As a color, green is the ultimate fail-safe. It's calming without being boring. It's versatile, but slightly different than a traditional neutral. And it fits seamlessly into really any already-existing design scheme, as evidenced by the many colors that work well in its vicinity.
"Green is one of those colors that never feels forced. It’s tied to nature, so it has an innate balance that makes it work across so many styles and moods. The right pairing can either make it feel refined and moody or fresh and energetic," says Laetitia Laurent, founder and principal at Laure Nell Interiors.
"Consider green to be nature's neutral," adds Hannah Yeo, the senior manager for color marketing at Benjamin Moore. "Its calming and refreshing qualities make it incredibly versatile, allowing it to fit seamlessly into any space."
So let's show you rather than tell you — if you're looking to kickstart your new green living room or kitchen but aren't sure how else to decorate, consider one of the below 12 combinations as your starting block, whether you're looking for colors that go with sage green, forest green, khaki or pistachio.
Each pairing has been vetted by experts and interior designers, too, so you know you're getting something they'd use themselves ... plus a little insight into the best shades of paint on the market right now. Whoever said it's not easy being green clearly didn't have Livingetc in their corner.
Brown
This mid-century entryway and dining room combines brown and multiple shades of green with ease.
As is the case with green and blue, the appeal of green as a color that goes with brown is that they are both naturally occurring colors — and if something looks good in nature, chances are it will also look great in your living room.
"Green and brown is an incredibly grounding combination," Laetitia of Laure Nell Interiors explains. "It pulls from nature in a way that feels effortless. I love the way deep greens pair with rich wood tones, playing up their warmth."
Adds Alexandra Peck of Alexandra Peck Design: "Pairing green with any shade of beige/brown creates a harmonious atmosphere as [colors like cream, tan, caramel, espresso, etc.] complement green but allow green to be the beautiful star of the show."
Price: £2.00 per peel & stick sample.
The red undertones of this warm, earthy brown bring a natural and comfortable atmosphere to any interior.
Black
Dark green and black in this dining room offers an almost dark academia-esque vibe, but with a modern spin.
For something expressly elegant, try pairing black as a color that goes with forest green, similar to the room above. You want to stay away from bright greens here — the ones that skew more yellow — but a shade with blue, black, or gray undertones should prove excellent.
"This pairing exudes sophistication and depth," says Alykhan Velji of Aly Velji Designs. "Rich, jewel-toned greens contrast beautifully against black, creating a moody and dramatic aesthetic. The interplay of these bold hues adds a refined, contemporary edge to any interior, perfect for statement spaces."
Price: £5.50 per sample.
This off-black provides a softer alternative for harsher black tones, allowing Lamp Black to be a more versatile shade.
Navy
These green chairs pair excellently with these navy blue walls — both nature-inspired shades — while the round wooden coffee table further grounds the space.
As we've already briefly discussed, green is one of the best colors that go with navy blue because both are found together in nature. And if it's good enough for Mother Earth, it's good enough for us.
That said, this is a "combination that works best when the colors have depth," Laetitia advises. "A deep forest green against a muted, inky blue is one of my favorite ways to create contrast without overwhelming a space. It feels classic but still unexpected, like something you’d find in a well-worn European townhouse."
Price: £2.95 per color page sample.
This rich, deep blue creates a luxurious yet comforting atmosphere, perfect for statement walls or spaces.
Yellow
This green tiled bathroom uses mustard yellow-y hues to add the perfect touch of luxury and depth to the space.
The color wheel is a great resource when searching for ideal color pairings. Take green as a color that goes with yellow, for example. Yellow is right next to green and a shade toward the warmer side of the wheel, meaning together, the two should create a lovely and energetic combination.
"Green works seamlessly with yellow as yellow is one tick towards the warm side of the color wheel in interior designer," muses Alexandra. "Yellow is vibrant and energizing (think the sun), so pairing green with yellow will make for a more bright and dynamic effect."
Price: £5.75 per sample pot.
This fun, soft yellow will brighten up any space, bringing a splash of character.
Pink
Modern and surprisingly coordinated, this open-concept kitchen shocks but soothes using multiple dominant colors, including light pink, sage green, and navy.
When you think of green and pink, you might initially envision shades of lime green and Barbie pink — almost like something you'd find in an early 2000s bedroom. Maybe not the vibe, so do pink and green go together? The two definitely work together, but for the most stylish look, perhaps opt for a soft sage and a muted salmon rather than something too light and bright.
"I specifically like combining pink with green because, while it is on the opposite side of the color wheel from green, it has a soft warmth that allows green hues to be the focal point while providing a lovely, and calming backdrop," Alexandra says.
"A refreshing and unexpected contrast, green and pink create a playful yet elegant aesthetic," Alykhan adds. "Opting for softer shades ensures a balanced, sophisticated look, lending itself beautifully to both modern and traditional spaces."
Price: £2.50 per sample card.
This stunning, soft toned pink adds a perfect blush of colour as well as complementing other pink and cream tones.
Gray
This whimsical living room uses maximism to create a surprisingly elegant vignette, with a green rug, patterned wallpaper, and colored trim.
Gray is a neutral, so it should work with any color, to be fair. But it works particularly well with green, especially if you use a green that is a bit livelier than the gray in question.
"A gray-green color scheme works because both colors have an understated elegance," Laetitia explains. "I tend to lean toward softer, almost smoky greens paired with warm gray textiles or stone surfaces. The combination has a timelessness to it — it’s not about trends but about creating a palette that feels enduring."
"Green breathes life into cool grey tones, softening their starkness while maintaining a modern and sophisticated feel," Alykhan adds. "This combination results in a refined yet organic palette, ideal for serene and contemporary interiors."
Price: £5.40 per sample pot.
This misty, green-grey shade creates an elegant wash of colour to both traditional and contemporary spaces.
Orange
The cane-paneled cabinets and hardwood table work fabulously alongside the sage green walls and burnt orange artwork, tying the whole room together with a warm, rustic feel.
Maybe the least obvious pairing from the jump, green as a color that goes with orange — particularly muted sage greens and deeper burnt oranges — look wonderfully sophisticated next to one another. There is something so nice about combining two already rich colors for an even deeper result.
"A dynamic and energetic pairing, green and orange bring vibrancy and warmth to a room," Alykhan says. "Whether through accent walls, upholstery, or wood finishes with orange undertones, this combination is a natural match that injects richness and depth into an interior."
Price: £5.50 per sample pot.
Bamboozle is a versatile, earthy red tone that will add a warmth to any room, especially when paired with other strong shades.
White
This simple, sweet, white-accented mudroom looks just as lovely and calming as the soft green on the walls.
Green and white presents a minimalist combination—a pop of color on one hand and the absence of it on another. It's great if you're leaning toward a simple design scheme, or if you need to bring a sense of calm to a busy room. Just be sure you choose the right white paint to pair with your preferred shade of green.
"Green and white is a fantastic color combination because it allows green to shine," says Ana Cvetkovic of Rowhome Design. "Paint your walls white and use green on doors, trim, and a statement piece of furniture to create an unexpected-yet-cohesive pop of color."
Price: £5.50 per sample pot.
This fresh white is a perfect staple for any space without being too harsh on the eye.
Purple
Though not a look you'd see everyday, this vignette from Studio Doherty illustrates just how well purple and green can come together, even in the most immersive of design schemes.
Green may not feel the most obvious color that goes with purple, but just take a look toward nature and you'll see purple and green everywhere. Hydrangeas, lilacs, lavender ... just a few instances of this naturally occurring combo. In your home, opt for botanical-inspired and jewel-toned emerald greens as the foundation of your pairing.
"Choose natural shades like green for a more grounded effect, especially for those who fear overly saturated spaces while looking for the positive feelings of joy and calm purple can offer," recommends interior designer Sarah Barnard.
If you want a softer look when decorating with emerald green, introduce neutral tones like soft grays and whites to ensure your scheme doesn't read too much like Halloween.
Price: £5 per sample pot.
Morning Mist, with its lilac undertones, provides a stunning wash of pastel purple without being too overpowering.
Light Blue
Soft, cozy, and playful, this pastel-toned blue and green shower feels both homey and on-trend.
We've already established that blue and green work well together, particularly in the case of deep forest green and navy blue. But blue and green work together as softer pastels, too, so long as you're working with the right design scheme.
The key to pulling this off, per interior designer Cortney Bishop, is to ground the pastel palette. "Be thoughtful to pick colors you can thread through the home in fabrics and other home accents — cabinetry, trim work, etc," she says.
Price: £2.00 per peel & stick sample.
This soft blue shade, with its warm yellow and grey undertones adds a cool, tranquil feel.
Red
Maximalism at its best, this living room brings together green, red, beige, and black for an unexpected but sensational payoff.
Do green and red go together? Definitely at Christmas. But when done right, this striking color pairing can last well beyond the holidays. "When using colors like green and red, you're approaching the design with the intent to make a statement," says interior designer Katie Paulsen, the director of interior design at Texas-based Maestri Studio.
The most interesting way to make green a color that goes with red is to introduce unexpected shades of each hue. Take the above dining room by Maestri Studio, for example, where an emerald green boldly clashes with a vibrant red.
"In this case, the space needed to be exciting but also needed to have a soothing quality that the family could always enjoy," Katie explains. "We did this by softening the brighter values of the red and green by pulling in wood tones, and by adding warmth with the metal finishes."
Price: £5.75 per sample pot.
This deep, earthy red brings both warmth and luxury for both traditional and modern interiors.
Green
This rustic-inspired design scheme layers green on green for a lovely tonal look.
And of course, we couldn't forget about the easiest green color combination of them all—green and green. A monochromatic approach like this is great for homeowners that want to achieve that color-drenched look, or maybe want to pull off a more all-encompassing feel.
"There’s something powerful about layering different shades of green," Laetitia muses. Really leaning into it, as is the case with the image above, "allows the color to take on an immersive quality, especially when paired with different textures."
Price: £7.50 per sample pot.
Park Life is a soft sage-green, ideal for any space, particularly when paired with warm neutrals.
FAQs
What Shades of Green Are Trending for 2025?
Green is always on trend. There will never come a time where it would appear blase or tacky to include it in your design scheme — though you'll want to choose the right shade, to be clear. For example, 'Brat' green — a bright, obnoxious shade of lime meant to grab your attention — dominated 2024. But that's not the direction we're heading going forward. For 2025, experts predict we'll be using mossier, more natural shades for our homes.
"Moss, earthy greens are what shades will be trending for 2025," predicts Lucy Harrison of SouthPark Interiors. "This year the design trends are leaning towards deep, moody subtle tones that lean more to nature."
What Colors Don't Go With Green?
It's hard to choose colors that don't go with green, as it's such a versatile shade. But they do exist, and it mostly comes down to the specific shade of green you're pairing. This tends to particularly apply to green shades mixed with primary yellows and blues. And then, of course, you need to consider the connotations around certain color combinations.
With orange and purple, it can be hard to avoid creating a color scheme that doesn't scream "Halloween," while primary red and green can struggle to escape the trappings of Christmas.
"The one color I would say is not my favorite is light gray," says color expert Dabito. "A deep, rich, warm charcoal gray is different, but I don't ever use a light gray, it reminds me of air pollution and smog."
You can use these color combinations as green living room ideas, green kitchen ideas, and more — the choice is yours! Green is a definitely a trending color of 2025, but it will always be a trending color, so don't stress about fads or regret. This is a shade that complements every room, all the time. Just pick your duo, and get to work.
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