229, Eating Room Red

No. 43 and Olive No. 13.

Green as a Neutral

Not only does green work well with neutrals, but it can also serve as a neutral itself.

Instead of painting your bedroom walls beige or white, consider a sage or celery green.

These hues have a lot of white and a touch of gray in them, making them soft and

mellow, but in no way boring.

Example palette: This pretty palette features a soft shade of celery green as the backdrop

for smaller bits of light aqua and terra-cotta. Clockwise from top left (all from Valspar):

Aqua Glow 5007-9B, Macadamia Nut CI164 and Morning Zen CI170.