Green Paint: Frequently Asked Questions
Green is a soothing colour used to create harmony and balance within a space. From muted shades to vibrant hues, there are a multitude of greens to choose from when designing a scheme.
A green colour scheme is a comforting choice, perfect for living spaces, bedrooms and bathrooms alike. People feel comfortable with green as it is the colour of nature. It is both restful and tranquil. Our colour experts have provided answers to some of the most common queries about using green in the home.
Which shades pair with green walls?
The colour green helps us to feel connected to nature and fulfils our longing to bring the outdoors inside. It is incredibly versatile and pairs beautifully with other greens to create a harmonious space redolent of nature. Green also works well with a vast array of other colours, including pink, brown and shades of white.
For a tried and tested combination, pair green with pink. This natural colour pairing works well in a variety of settings, from living spaces to kitchens. Pink and green combinations can fill your home with an air of springtime all year round. Bright pinks such as Leather are particularly powerful shades that work well with fresh greens like Pea Green.
Be inspired by pink and green colour schemes.
For each of the greens in our collection, our colour experts have recommended a palette of coordinating colours. On each individual product page, you can scroll to find colour combinations from related whites and neutrals to contrasting accents.
For additional help and advice, we offer a bespoke colour consultancy service to guide you through the process of selecting colours for your scheme.
Which undercoat should I use for green paint?
For most surfaces, we recommend using Intelligent All Surface Primer (ASP) tinted to the same shade as your chosen topcoat.
However, for unpainted, friable walls, use our plain white Wall Primer Sealer to create a solid base. If you are painting new or resinous woodwork, you should use Aluminium Wood Primer to seal any knots before applying your primer.
Learn more about primers in our guide to choosing an undercoat for your project.
Does green work well in a bedroom?
Serene and tranquil, green is an ideal colour choice for relaxing spaces like bedrooms. Darker, complex greens like Jewel Beetle have an innate warmth that can create a cocooning setting in which to unwind.
Hues like Book Room Green and Ambleside can evoke a noticeable sense of calm. Add a contemporary touch by pairing your green palette with black decor and soft textural elements.
Explore our bedroom inspiration gallery.
What should you paint with emerald green?
Darker jewel-tones like Mid Azure Green provide a luxurious feel, creating a sense of intimacy in large spaces. Consider using neutral tones like Linen Wash to add a soothing quality to your scheme.
Learn more about how the orientation of your space may impact your colour choice.
How should you pair or layer different greens?
The simplest route is to choose greens of similar tone but in differing strength. This provides a harmonious result as the two greens complement one another perfectly.
For more tension, choose two greens with differing tones, this gives more dynamism and energy to a space.
Do orange and green go together?
Orange and green will always work together because they have the commonality of yellow within their makeup. The stability of a muted green allows stronger tones of orange to stand out.
The variation of green and orange tones works in harmony because each shade has an inherent warmth to it. Hues that contain ochre, umber or red oxide will relate to each other, translating into a truly balanced and inviting scheme, despite the clear difference in tonal strength.
Although orange and green could be thought of as a classic colour scheme, you can introduce terracotta and high gloss woodwork to create a more contemporary finish.
How to incorporate green paint?
Richly pigmented greens like Puck create a strong statement, so it can be useful to add a touch of neutral colour to your scheme for a balanced environment. Consider using an off-white shade like Slaked Lime Mid, to complement a dominant green shade.
Soft green tones provide a very natural contrast to a strident colour array. Not only this, their muted nature and pastel colour is the perfect foil that sits quietly in the background, exuding a tranquil ambience.
It is helpful to consider the undertones in a green when choosing a coordinating neutral. Warm greens with notes of yellow, such as Citrine, pair well with related neutrals. The Silent White family offers a warm alternative to white, with subtle yellow undertones. You can find all of our colours arranged in tonal groups within our green collection.
Most importantly, make sure to sample your chosen colour within your home before committing to a colour scheme. Test your chosen colour in situ to see the effect of varying light throughout the day.
Advice from our experts
Before you select a complementary colour, it’s important to consider the undertones of your green shade. Working with a balanced palette based on shared undertones will help to ground your space.
If you have any further questions about using green in your scheme, contact a member of our helpful team via our Live Chat.
Alternatively, browse our green paint collections and green design scheme gallery for more inspiration.