It’s been compared to olives, avocados, and even the color of crisp dollar bills (see Money Moves from paint brand Clare). Sage green is both earthy and elevated, pairs well with warm and cool tones, and works in just about every space—from kitchens to closets to primary bedrooms. And in addition to being a chameleon color, it just might save you from killing yet another houseplant. “When done well, the right greens add freshness to interior spaces, and when applying green tones in interior furnishings, it reduces the need to add green plants indoors,” says designer Holly Hunt of the Chicago-based House of Hunt. So for anyone looking to liven up their home decor (and especially design enthusiasts with brown thumbs), we’ve rounded up 18 decorating ideas with sage green.
1. Create a cohesive living space.
“In this project, we sought to embrace the traditional architecture of the home as well as the family heirloom furniture pieces, and sage was the perfect complement,” explains Lathem Gordon and Cate Dunning of Gordon Dunning Interior Design Studio in Atlanta. Additionally, the color unifies the kitchen and breakfast nook through coordinating paint and wallpaper. “Instead of two white boxes, the spaces now feel connected and inviting,” says the design duo.
2. Make metals pop.
Brass accents—seen here with hooks and a curtain rod—stand out against sage wallpaper with yellow undertones and interior paint. As Manns says, this green “complements a wide range of furnishings and decor, adding a touch of sophistication to any space”—even a closet nook.
3. Pair it with black.
“People often think of sage green as tying into the natural elements, an earthy tone that represents the outdoors—but it doesn’t have to be,” says designer Lauren Svenstrup of Studio Sven in Chicago. “We love incorporating sage in a monochromatic sense, where it blends into deeper greens wrapped into the space, or as a standalone bold moment against textural neutrals with a heavy sprinkling of black.”
4. Add just a touch with a rug.
“Muted shades of green are a simple yet impactful way to provide sophisticated layers to a space,” says Jess Onorato, director of product and design for the Southern California–based design store Habitat Home & Garden. “We appreciate the soothing effect of a large rug with light sage green accents and cohesive organic patterns,” she says. Get this subtle nod to green with the brand’s Helena rug in sage and sunset.
5. Mix it with other muted shades.
Annie Sloan’s sage paint color Terre Verte is right at home with other soft colors, such as ivory, pale yellow, and terra-cotta. Together they have a calming effect that’s ideal for a bedroom.
6. Place it beside brick.
Similar to terra-cotta, sage works well next to earthy natural brick, as Svenstrup points out. “We’ve infused sage green in a primary bedroom in one of our projects where it complements the brick and draws the eye in, but offers equal levels of impact to the neutral palette surrounding,” she says. “Sage green lends for a relaxing feel to a space and enables homeowners and guests to feel connected without feeling overstimulated.”
7. Throw some in with throw pillows.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to bust out a paint roller to work this green hue into your decor. Sage green accessories can be equally satisfying. “For a more simple approach to incorporating color, consider highlighting green tones through foliage, velvet accent pillows, throws, bedding, and wall art,” says Onorato. When it comes to foliage, a DIY arrangement with eucalyptus or dried sage in a ceramic pitcher has rustic appeal reminiscent of the French countryside.
8. Play up black and white.
White accents and a black front door pop against sage green walls painted Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog—2022’s Color of the Year. Other sage shades from the brand include Sherwin-Williams Clary Sage, and Sherwin-Williams Rosemary.
9. Match it to natural wood tones.
A color inspired by nature makes sense paired with natural materials. Here, Valspar’s pastel Green Trellis “taps into the calming tones we find in nature,” says Sue Kim, the brand’s director of color marketing. “This hazy sage green has a duality, bringing in both the calm and liveliness we seek from the outdoors into our homes.”
10. Mimic lush landscaping in a living room.
At some point during the year, most homes are surrounded by green—even apartments in midtown Manhattan often have a treetop view. This is why green feels familiar, says AD PRO Directory member Jenn Feldman of Jenn Feldman Designs. “Sage green is a fresh yet comfortable color to bring indoors, echoing the comfort of lush, green landscaping through the change of seasons.” In her design here, moss green chairs complement more obvious botanical nods to nature.
11. Work it into your wallpaper.
When it comes to kids and our creations, it’s impossible to pick favorites. Yet Jennifer Matthews, cofounder and CCO of peel-and-stick wallpaper company Tempaper & Co., says of the brand’s Lilly Chinoiserie mural in metallic sage blossom, “It’s my dream wallpaper. I look to incorporate it anywhere that I can!” One place to start? On a bedroom accent wall, accompanied by jewel-toned bedding.
12. Create a mellow monochromatic bathroom.
What’s better than one tranquil shade? Two… or three. Mixing sage with other soft greens ups the mellow factor. This serene space has a wall color that’s Sea Salt by HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, a color that’s particularly calming. “Welcoming and inviting, the tranquility of this tinted green hue crafts a space that helps quiet the mind to relax and unwind,” says Ashley Banbury, color marketing manager for HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams.
13. Coat your kitchen cabinets.
Bored by all-white cabinetry? Add color to your kitchen that’s not overwhelming. “We love wrapping a room in sage green tones… One of our favorite projects was our sage green kitchen—it’s still such a wow and I’m so glad we gave our client the final push to do this!” says Feldman.
14. Set it against white trim.
Make white architectural details dance by using sage green as a background. Here, walls painted Jojoba, a shade of sage green by Behr, create a moment for white window trim and a white fireplace to shine.
15. Opt for green instead of gray.
“Sage green is gaining popularity as an alternative to the overused gray color palette,” says Teresa Manns, of Teresa Manns Design in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Here, sage offers a neutral backdrop while adding “a touch of grounding earthiness, making it a refreshing choice.”
16. Incorporate standout sage seating.
While sage can be a background hue, it can also be a showstopper, as seen here in a design by Studio Sven. Says Svenstrup, “We recently completed a project where the sage green gorilla chair—in a sea of neutral shades around it—served as one of the ‘moments’ of the main living space among other complementary pops of color (e.g. a bright rust orange sofa, forest green accent chair, etc.). It’s about finding the right time and place to weave it in.”
17. Deck out a dining room.
A truly versatile color, sage is earthy and natural, but it can also look decadent, as proven with this project by the Atlanta-based studio Liz Williams Interiors. Williams says, “There are lots of ways to use sage, whether it’s a wall or cabinet color, upholstery, or accents like antique painted furniture, curtain trim, and pillows.”
18. Go glam and celebrate the great outdoors.
Sometimes sage just seems to do it all. This design by Hattie Sparks Interiors manages to bring the outdoors in without going rustic. “This dining room is in the Pacific Northwest, nestled in a lush forest of evergreens and beautiful greenery,” says Hattie Sparks Collins, owner of the New Orleans–based studio. “This shade is a nod to the landscape surrounding the property.”
