5 Costly Green Decor Mistakes That Are Making Your Space Feel Anything But Calming, According to Designers
It's not as simple as picking something stylish and sticking it in your space. Here, the experts share the common pitfalls to avoid, and what to do instead
Introducing touches of green can bring a refreshing, calming vibe to any home, and it's an increasingly popular choice for home decor. But whether you're decorating the entire home, or looking for ways to introduce smaller accents, it's easy to make green decor mistakes that undermine its soothing effect.
Sometimes when you're aiming for a lively, natural look, using green in the wrong way can result in a flat, mismatched space. These errors often stem from misconceptions about how green interacts with light, other colors, and various other design elements.
Understanding these pitfalls when curating your green room ideas is crucial for anyone looking to maximize the stylistic benefits of using green in their home decor. Below, we asked the experts for the biggest green decor mistakes, and how to avoid them. Here are five they shared.
1. Mixing Too Many Greens Together
“One of the easiest mistakes is using too many shades of green in one room,” says Ana Coddington, the lead interior designer for Archival Designs. “Green is beautiful, so it’s tempting to add lots of different tones, but this can actually make a space feel chaotic instead of calming.”
For example, combining olive green paint with neon green and mint-colored decor might not give you the look you’re after. To keep things harmonious, choose one main shade and add just one or two complementary greens through your decor, like a deep forest green paired with soft sage. This keeps the space feeling cohesive and visually pleasing.
2. Forgetting to Consider the Room's Lighting
According to designer Natalie Myers of Veneer Designs, lighting can change how green looks dramatically. A bold green may look fantastic in natural daylight but appear dull or too dark at night. “If you have a room with little sunlight, avoid using deep or dark shades of green as they can make the space feel even darker,” she says. “Instead, opt for lighter shades or use green accents through plants or artwork. This will bring a touch of green without overpowering the room.”
If you're going for paint, before you commit to a shade, use paint samples on your walls at different times of day and with your room’s artificial lighting. This way, you’ll see how the color shifts and ensure it gives you the right vibe, no matter the time or lighting. Similarly with other green decor, consider how the color may react in the space, and if there is instead somewhere better suited in your home to style it.
3. Not Balancing Green with Enough Neutrals
Too much green can sometimes make a room feel like a mini jungle, or worse, sickly. To create a welcoming and relaxing feel, try balancing bold pieces of green decor with neutral colors like white, beige, or gray, as seen in the balanced green living room shown above.
These softer shades help tone down the green sofas, allowing them to be the stars without overwhelming the space. Think of the neutrals as the backdrop that lets the green decor shine, giving the room a cozy, well-rounded look.
4. Picking a Dark Green for a Small Space
Dark green shades work well in some spaces but can feel heavy and overpowering in smaller or darker rooms where you want to create a feeling of light and airiness. If you're decorating a smaller or dimly lit space with green decor, Jacky Chou, principal designer and director at Archute, suggests trying lighter greens, like mint or pastel. These shades help to reflect light and keep the space feeling open.
That's not to say you can't use a dark green in these spaces, but consider using it as an accent in smaller doses. Green decor like throw pillows, artwork, and rugs are great ways to accentuate a space while adding light-toned elements and plenty of lighting to balance things out and keep the space bright.
5. Choosing All Your Green Decor in One Texture
Green decor can look amazing, but if everything’s smooth or everything's glossy, it might come off as flat, which is a common green decor mistake. Adding texture is key to making the space more interesting!
Try mixing different textures —a soft velvet chair like this Vivienne armchair from Soho Home, a woven rug, or a shiny ceramic vase in green can all bring depth to the space. Texture not only makes the room visually engaging but also adds a cozy, inviting feel.
FAQs
Can you have too much green in a room?
Of course. If used too much, green like any other color can also bring negative traits. Too much green in a room or being surrounded by the wrong shade of green can in fact bring up feelings of boredom or stagnation.
Similarly, unless you're intentionally color-drenching your space in green decor and paint, choosing too much of one color can come across as too thematic, and will undermine the overall aesthetic of your room.
Your decor should reflect your personal style. It’s easy to get swept up in trends, but spaces with a personal touch feel more authentic. If you feel unsure on how much green to use when decorating your home, try incorporating green accents instead of full-on makeovers.
Green decor can be transformative if you sidestep these common mistakes. If you’re ready to bring a vibrant, natural feel to your home, let’s make sure your space reflects your taste, so you have a room you genuinely enjoy living in.
Be The First To Know
The Livingetc newsletter is your shortcut to the now and the next in home design. Subscribe today to receive a stunning free 200-page book of the best homes from around the world.
Seraphina is a contributing editor at Livingetc, writing Advice features on organizing and storage. She loves to decorate and also grow her own produce from her home in London. Her previous experience includes working for Homes & Gardens, Women's Health and Fabulous Magazine.Seraphina is also a graduate, who completed her MA degree in Magazine Journalism at City, University of London.
-
This Colorful London Home Looks Even More Magical Decorated for Christmas
Designer Cat Dal imbued this Victorian villa in London with a sense of 'solace' — a feeling perfect for Christmas but that doesn’t end there
By Pip Rich Published
-
9 Amazon Home Scents That Smell So Much More Expensive Than They Are
Because who doesn't love a delicious-smelling home on a budget?
By Brigid Kennedy Published
-
How Designers Are Decorating With Sage Green to Create Schemes That Are Unexpected, Fresh, and Timeless
There's a lot to love about sage green thanks to its soothing temperament, but to get it right, you need to understand its subtle intricacies
By Faaizah Shah Published
-
Your Lighting Could be Completely Throwing the Appearance of Your Green Paint — Here is How to Mitigate Its Effects
Exactly how does light affect green paint? Here's what you need to know to be able to choose the right shade for your home's lighting scheme
By Natasha Brinsmead Published
-
"Swiss Coffee" Is the Paint Color that People With Cozy but Expensive-Looking Homes Pick
The paint brand's "Swiss Coffee" shade is a best-seller that people reach for to achieve the ideal warm white
By Hugh Metcalf Published
-
5 Anxiety-Inducing Colors That Could be Causing You Stress (and How to Get Away with Using Them)
Color can make or break a space — here, experts share the shades to stay away from in certain spaces, and where you can bend the rules
By Portia Carroll Published
-
Can Embracing Touches of Green in Your Interiors Make You Happier? Here's What Experts Say
It turns out buying green decor or painting your space in the shade not only makes it look good, but could be helping make you feel good too
By Seraphina Kyprios Published
-
Save Yourself the Trouble — Design Experts Reveal the Secret to Picking the Right Shade of Green for Each Room of Your Home
Whether you want it to refresh, relax, or re-energize, the shade of green you choose can completely change the feel of a room, so you want to get it right
By Seraphina Kyprios Published
-
"No One Does it Better Than Nature" — Here's Why (and How) You Should be Decorating With Earth Tones
People often use the term 'natural' and 'neutral' interchangeably when it comes to colors, but in truth, there is so much more to decorating with earth tones
By Faaizah Shah Published