I had a post on bedroom wall treatments planned for this week.  Then I received my new issue of Better Homes and Garden and was so inspired by the color they featured throughout the magazine that I decided to change direction.  Green.  Shades and tones of beautiful greens – all so evocative of spring.

It’s sunny today in Seattle, a touch of early spring with lawn mower noises and people outside, the perfect incentive to start thinking about spring.  (I know it’s a little early, but I’m willing to get a jump on it if you are.)

If you’ll remember, I shared Pantone’s color-of-the-year selection in January (emerald).  Emerald is a bright, strong, elemental green that  is usually better as an accent color.  The greens I’m falling in love with are soft, enveloping, nature-infused greens that are livable and will blur the line between indoors and outdoors.

Photo via HouseBeautiful.com

Maybe more than any other color, green is ruled by its undertones.  It’s also fairly easy to spot the undertones in green:  add blue and you head into the teal range, add yellow and you wander into lime territory.  A gray-green is created by adding green’s complement – red – and can be a beautiful neutral for your walls.

Shades of Mint

Mint green has negative connotations for me.  I think of a bright, blue green, a dated color from my mom’s era.  The shades available today that might be classified as mint are nothing like that color of my memory but are sophisticated or playful, bright or soft, warm (yellow undertone) or cool (blue undertone).

Photo via HouseBeautiful.com

Just in time for spring you can create a back-to-nature feeling in your room with  some light minty walls and contrasting dark wood furniture (above).  If you live in a hot climate and would prefer a mint that exudes a cooler persona, try something leaning toward teal (below).

Designed by Hilary Johnson via Modern-Interior-Design.com

This unexpected use of green shows a blue based green on the walls and a yellow based green on the furniture.  It makes an interesting juxtaposition and breaks the design “rule” of matching your undertones so they play well together.  Do these appear to play well to you?

Photo via Gray and Scout.com

The above small room uses a light, grayed green effectively on the walls.  The soothing mint green doesn’t scream its presence but instead provides a restful backdrop against the white trim.

Sherwin Williams has a Color Visualizer feature that allows you to change wall color to experiment with how a color might look in your room.  Upload a room photo or use one of their generic rooms (as I did below) and see how a color feels to you.  The art wall below is using Quietude while the darker accent wall is Earl Grey.

Photo via Sherwin Williams.com Color Launcher

Photo via Sherwin Williams.com Color Launcher

Try a brighter version with colors Aloe on the art wall and Hazel on the back wall, both with blue undertones.  Though the description of Aloe calls it a grayed green, my computer screen doesn’t pick that up which is a good reminder that all colors are going to translate differently from your computer or a magazine photo than on your wall.

Photo via Color Launcher by Sherwin Williams.com

Sherwin & Williams Breaktime on the art wall and Kind Green on the back wall.  There are SO many beautiful colors to explore in this soft green palette.  Other companies have equally lovely greens.  A couple suggested by BHG (Better Homes and Garden) are Wintergreen by Olympic.com and Crushed Mint by True Value and Behr (Home Depot) Mint Frappe

 What Colors Work With Mint Green?

Photo via Sherwin Williams Color Launcher

These soft greens are so versatile they can be paired with almost any color.  (above keeps Breaktime on the art wall and Peppery on the back wall)  Look out your window – green is the backdrop for every other color – flowers in pinks and purples, stones with tans, beige and gray, white fences for a crisp contrast and maybe the bright red spot of a tricycle (great accent color).  They all look gorgeous with green.  Create a frame of green in your room and choose another color, any color for an accent wall, pillows or art – you’ll create a restful and successful room.

Beautiful Green Rooms to Inspire

Give your bathroom a fresh look with a soft minty green to contrast with the standard brown/tan tiles.

Bright colors add spark to any shade of green.
The bedroom above pairs a soft green with a soft gray creating a restful palette.
This bright mint green is not my favorite shade – it reminds me of the color from my mom’s era.
These gray-green walls are such a gentle background for the bright reds and pinks – a beautiful color combo for a young girl’s room.
A monochromatic use of the sophisticated gray green above makes a cocoon of this delightful bedroom.
As you can see, mint green can take many forms and surely there must be one you’re dying to try.  Paint a powder room, an accent wall, your bedroom or a breakfast room.  It will update your room and lift your spirits.  If you’d like some help choosing which shade of green will suit you, Cindy and I offer color consultations or single dilemma consultations to help guide you.  If you want to totally remake a room, we offer a full service consultation filled with details and assistance.  We’re eager to help!

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