These Are the All-Time Best Dark Green Paint Colors, According to Designers
I’ve always loved green paint, but my relationship with the color has changed as I’ve gotten older. As a teenager, I begged my parents to paint my bedroom neon green (my sweet parents — they begrudgingly did it!). Recently, though, they wanted to tweak my childhood bedroom because highlighter green isn’t the most relaxing hue. This time around, I went with what I thought was the best dark green paint, Valspar’s Cosmopolitan Olive (5008-2C), which has unfortunately since been discontinued. With a name like that, how could it not be more sophisticated?
This change got me thinking more about the best dark green paint in general. When I see these deeper shades (and the colors that pair well with dark green), the words “moody,” “intellectual,” and “mature” immediately come to mind. Dark green paint is dramatic without being oppressive. And I’m not the only one who thinks this. Designers are loving dark greens for their versatility, depth, and grounding properties.
“I’ve always had a deep appreciation for dark paint — it has this incredible ability to transform a room into a cocoon-like sanctuary,” says interior designer Kyi Gyaw of Kyi Gyaw Interiors. “When paired with thoughtful lighting, these deeper hues don’t just define a space — they embrace it, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and irresistibly moody.”
Another great thing about the best dark green paint? It works in just about any room of a home. “I love the instant moodiness you get from painting a room dark green,” explains interior designer Michelle Gage of Michelle Gage Interiors. “It’s deep and sophisticated — and the right green can have a jewel-box-like effect. I’ve used dark green hues in guest bedrooms and office spaces, which sometimes shoot for a similar vibe of being calming and cool yet fun and special!”
While designers love this hue for its earthiness and saturation, many color families fall under the “dark green” umbrella (think: hunter green, olive green, emerald green, fern green, and forest green). All that’s to say, you might feel slightly overwhelmed when picking the right dark green for your room.
Don’t worry, though! With this in mind, I spoke with five interior designers to discover their favorite shades of dark green. Keep reading to find inspiration for the best dark green paint for your next project.
The Best Dark Green Paint Colors
Think of dark green as an umbrella term, with several shade families that can be classified under it. You might find that you gravitate toward certain categories of colors, and understanding these preferences might help you narrow down your search. Here, I’ve grouped colors based on their shade families to help you start your search with more direction.
Forest Green
A great place to start your best dark green paint search is with forest green. This shade references the dark green of trees and shrubs found in nature, and because of that, it can be a deep, grounding green that almost reads as a neutral.
“If I had to choose just one family of dark green, I’d go with forest green — hands down,” says interior designer Izabela Tokarski of Kabela & Co. “It strikes this perfect balance between richness and softness that makes it incredibly versatile and livable. … It’s deep enough to add drama but still earthy enough to feel welcoming and calm. Forest green also plays really well with a broad range of materials and palettes.” Here, you’ll find Tokarski and a few designers’ forest picks.
1. HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ Rock Bottom (SW 7062)
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ Rock Bottom (SW 70672) is a cool, moody, almost gray-dark green that will bring sophistication to any space. “[It’s] a bold black with a green undertone. It’s unexpectedly warm and creates a cozy, modern feel,” shares interior designer Ashley Banbury, who works with HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams. “I love using it with hues from the Industrial Refresh Color Collection for a sleek contemporary look, or warming it up with HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ Olive Grove (SW 7734), an earthy green that balances the cool depth of Rock Bottom with a more grounded tone.”
2. Benjamin Moore’s Forest Floor (1498)
Remember how Tokarski said “hands down,” her favorite green family is forest green? Well, it shouldn’t be surprising that one of her favorite colors is Benjamin Moore’s Forest Floor (1498). “It leans ever so slightly mossy but still sits firmly in the forest green family,” Tokarski explains. “What I love about this one is its natural warmth — it brings in a subtle earthiness that makes it feel more relaxed and organic. It works especially well in cozy, lived-in spaces like family rooms or libraries, paired with wood textures and natural textiles.”
Olive Green
Olive green shades are warmer and typically a bit lighter on the color spectrum than other dark greens. However, they still bring the kind of drama a room needs to make a statement. Gyaw loves using them in her work, specifically Benjamin Moore’s range. “[Olive colors] bring a nuanced richness that can anchor a room or play a supporting role with equal elegance,” she says. “My selections always vary by project, as color is never static — it shifts beautifully depending on a room’s orientation and the quality of both natural and artificial light.”
3. Benjamin Moore’s Tate Olive (HC-112)
Even though Benjamin Moore’s Tate Olive (HC-112) is technically a dark green, it still feels very approachable and easy to decorate around. It’s included in the paint brand’s Historical Collection, as it’s a color that can stand the test of time and plays well with traditional and modern furnishings alike.
4. HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ Olive Grove (SW 7734)
Banbury specifically uses colors like HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ Olive Grove (SW 7734) to warm up rooms, like in this kitchen project above. It’s neutral and creamy, which makes for a forgiving backdrop when it comes to redecorating down the line. “Selecting a green with a neutral undertone gives the shade a sense of timelessness that will evolve with trends and styles and remain appealing because of its ability to feel cozy and comfortable,” Banbury explains.
Hunter Green
Hunter green is similar to forest green in the sense that they’re both reminiscent of nature. However, in most cases, hunter green is an even darker version of forest. “I would have to choose hunter green for its versatility and deep, natural, warm hue,” says interior designer Michelle Fahmy of Haus of Meeshie. “It’s a can’t-go-wrong moody-color in my opinion.” Fahmy painted her living room using a popular hunter green color above.
5. Benjamin Moore’s Hunter Green (2041-10)
“I used [Benjamin Moore’s Hunter Green (2041-10)] in my own living room, in a bathroom in our A-frame cabin, and as an exterior house trim,” Fahmy explains. “It was a no-brainer with the wood tongue and groove ceiling and accents in both spaces.” Spoiler: This shade is one of the paint brand’s bestsellers, and from the way Fahmy has used it in so many different applications, I can totally see why. You can see how it looks in one of Fahmy’s bathroom projects above.
6. Farrow & Ball’s Duck Green (No. W55)
Farrow & Ball’s Duck Green (No. W55) is inspired by the colors of a mallard. “This is such a dynamic green that is bold yet elegant,” Fahmy shares. “We used it on a kitchen island to ground the space and paired it with unlacquered brass hardware and rich wood floors. Such a showstopper!”
7. HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ Jasper (SW 6216)
This deep, dramatic color is such a beloved shade that two of the experts I spoke to claimed it was one of their favorites. Fahmy loves it because of its depth — and also how it’s akin to an even darker version of Benjamin Moore’s Hunter Green (2041-10).
“HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ Jasper (SW 6216) is a rich, deep green that’s nearly black, adding a sense of elegance and drama to a space,” Banbury says. “It feels refined without being overpowering, I often pair Jasper with HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ Retreat (SW 6207) from our Earthy Charm Color Collection for a tonal, layered look, or with HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ Svelte Sage (SW 6164) for a softer, nature-inspired palette.”
Emerald Green
Think of emerald as a dark green with just a bit more vibrancy, since it’s technically a jewel tone. “I love an emerald green,” Gage shares. “The emerald hue can be hard to work with, but when you get the color scheme of the room right, it can be so magical.”
8. Farrow & Ball’s Verdigris Green (No. W50)
Emerald green and navy blue is a combination that really sings. “In the den above, we used Farrow & Ball’s Verdigris Green (No. W50), which is this shocking hue that really jumps off the walls,” Gage notes. “We paired it with an equally vibrant hue, like this inky navy velvet sofa and ruby red flowers of the ceiling wallpaper. “
9. Benjamin Moore’s Waterbury Green (HC-136)
A dark color that’s simultaneously warm and bright, Benjamin Moore’s Waterbury Green (HC-136) is Gage’s pick for something “soothing but very pigmented. This shade “has green-blue undertones,” she says, “making it great for an office space.” (She used the color in the office space above.)
Fern Green
While still reminiscent of nature (catching a theme here among dark green colors?), fern greens are usually a little brighter in tone but not quite as vibrant as emerald greens. Although none of the experts specifically said their favorite shade family was fern green, they did suggest a few favorite colors from this category.
10. Sherwin-Williams’ Rookwood Dark Green (SW 2816)
“[Sherwin-Williams’ Rookwood Dark Green (SW 2816)] has that deep, classic forest tone but with just the right amount of warmth, so it never feels cold or too stark,” Tokarski shares. “It’s rich, moody, and elegant — perfect for adding depth to a space while still feeling grounded and natural. I especially love it in rooms that get soft, indirect light, because it shifts beautifully throughout the day — from a deep, velvety green in the evening to something more lush and dimensional during daylight hours.”
11. HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ Retreat (SW 6207)
Banbury loves working with HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams’ Retreat (SW 6207) (as seen in the photo above) because it allows for a layered look while still being eye-catching. The color gets its darkness from the gray undertones, but still feels refreshing. The paint brand says it’ll “fill your space with the fresh feeling of mountain air.”