If you're drawn to calming, luxurious-feeling spaces, then sage green (and by extension, the colors that pair with it well) should be a part of your interior palette. After all, according color experts and interior designers, these tones have an inherent relaxing quality and give spaces an uplifted feel.
'One of the best qualities of sage green is its unique ability to complement other materials timelessly,' says interior designer Jillian Gamboa of Austin, Texas-based studio Avery Cox Design. 'The same sage tone can feel balanced with nearly any metal finish — brass, nickel, bronze, etc — which is why you see it used across a broad array of spaces, from historic homes to contemporary new-builds.'
There are several great opportunities to explore sage, as many colors go with green in this peaceful shade. Here are some designer-approved suggestions.
1. Black
Not sure if black is the right choice for you or if there are enough colors that go with black? There's a great way to soften it — simply pair it with earthy tones like sage green. Take this interior for instance. The dark flooring and black lines could have created a one-dimensional space but the sage green cabinets lift the interior and create a crisp, refreshing feeling.
'Green is known as one of the most warm as well as cool colors there is in the color wheel,' says Nishita Kamdar, founder of Studio Nishita Kamdar. 'Sage green often associated with tranquility makes for a great choice for a room especially when it comes to layering with actual plants/ cane/ jute elements. It looks moody as well as fresh.'
'Sage green is a gentle color that is calming and soothing,' says Khushboo Khandelwal of Studio Design Inc. 'It can draw the feeling of living with nature within a space, lending the aura of overall well-being and relaxation. This color is very versatile and can be used and paired in a variety of ways. It can work as a calming neutral to create a monochrome green color palette simply through shades and textures of the same color, harnessing positive energy, light, and air within a space. '
'It can work as a refreshing accent color with other neutrals like black lending an element of nature and adding depth to the space,' says Khushboo. 'It can even strike an interesting balance with colors like shocking pink through patterns and prints to add drama, pop, and vitality to a space.'
2. Pink
Who doesn't want a cozy bedroom? This color combination is quite the winner. The sage green is used as a color that goes with pink, and the two tones offset each other for a modern, cozy space. You can also choose bolder cherry pinks to light pastels, and pair them with sage green. Pink strips away any harshness, while the green warms up the pink.
'It doesn't take much skill to pair pink with green successfully as they exist together in nature in so many flowers,' says Amy Krane, architectural color consultant and founder of Amy Krane Color. 'Both warmer yellow pinks and cooler blue-pinks work with greens well. Pinks work well with olive, sage, mint, and hunter.'
'There is a vast range of hues to pick from – from pinks with deep earthy undertones to lighter brighter rosy pinks,' says Chloe Morrison, designer at Topology. 'It works well as both an accent color in a space, seen within soft furnishings, and as a subtle backdrop instead of a classic neutral.'
3. Red
Dare to use red in your modern kitchen? Take a leaf out of this project. The space uses red as a primary pop of color to liven up a space, and to balance it out, sage is used as color that goes with red. The latter acts as a great canvas for the dynamic red to shine.
'Boasting of grand proportions and confidant hues, this Massachusetts kitchen is as stately as the house’s history,' says Vani Sayeed, founder of Vani Sayeed Studios. 'Built in 1848, this Greek Revival house was in disrepair and in need of an overhaul. As we assessed the space, the overall footprint of the kitchen was not very big, but because of the double-height ceilings, the space felt airy and spacious. By embracing a unique color combination on the cabinets and bold red wall covering with a simple white subway tile backsplash we were able to achieve the desired drama to balance the unique architecture. Because of the double height and the second set of upper windows, the light changes as the sun travels which affects the color of the cabinets. It can vary between gray to sage green.'
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You'll be surprised how good red and sage green can look together. Red is a good color to embolden a space that's excessively decorated with sage green. Consider this color on joinery, along panels, wainscoting, or on furniture.
4. Yellow
Yellow is a good choice to juxtapose with sage green, as is seen in this hallway paint combination. The two shades truly uplift the interior and are used to highlight architectural features, such as the painting above, the dado rail, and the ceiling cornices. Plus several colors go with yellow, allowing you to add a third shade to round out your palette.
But the right shade is important. 'Several colors go with sage green such as a muted yellow like ochre, a tan yellow, or pastel yellow,' says Amy. 'Bright, highly saturated yellow are less successful. They will overpower the softness of sage green.'
It would also be prudent to stay away from neon tones of bright yellow or lime colors. Think mustard, buff or mango yellow for pairings.
5. Beige
Much like white, beige too is a timeless color but in comparison, a much softer neutral. Plus, many colors go with beige, all creating a harmonious interior. In this home, the two colors are used in the home office to maximize natural light and to help the space feel airy and welcoming.
'Sage green and neutrals play so well together that it's hard to go wrong,' says Jillian Gamboa. 'Don't be afraid to be immersive with this earthy green — treat sage as your base color, and use whites, beiges, and greys as accents.'
'One of the family's main wishes was to have an open space,' says Marc Hensel, founder of CAMA A. 'All old parquet floors were replaced and the rooms were designed with a color concept of light green.'
6. Brown
Sage green is one of the many colors that go with brown. And this combination is used expertly in the dining room. The walls lend a soft touch to the space, while the wooden furniture adds an earthy charm. Both tones have a grounding connection to the natural surroundings, creating an organic landscape.
'Colors found in nature are always complementary of each other so sage and brown are very easy to pull together,' say Kirsten Dahl-Feathers and Carlie Ng from the Stylesmiths. 'We typically like to use a lighter brown material with some warmth to it like a tan rather than going too dark and heavy with chocolate browns, when paired with green.'
7. Cream
Cream and sage green is an easy way to add interest to your homes without having to drastically overhaul your interiors. This is a safe combo for a living room, as exemplified in this interior. Cream living rooms have the advantage of looking warmer than pure white spaces and can create a more welcoming atmosphere.
'As with most muted or earthy tones, sage green pairs best with a softer cream, or opt away from your bright whites and yellow undertones and go for something with a green or greige undertone,' say Kristen and Carlie.
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A 'safe' combination with sage green. If you want to create a room that's relaxing, calming and bright, then a good way is to combine sage green with cream. The two are warm tones and can have a soothing effect, visually.
8. Gray
Several colors go with light gray or dark grey, and one among them is the gentle, soothing sage green. In this bedroom color scheme, the two tones add the perfect layering and depth to the space, making it feel instantly relaxing.
'Think of pale green with charcoal gray to add fun and current color combinations,' says Amy. 'You could also play with their pastel tones for a more energetic interior. The softness of pastels makes them versatile and livable. Combine them with darker colors and you have a well-balanced interior.'
9. Orange
Amongst the colors that go with orange is sage green, and together the hues can create a moody and sultry vibe, as seen in this bedroom. ‘A bit of turmeric or burnt orange can go a long way to add some contrast and warmth’, says interior designer Daniel Hopwood.
Instead of going all in on green and orange-drenched spaces, consider dotting objects of orange around the room or purchase soft furnishings in this shade to bring added warmth to the space. Here, a simple orange bedroom offsets the sage green headboard, adding fun to an otherwise restful space.
10. Teal
If you’re looking to go daring with your color scheme, sage green is one of the colors that go with teal. See how the cabinet green is brightened with a lick of aqua-blue paint. The two work together in harmony because of their similar base tones.
'Sage green is an earthy soothing tone that aids in the feeling of calm, promoting a relaxing environment that oozes a sense of tranquility and softness within a space,' says Chole. 'Perhaps more than ever, we desire to enhance our sense of well-being through biophilic design and sage green is undoubtedly a tone that works well to achieve this. Colors inspired by nature team up beautifully with sage green, for example, deep greens, browns, and blues.'
FAQs
Why is sage green so popular?
With strong ties to nature, sage green mirrors the newfound enthusiasm people have for greenery in their homes. Greenery and houseplants are everywhere. Everything has a very natural and slightly seventies vibe at the moment and painting your kitchen green just seems to confirm that love for natural things, in particular living greenery.
Green is going to be a top color choice for people who love this look or even if they can’t face the care required to look after plants they can still feel the positive vibes of such a fresh and vibrant color which reminds us so much of nature and the outdoors.
Can you pair more than one color with sage green?
If you have a color pairing of say lavender, red or blue with sage green, and want to add a third hue, be sure to include a shade that doesn't overwhelm but blends in well with these calming colors. A good option would be with a cream or a beige – both tones are neutral and can give an excellent lift to lavender and sage green. Alternatively, a dusty blue could be a great companion if you want to add an impact to the space.
