Decorating Guides
What to Know About Decorating With Sage Green
Experts share their secrets for making the trendy nature-inspired hue work at home
Sage green is experiencing something of a resurgence as interiors embrace all things soothing and nature-inspired. The wonderfully calming hue sits between mint and greige. It’s also an incredibly versatile color that works in just about every spot inside and outside the home. Our panel of design professionals reveal how and where to use this appealing hue.
Photo by Paco Jaanson
Green connects deeply with nature, “offering the perfect hue to bring the outdoors in while appearing neutral enough to offer great versatility,” says Wendy Rennie, color and concept manager at Haymes Paint.
“From a color psychology perspective, the color green relates to balance and harmony,” says Grace Garrett, Taubmans’ color expert. “Sage green is known as a balancer of the heart and the emotions, creating equilibrium between the head and the heart.
“This relaxing color offers a sanctuary away from the stresses of modern living. It brings to mind escapes to the countryside, fresh air and healthy vibes. Sage green is the ideal color to integrate into your home to restore depleted energy.”
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Green connects deeply with nature, “offering the perfect hue to bring the outdoors in while appearing neutral enough to offer great versatility,” says Wendy Rennie, color and concept manager at Haymes Paint.
“From a color psychology perspective, the color green relates to balance and harmony,” says Grace Garrett, Taubmans’ color expert. “Sage green is known as a balancer of the heart and the emotions, creating equilibrium between the head and the heart.
“This relaxing color offers a sanctuary away from the stresses of modern living. It brings to mind escapes to the countryside, fresh air and healthy vibes. Sage green is the ideal color to integrate into your home to restore depleted energy.”
Find green bathroom sinks in the Houzz Shop
Is There More Than 1 Shade?
Sage gives you several options, Rennie says. “Choose from pastel tones of sage that are light and airy, and deeper tones that have a more calming, intimate feel.”
See more photos of sage green bedrooms
Sage gives you several options, Rennie says. “Choose from pastel tones of sage that are light and airy, and deeper tones that have a more calming, intimate feel.”
See more photos of sage green bedrooms
Where Can I Use Sage Green?
Lucena-Orr suggests using it in:
Lucena-Orr suggests using it in:
- Casual or formal living areas
- Unexpected spots, such as on shelving or inside a closet
- Outside the house
- In a bedroom to create a calming feel
- As a contrasting wall behind a headboard in the master bedroom, as a feature wall in a child’s room or in the kitchen
- On a wall next to your outdoor area to create a connection between the two spaces
- In a study or home office to promote productivity
- On exterior fretwork or as the main color on your home’s facade, accented with white
Photo by Wattyl
“Sage green looks brilliant as a backdrop for plants,” Garrett says. “Wallpaper is another great way to add sage green to your interior.
“If you choose to do a feature wall in sage green, I’d suggest using it across a fairly small area, such as a wall in the bathroom or entrance, either in paint or tiles.”
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“Sage green looks brilliant as a backdrop for plants,” Garrett says. “Wallpaper is another great way to add sage green to your interior.
“If you choose to do a feature wall in sage green, I’d suggest using it across a fairly small area, such as a wall in the bathroom or entrance, either in paint or tiles.”
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What’s the Best Finish?
“Flat matte is generally the go-to finish for sage green,” Garrett says. “But you can also choose a French wash, chalk paint, lime paint or, for a more earthy, rustic vibe, a textured paint.”
“Flat matte is generally the go-to finish for sage green,” Garrett says. “But you can also choose a French wash, chalk paint, lime paint or, for a more earthy, rustic vibe, a textured paint.”
Which Colors Go With Sage Green?
Rennie suggests pairing sage green with:
Rennie suggests pairing sage green with:
- Soft pink, deep burgundies and rust tones with deep sage shades (great for a cozy bedroom look)
- Nude tones and powdery pinks with light shades
- White and gray in open-plan areas
- Deep plum hues
- Gold, mustard and terra-cotta
- Black or white
“Sage also looks good with accents of rust and gold,” Stephenson says. “Cool, soft blues work well too. Everything should be in a matte finish.”
For Cosway, a sage-pastel combination is hard to beat. “It works particularly well with pink, rose and apricot — the latter being a hot favorite color for 2019. It also contrasts nicely with chocolate brown,” she says.
For Cosway, a sage-pastel combination is hard to beat. “It works particularly well with pink, rose and apricot — the latter being a hot favorite color for 2019. It also contrasts nicely with chocolate brown,” she says.
Photo by Lisa Cohen; styling by Bree Leech
What Materials Go With Sage Green?
Stephenson suggests pairing sage green with:
What Materials Go With Sage Green?
Stephenson suggests pairing sage green with:
- Blond wood
- Porous stone
- Ceramics with an uneven glaze
- Natural dyes
- Matte gold
- Velvet
- Linen for sofas, occasional chairs and curtains
- Chrome, brass, gold and silver (but not rose gold)
According to Garrett:
- Rustic beams and dark wood
- Calacatta marble and brass hardware in the kitchen
What Are Your Secrets for Making It Work?
“Make sure you get the hue spot on,” Stephenson says. “It should have a hint of gray in the undertone, or you’ll end up with mint!
“Layer it with similarly toned colors — nothing too contrasting. And remember, less is more, so keep the styling simple. Plants are a must.”
“There are a few different interpretations of sage green, including sage with a blue or yellow base,” Rennie says. “The trick is to pair it with the right tones to emphasize the look you are going for. Softer blue-sage works well with berry tones, while yellow-based sage tends to work better with natural materials such as [wood] and colors such as mustard, gray and white.”
“Make sure you get the hue spot on,” Stephenson says. “It should have a hint of gray in the undertone, or you’ll end up with mint!
“Layer it with similarly toned colors — nothing too contrasting. And remember, less is more, so keep the styling simple. Plants are a must.”
“There are a few different interpretations of sage green, including sage with a blue or yellow base,” Rennie says. “The trick is to pair it with the right tones to emphasize the look you are going for. Softer blue-sage works well with berry tones, while yellow-based sage tends to work better with natural materials such as [wood] and colors such as mustard, gray and white.”
“Don’t forget that you can tint and shade the color for varying tonal effects and to add depth and contrast,” Garrett says.
And paint is not the only way to bring sage green into a room, she says. “You can also introduce it through soft furnishings and accessories — think a sage green rug, velvet sofa, medley of ceramics or softly faded bed linen.”
Browse sofas by color and material
And paint is not the only way to bring sage green into a room, she says. “You can also introduce it through soft furnishings and accessories — think a sage green rug, velvet sofa, medley of ceramics or softly faded bed linen.”
Browse sofas by color and material
Share: Are you a fan of sage green? Tell us how you have used it at home — or would like to — in the Comments.
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Find an interior designer to help with your color palette
More on Houzz
Read other stories about decorating with green
Find an interior designer to help with your color palette
Why Is Sage Green So Appealing?
“It’s a soft, natural color that is easy to decorate with,” says Andrea Lucena-Orr, Dulux color planning and communications manager. “It also pairs well with other popular shades, such as soft and dark gray, greiges, and whites.”
“As the interest in health and wellness within the living space increases, green is emerging as a key color in interior design,” says Sarah Stephenson, color specialist and brand and communications manager at Australian paint company Wattyl. “The indoor plant movement continues to gain momentum, and what better color to complement foliage than a soothing, soft sage? This color mimics nature and adds a sense of calm to a space.”
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