The Best Paint Colors to Update Hunter Green (Tiles, Carpet, Countertop)
PAINT COLORS TO MODERNIZE YOUR FOREST GREEN-HUED ROOM
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, green (especially hunter and forest green) was a popular choice in almost every home. Homeowners took it to the next level with golden oak cabinets and flooring, burgundy accents, and the Dirty Dancing theme song playing softly on the 8-track.
However, while green is having a moment, ‘those types of greens’ aren’t the most popular color choice for today’s modern homeowner.
Now, I’m not here to tell you that you have to get rid of your green carpet, tile, bathroom fixtures, or countertop. Although this type of green may not be today’s hottest color, many homeowners love their glorious green finishes and want to work with them rather than replace them.
I’m obsessed with this green stone fireplace
However, the truth is that as long as your green surface exists, your home won’t be totally updated.
And that’s okay! Personal tastes and budgets don’t always allow for a large-scale change, which means we work with what you’ve got, and you know I’m the best person for it.
However, most people with older-looking green finishes aren’t particularly fond of them. They’re looking for affordable ways to make their home look more updated, classic, and appropriate in today’s style world (for personal tastes and resale purposes).
And no matter what side you’re on, I’m here to help you update hunter green finishes with the use of color. BUT (a Kardashian-sized one), please read this before you look at the paint colors…
HOW ‘NOT’ TO UPDATE HUNTER GREEN
When you’re working with a color that’s ‘difficult’ or you don’t like, don’t go outside the color box.
This photo is OUT of forest green’s color box – ’nuff said.
WHAT IS A COLOR BOX?
It’s the range of colors that a particular finish can live with. The average green finish from the 80s and 90s (which tend to be a bit cooler) has colors in its box.
COLORS THAT CAN UPDATE HUNTER GREEN FINISHES & FIXTURES
While not every color in these ranges will work, there’s bound to be a hue that will do the job.
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Green mixed with blue
- Gray-green blends
- Green mixed with gray and blue
- Some subtle taupes
- Simple, soft, not overly yellow shades of white
- Warm, flexible off-whites
That’s it. If you stretch outside that box, you risk ‘accenting‘ your green and making it appear brighter and stronger – and if that’s your jam, fill yer colorful little boots, but this blog post ain’t goin’ there.
If your surface isn’t quite so cool and leans slightly warm (which isn’t nearly as common), you have a different color box…
- Green mixed with yellow (making it a warm green)
- Green mixed with greige, so it’s an earth-toned warm green.
- Some muted greiges (so the green is more of a backdrop)
- A range of warm off-whites
FUN FACT: Painting your walls a neutral paint color with a green undertone can help soften the impact of your green surface.
Lastly, I want to cover the most common finishes you’ll find the color forest or hunter green on or in…
- kitchen or bathroom cabinets
- countertops
- backsplash and bathroom tiles
- green leather sofas (super hot in the 90s)
- carpet
- bathroom fixtures (toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and loos)
Lastly (didn’t I already do a ‘lastly’? Yes, I do talk this much in real life, too). Not every green finish from the 80s and 90s is hunter or forest green, which leads us to…
THE ‘OTHER’ GREEN COUNTERS, TILES, & CARPETS
Many of the older green finishes (especially granite countertops) are mixed with other colors and neutrals, and often pick up a bit more warmth.
While these green finishes aren’t always as challenging, they can give you a run for your money when trying to find a coordinating wall or cabinet color.
If you have non-traditional green finishes, this blog post is also for you, although my suggestions cater a bit more to hunter or forest green.
I do my best to hit as many needs and tastes as possible – I’M ONLY ONE WOMAN!
And if all else fails, well, you know where to find me (no, not Starbucks OR the wine store).
So, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s move on to the fun stuff…
THE BEST PAINT COLORS TO UPDATE HUNTER GREEN FINISHES
Remember, these aren’t fool-proof colors – no color is. It depends on the exact type of forest or hunter green you’ve got, your room, and your tastes. However, the shades listed below are the BEST place to start your color adventure!
1. BENJAMIN MOORE MOONSHINE 2140-60
Moonshine is a lovely light mix of gray and green. It can pick up a willy wink of blue in some lights, so if you’re into more traditional greens, you might not like this fella.
While this next bathroom doesn’t feature green (the vanity is a dark gray-blue-green), you can see how soft and subtle Moonshine can look.
This gorgeous gray-green is great for some cooler forest green tiles, cabinets, countertops, and carpets, and is TOO cold for traditionally warm greens.
And while it has a green undertone hiding deep inside, it can be pretty dang subtle…
Moonshine has an LRV of 66.53, which is a great depth for the average room, making it a light-depth color.
Get your Peel & Stick sample of Moonshine
Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Moonshine
2. BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE OC-17
White Dove is a soft, warm shade of white that can be a beautiful way to update hunter green, or almost any shade of green, such as forest, hunter, emerald, chartreuse, and more. Its slightly lower LRV (compared to brighter whites) of 83.16 makes it a soft white and a great choice for walls, trims, or cabinets.
The lower walls (shiplap) in this bathroom below are painted one of my FAVORITE dark green paint colors, Sherwin Williams Ripe Olive. Notice how White Dove contrasts with this dark green without being stark or harsh like a cleaner or cooler white would…
Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore White Dove
Sherwin Williams Alabaster is another beautiful option, just make sure its yellow undertones don’t take over or bounce too much off your green finish…
While the shutter color is off (too pink), Sherwin Williams Alabaster looks beautiful!
3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ANEW GRAY 7030
Anew Gray is a beautiful light-medium depth shade of greige-taupe. Thanks to its minimal commitment to undertones, it can be an interesting partner to some emerald or hunter green countertops, tiles, and carpets.
While my next Online Paint Color Consulting client is replacing her forest green countertop, you can see how it looks with a range of neutrals…
REVIEWS: BM White Dove | SW Accessible Beige | SW Anew Gray | SW Balanced Beige | SW Amazing Gray | SW Loggia
Now, Anew Gray isn’t going to hit the spot in every home (no color will), but as you can see, it provides a moderate, neutral backdrop to the green countertops.
It’ll stretch the comfort zone of some forest or hunter green finishes, but because it doesn’t flash too much purple or green (which this type of color often does), it can slip in the side door.
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Anew Gray…
If Anew Gray has caught your eye, check out Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray, too.
Sherwin Williams Anew Gray: IMAGES, Info, & More
4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SEA SALT SW 6204
Sea Salt is a fun green-inspired shade that offers ‘color’ without too much commitment. It’s soft and gentle and can be a beautiful complement to any number of cool green finishes, including bathroom fixtures, tiles, and more.
Just sample Sea Salt carefully, as in the odd room, it swings WILDLY blue.
If Sea Salt is a bit off, keep trying, as the right blue-green blend (more green than blue) or green-gray (cool green, not warm) can be pretty with hunter green finishes.
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Sea Salt…
Sherwin Williams Sea Salt: IMAGES, Info, & More
5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS PURE WHITE SW 7005
Pure White is similar to White Dove in that they’re both soft whites. However, the big difference is that Pure White isn’t quite as warm as White Dove while still holding a gentle softness compared to brighter or cooler shades of white.
In this next powder room (on the walls, trims, and doors of the bathroom and foyer), Pure White is magic with the dark green paint color on the painted vanity…
Sherwin Williams Pure White: IMAGES, Info, & More
6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ALOOF GRAY SW 6197
Aloof Gray is a gorgeous shade of gray-green with a slightly stormy, cool edge. While it’s more neutral than the next color in the fan deck (Sherwin Williams Conservative Gray, coming up next), it still picks up a gorgeous green hue. Just watch, as colors like these (in the right situation) can pick up a green-blue hue that leans a touch too blue.
To update hunter green, make sure any gray-green you choose doesn’t pick up too much BLUE.
As shown in my client’s dining room below, notice how Aloof Gray changes its tune from right to left…
While this next image is an exterior, this home would look gorgeous with dark forest or hunter green shutters…
The Best Green-Gray Paint Colors
7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS CONSERVATIVE GRAY SW 6183
Conservative Gray is a light-coloured gray-green. The green is definitely ‘there’ but not overly dominant.
If the previously mentioned Aloof Gray is too, you might like Conservative Gray’s more noticeable green backdrop. Again, make sure its temperature appeals to the overall approach of your green finish, whether you have forest green cabinets, tiles, carpets, or bathroom fixtures!
Get your Peel & Stick sample of Conservative Gray
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Conservative Gray
8. SHERWIN WILLIAMS WHITE DUCK 7010
If your green finish isn’t a super strong green, or is mixed with some neutral shades, you might like White Duck.
White Duck won’t necessarily update hunter green or modernize forest green, but it can satisfy a ton of OTHER green finishes!
While this next home doesn’t have ANY green finishes, it’s easy to see how White Duck could slide into a green-centric palette…
White Duck walls with Wellborn Glacier cabinets
White Duck is a super popular, warm off-white. Its neutral, non-committal approach makes it a great option for many tricky finishes.
Sherwin Williams White Duck: IMAGES, Info, & More
If your finishes suit White Duck, you might want to sample Benjamin Moore Ballet White, too.
All the photos in my blog are from my Online Color Consulting clients, readers, & friends— because real homes deserve to be celebrated (dirty laundry & all!) While not magazine-perfect, they’re packed with ideas & proven color choices to help you create a home you’ll love.
9. SHERWIN WILLIAMS GOSSAMER VEIL SW 9165
While Gossamer Veil won’t satisfy every shade of green (again, nothing will – a disclaimer I love repeating), it’s worth sampling. This gentle, warm gray has a subtle, earthy, sneaky green undertone and is warmer than the previous options.
Gossamer Veil with Benjamin Moore White Dove
As far as cool, forest green finishes go, Gossamer Veil might be a bit too warm. However, if your green leans a bit softer, it’s a great color to sample and compare.
Get your Samplize Peel & Stick sample of Gossamer Veil
FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Gossamer Veil
If you like Gossamer Veil, you might check out Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter, another gorgeous warm shade of gray…
Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter: IMAGES, Info, & More
While Revere Pewter is a TOUCH warm for the hunter green leather sofa, there’s often more to a space than just a sofa (adjoining kitchens/dining rooms/etc).
Considering the above space on a large scale, Revere Pewter offers a subtle nod to green, adding a bit of warmth that prevents the space from looking too cold, which is a natural tendency of hunter-green.
If your green finishes lean into colors like Gossamer Veil and Revere Pewter, I HIGHLY recommend reading: The Best Light to Medium Greige Paint Colors
10. BENJAMIN MOORE COLONY GREEN 694
If you’re looking for a lean, mean shade of green, Colony Green could hit the spot. Colony Green is a cool shade of green, and while it has some gray to calm it down, you’re still left with a good degree of color on your walls.
This sage green countertop is pretty darn happy to see a sample of Colony Green next to it…
The Best LIGHT Green Paint Colors
11. BENJAMIN MOORE PALE OAK OC-20
You’ll have to humor the manic little Ginger, as not everyone is inclined towards taupe, especially when it comes to green finishes.
Taupe paint colors have a purple-pink undertone, meaning they’re opposite green. However, if you love colors that play together, the right shade of taupe can be a beautiful partner.
I’d start with Pale Oak, a gentle, light, taupe paint color. While it definitely has taupe undertones, it’s not intense by any stretch of the imagination.
Now, because I only use images from clients, readers, and friends, I don’t always have the EXACT image I need. This said, looking in the corner where the two walls meet, it’s easy to see how soft and pretty a taupe like Pale Oak can be…
Benjamin Moore Pale Oak: IMAGES, Info, & More
If you like this idea, I’ve got a TON more colors that are similar, including Benjamin Moore Classic Gray, Sherwin Williams City Loft, and more.
While the only green in this next room is a plant, it’s easy to see how Classic Gray could update hunter green in the right space…
The Best Light to Medium Taupe Paint Colors
12. BENJAMIN MOORE GRENADIER POND CC-650
If you’re ready to commit, I’m here for you (as Beyonce says, you better put a ring on it). However, I would advise you to take it easy with a color like Grenadier Pond.
Don’t get me wrong; this glorious green is gorgeous. However, it can be overwhelming in a space that already has a lot of green.
As shown in this bathroom below, if all of the tiles were green, a color like Grenadier Pond would overwhelm the space. Instead, this gorgeous organic green is a beautiful complement to the dark green marble accent tile (the adjacent green countertop is also dark green marble)…
Benjamin Moore’s Best Medium to Dark Green Paint Colors
13. BENJAMIN MOORE WIND’S BREATH OC-24
While it ALWAYS depends on the exact shade of green your bathroom fixtures, tiles, cabinets, or carpet is, a color like Wind’s Breath can be a breath of fresh air for an outdated space.
This soapstone countertop looks pretty with Wind’s Breath
Kind of like the previously mentioned Sherwin Williams White Duck, Wind’s Breath is a reasonably flexible, warm neutral paint color. The darker and more muted your green finish is, the more likely it is that Wind’s Breath will hit the spot.
I’ve got a whole whack of popular warm off-whites if you want to sample and compare colors with your particular green finish.
Benjamin Moore Wind’s Breath: IMAGES, Info, & More
13. BENJAMIN MOORE NIGHT MIST 1569
If your green tile, carpet, or countertop is a bit cool, check out Night Mist (or the darker Gray Wisp). This soft, gentle green has a gray backdrop calming it down and a flash of blue.
Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Night Mist
If you like Night Mist, check out some more blue-green blends.
14. BENJAMIN MOORE CHANTILLY LACE OC-65
Ifyou want to update hunter green, one of your safest, easiest choices is white.
We’ve already looked at White Dove and Pure White, but if you prefer a clean or cool white, you’ll want to tread carefully. A great place to start (and stop) is Chantilly Lace. This is a relatively bright white without being super stark or cold. And while it has little warmth, you’d hardly know it!
How to Update Green Granite Countertops
While the green in the above 2000s granite countertop is relatively muted, Chantilly Lace can also humor darker, more saturated greens!
The island could look gorgeous painted a darker shade of green like Sherwin Williams Night Owl.
In the next image, the kitchen cabinets are painted a modern, medium-depth shade of green (lighter than forest or hunter green, but with a similar approach).
Chantilly Lace is a simple, clean partner to this palette, contrasting nicely with the green cabinets and golden toned oak wood flooring.
Compare my FAVORITE WARM WHITES in this CURATED COLOR BUNDLE!
PEOPLE ALSO ASK…
IS HUNTER GREEN COMING BACK IN STYLE?
Nope, it’s not in style now, and I don’t see it coming back anytime soon. Sure, green is popular on cabinets, kitchen islands, exteriors, and accent walls, and some are choosing hunter green for this, it’s not really ‘trendy’. Other shades of green are far more popular.
IS HUNTER GREEN A WARM OR COOL COLOR?
Hunter Green is a cool color. And while many refer to it as Forest Green, Hunter Green is a bit more muted, whereas Forest Green can be a bit brighter.
WHAT’S THE BEST PAINT COLOR TO UPDATE HUNTER GREEN?
Whether you have green bathroom fixtures, carpet, tiles, or countertop, WHITE is hands down the best color to modernize your room.
The 5 Fool-Proof White Paint Colors
READ MORE!
The Best ACCENT Tiles to Update Hunter Green
How to Update Green Granite Countertops
Ideas to Update Your Older Granite Countertop
NEED HELP?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consultations – I’d love to hear from you!
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2017, AWESOME AND FULLY UPDATED IN 2025
We bought a house with stone walls exterior, and the previous owners installed expensive forest green gutters and gutter guards. Please recommend exterior colors
We are buying a house with a master shower tiled in forest green and the bathtub is surrounded in the green tiles as well. The flooring is also green, a lighter shade. The cabinets are white. We looked into completely redoing the bathroom but it is just too expensive. How can we make this much green work and what color of flooring and countertop would compliment it? (I wish I could post a picture).
Thanks for your help!
Hi Stacy, thank you for the note! When it comes to stuff like this, I can’t really shoot too much off the cuff! I try to give as much info for free as I can on my site and from there if that doesn’t work, it might be time for some e-design help! It is affordable and fun! If that interests you, the link to that section is here… https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/product/create-your-own-bathroom/
~Kylie
Thank you so much for the great information and your fun, lively writing style! I just used Sherwin Williams Sea Salt in our family room – had a hunter green leather couch and northern exposure to work with – and I love the color!! Before reading your related articles I was lost….a million thank yous!!
Well what a lovely note, thank you! I’m so glad you found some happiness with Sea Salt – it is a beauty!
~Kylie
I just want to say thank you so very much for the wonderful advice on how to update paint colors for forest green! It is an amazing transformation! I’ll need more help now with the living room color but that’s another day!
You are most welcome Lisa, thank you for the note!
I am renting a furnished house that has emerald green wall to wall carpeting in the living room. I was wondering if I could buy an accent rug to fixate the eye around the couch area… I posted a link to the house. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/24-Loon-Cove-Rd-Alton-Bay-NH-03810/86714960_zpid/
I’d like to paint the dark wood and the walls (but havent received approval) and don’t even know what color I would choose….
I will be buying white floor to ceiling curtains for behind the couch and half curtains for the front windows.
Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thank you.
What color paint would you recommend with a hunter green lower halved tiled powder powder room?
I just found your site today. I have forest green carpet that will get ripped out one day!! I am living with it until I get my son out of college. I am so grateful for this post!
Would you use the same palette for exterior house colors?
just brought a home entire house has mud brown walls on bottom and forest green on top..Whole house is dark and ugly. unfortunately my husband has started liking the mud brown part. what do i need to do?
Hey Kylie, This and the other post on forest green have given me hope on living with our rental home forest green carpet and all counters trimmed in forest green. My question is there was a green in the color ‘blobs’ shown painted on a bathroom was but wasn’t identified. Thinking this might be the color for the kitchen/dining area (thank goodness not carpet but lots of green trimmed counters). Love your articles. Best wishes during holidays.
Wan
I got so excited when I seen that big green tub and sink! I thought there was going to be an updated version. I have these features as well as beige tile surrounding it. Top it off 90s style I even have gold fixtures. Considering oil brushed bronze for fixtures and cabinets knobs. I just cannot figure what to do with the awful oak cabinets themselves. Paint, stain or leave?
Hey Christine, sometimes it’s best to leave oak cabinets in place when other finishes are tricky. Either that or it’s ‘repeat what’s already existing’, meaning you’d paint the cabinets the same as the tub (ermmmm no) or a beige hue. PERSONALLY, I’d leave the oak. HOwever, for the metal finish, oil rubbed bronze will set you back a bit in time with the combo you have, I would lean MORE into polished nickel so that it’s low contrast and more passive or black if you prefer the contrast. To be honest, with the combo you have of green/beige, the gold actually does make sense!