What Color Goes Best With Sage Green

Catherine Kwong

There's a new neutral trickling its way into the mainstream. It's not gray, it's not white, or even greige. No, the color we've been seeing more and more of both on the runway and in some of our favorite interior spaces is sage green. The soft shade of green reminiscent of a sage plant first caught our attention when it made its way onto Pinterest's annual trend report in 2018. According to the survey, there was a major spike in searches for sage green, predicting that it would be a trend in the year ahead. And they were correct as the hue has popped up in countless homes ever since.

"I think this color is having a moment due to its soft and serene presence," interior designer Emma Beryl tells MyDomaine. "With the chaos in the world today, I see more and more people craving a relaxing spa-like home environment."

Meet the Expert

Emma Beryl Kemper is a renowned interior designer and the founder of Emma Beryl Interiors. She trained at the New York School of Interior Design and is known for creating spaces that are that are unexpected yet timeless.

The designer attributes the calming effect of the color to its nod to nature, with this shade of green relaxing people the same way a home full of houseplants might. Along with promoting serene energy, the sage green color can also act as an unexpected neutral.

"Using this shade in your space offers a chance for people to connect to nature in a subtle way," Beryl says. "Sage green's muted, chalk-like finish is subdued and relaxing but offers more interest and personality than a traditional neutral like a white or a gray."

Sage green's muted, chalk-like finish is subdued and relaxing but offers more interest and personality than a traditional neutral like a white or a gray.

If you're looking to add a subtle pop of color to your interiors, consider sage green your new neutral. Ahead, Beryl explains just how to use to calming hue in your home, from the kitchen to the bathroom and everywhere in between.

01 of 10

Spruce Up Your Cabinets

Sarah Sherman Samuel and Emily Farnham

When using a sage green color in the kitchen, Beryl suggests starting by painting the cabinets.

"It's a perfect way to dip your toe into a colorful kitchen without going so bold—such as with a darker, more saturated color—that you're bound to get tired of the design," she explains. "It's a neutral timeless color that is a more interesting take on the overdone white or gray cabinet."

Mandy Moore and her designer Sarah Sherman Samuel seem to have come to the same conclusion. The actress's kitchen, featured here, beautifully combines sage green cabinets with white marble and other neutral elements for a crisp, clean look that's just a touch more intriguing than a classic all-white space.

02 of 10

Play With Texture

Elizabeth Roberts Architecture & Design

In the bathroom, Beryl suggests turning to more textured elements in the sage green color, rather than simply painting the walls or sourcing towels in the hue.

"I recently came across an Ann Saks round mosaic penny tile in a beautiful sage green color," the designer says. "I think it would be really charming to use this on a bathroom floor with a marble subway tile on the wall and a traditional washstand sink and curvy free-standing bathtub."

Whether you go for a sage green mosaic penny tile or a more traditional subway tile look like the one featured in this modern bathroom, the color will make any space feel like a relaxing spa.

Bedrosians Penny Rounds Mosaic Matte Porcelain Tiles $150

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03 of 10

Think of It as a Neutral

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

In order to get the most out of the sage green color, Beryl emphasizes that it should be used as any other neutral color. "Since it is so soft and subtle, you can pair it with a variety of other colors and finishes," she explains. So, sage green couches in the living room? Absolutely.

04 of 10

Reupholster Furniture

Catherine Kwong

"To play on the juxtaposition of the gentle hue, I'd love to reupholster an oversized chair in sage mohair or velvet," Beryl says. She suggests turning to vintage stores to recover pieces that you can transform to fit your living space.

If you're ready to take on the reupholstering project, she recommends Robert Allen's Royal Comfort in Mint as a fabric option.

05 of 10

Experiment With Paint

Elizabeth Roberts Architecture & Design

According to Beryl, sage green paint can be used in many places in a home. As she already mentioned, it can work well in the kitchen to add a pop of color to the cabinets. However, it's also an excellent option for a gender-neutral nursery. "It's soft enough to use in a baby's room but also doesn't feel stuffy or overdone like the baby blues and pinks of the world."

Additionally, she notes that when it comes to interior paint colors in general, she tends to err on the side of muted shades, which is one reason why sage green paint is so appealing. One of her favorites is Farrow & Ball's Ball Green. "It's so soft and rich but appears almost a silvery, gray in certain lights," she says.

Farrow & Ball Ball Green $110

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06 of 10

Bring in Accent Furniture

Design: JDP Interiors, Photo: Amy Bartlam

Because sage green is such a subtle shade, it frees you up to decorate as you please. Though it's hard to go wrong with this color, bringing in more structured furniture plays well with this hue, Beryl says.

"You can use furniture that has a bigger, more masculine scale and lines because the color feels gentle and less imposing," Beryl explains.

07 of 10

Paint Your Trim

Becca Interiors

Looking for a low cost way to bring in this shade? Take a note from this space and paint the baseboard and trim of your home sage green. With everything else kept neutral, this hue adds a vintage farmhouse vibe.

08 of 10

Use It in Small Doses

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Although the color can be used as a neutral, Beryl also recommends using it sparingly in some spaces. "Since a living room is a space you spend a lot of time in, I suggest adding slightly smaller doses of this color into your space such as with accessories like pillows or a vase," she says.

West Elm Silk Hand-Loomed Pillow Cover in Ash Green $40

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09 of 10

Go Vintage

Bespoke Only

Not only does Beryl suggest finding smaller pieces, but she also prefers to source them from more unique vintage retailers like Chairish and 1stdibs.

"Mixing old and new items make spaces seem layered and curated," she explains. "Consider tying this in with complementary textures like brass, wood, etc."

10 of 10

Invest in This Shade

Design: Julie Rose for EHD, Photo: Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Although it comes across as a trend that may fade with time, Beryl believes it's here to stay, so go ahead and invest in that new bedding or a statement sofa.

"People often feel safe with neutral tones and since sage green is the new neutral, I don't see the trend passing anytime soon," she points out. "I think there's a lot of flexibility with this color since you can make it as neutral or as bold as you like and it's pretty easy to incorporate into any space."

World Market Sage Green Helena Sofa $750 $375

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What Color Goes Best With Sage Green

Source: https://www.mydomaine.com/sage-green-color

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