The 15 Best Sage Green Paint Colors: Tried-&-True Favorites

When my clients are looking for calming, relaxing, stress-reducing paint colors, sage green is often mentioned. But as a homeowner doing your research, how do you figure out which one is best for your home? Warm sage green, cool sage, a slightly more saturated version, or one that’s muted and more gray-centric. 

You do your research, and then you sample like mad. For the first part of your colorful journey, I’m darn glad you’re here. 

Completely updated with new images and content in 2026

If you’re looking for some sage advice, literally and figuratively, you’re gonna get it in spades. Not only do I have the best, most popular shades of sage green, but I’m also not all talk. I’ve sampled most of these myself, have repeatedly suggested them to my clients (with great success), and have the paint color education to back these bad boys up.

But first, what is sage green?

Sage green is open to interpretation, as there are several types…

WARM SAGE GREEN: For a green to be warm, it needs to contain yellow. So, a warm sage green is a green-yellow with a neutral, gray base to calm it. 

COOL SAGE GREEN: For a green to be cool, it needs to contain blue. This means a cool sage green is a green-blue, with a neutral gray base, calming its color. However, if you base things on color science, there aren’t any cool sage greens, only warm ones that APPEAR cool (we’ll talk about that shortly). 

SOFT SAGE GREEN: Many of the colors we’re exploring are soft sage greens. These shades have a good gray base – not so much that your walls look gray, but enough to take a bite out of sage green’s potentially colorful edge. Soft sage greens can be warm or cool (in my experience, the most popular ones are warm). 

The defining features of sage green are green and gray, along with a certain depth (not too light or dark). 

However, the tricky thing is that not all warm sage green paint colors APPEAR very warm at all. 

WHY DO WARM SAGE GREENS OFTEN LOOK COOL?

There are a range of reasons, but these are the top 3…

1. Even though it’s warm in the yellow-green family, the yellow isn’t strong enough. Our eyes have a hard time seeing small amounts of color and often interpret them as blue. 
2. Then, combined with a room’s finishes, exposure, and other factors, it appears cool. 
3. When paired with warm finishes, such as golden oak or a beige sofa, even a warm sage green can SEEM cool. This is called simultaneous contrast, where it might look ‘cooler than expected’ because of how warm its partner is. 

Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White walls with sage green accent colors.

LIGHT VS. DARK SAGE GREEN PAINT COLORS (USING LRV)

As for depth, not every green-gray qualifies as a sage.

LIGHT SAGE GREEN: Light sage greens (whether warm or cool) have LRVS between 50-60 (approx). Once a green color is lighter, it can be perceived as more ‘light green’ or ‘minty’. 

To cover my bases, I’m sharing some LIGHT sage greens near the end of this blog post. 

MEDIUM TO DARK SAGE GREEN: There aren’t any traditionally DARK sage greens, as the darkest sage green is approximately 30. If you explore darker shades, you lose the dusky, soft look you might expect with a sage green. Instead, you get a ‘darker shade of green‘. 

Of course, these numbers are open to interpretation – they’re just a ballpark range to aim for as your PERCEPTION dictates a lot. 

The most popular shades of sage green paint have LRVs between 35 to 50 (give or take five).

And as much as I love hearing myself talk (and type), it’s time to check out these beauties…

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS OYSTER BAY 6206

Oyster Bay is pretty shuckin’ gorgeous. With an LRV of 44, it has moderate depth without weighing down a reasonably well-lit room. If you love a more organic, earthy sage green, Oyster Bay could be far too cool-toned for you. Now, this might sound strange, given that its DNA shows it as a warm shade of sage green. 

However, as mentioned earlier, the way a color is built vs. how it appears in real homes with real lighting can be opposite. I’ve suggested and used Oyster Bay many times and have rarely seen it look warm – it almost always appears as a cool shade of sage green. 

Sample & compare a range of greens in your home to see how they look! 

Sherwin Williams Retreat (which we’re looking at shortly) | Benjamin Moore Pleasant Valley | Benjamin Moore White Dove

Personally…I find Oyster Bay looks a bit too green-blue to hit my idea of a perfect sage green hue. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but in my eyes, sage green appears just a bit warmer. But you do you, boo! If this is YOUR type of sage green, get a sample and have some fun! 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Oyster Bay.

2. BENJAMIN MOORE SAYBROOK SAGE HC-114

Saybrook Sage is an awesome color if you want warm sage green with a bit of commitment to color…

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Saybrook Sage…

Saybrook Sage has an LRV of 45.46 (based on BM’s website), making it a light-medium paint color.

For some reason, Saybrook Sage is super popular with the 50+ crowd – I don’t know why; maybe because it’s more likely to appear warm compared to a lot of others (which still doesn’t really explain it). 

If you compare Saybrook Sage to some of the more muted sages on this page, it might seem overly colorful. Don’t judge it by comparison alone, as it can be a stunner. All you have to do is compare it to a stronger shade of green and you’ll see its soft sage green hue coming through. 

A few great comparisons for Saybrook Sage include Benjamin Moore Croquet and Sherwin Williams Willow Tree (along with several other options on this page).

3. BENJAMIN MOORE AGANTHUS GREEN 472

Aganthus Green sounds like it’s straight out of the Willy Wonka movie. However, give this sumptuous sage green a chance, and you might find yourself craving it more than chocolate.

Now, the above image might suggest that Aganthus Green is a cool sage-green paint color. Nuh-uh. Based on color science, it’s a warm sage green paint color that can pick up an almost organic vibe. But like many warm sages, it often appears cool. 

Along with this earthy, celadon-green vibe, Aganthus Green has an LRV of 50.37. This makes it a light-medium color, winking at the light-sage-green world, and one of the lighter shades on this page. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Aganthus Green…

If you love Aganthus Green, compare it to October Mist (coming up next).

4. BENJAMIN MOORE OCTOBER MIST 1495

Hands down, October Mist is my favorite warm sage green paint color. With a soft gray backdrop, this color is one of the most popular sage greens for single rooms and accent walls. 

With an LRV of 46.54, October Mist is in the light-medium range. But while it has a bit more meat on its bones than some of the previous shades, it still can appear with a beautiful softness.

Now, for my idea of a good time (other than Baileys in my coffee…or coffee in my Baileys), compare October Mist to Aganthus Green. Notice the shift from Aganthus, which comes off a touch cooler compared to October Mist, which has a stronger, earthier, warmer approach. That said, even this color can appear cooler than expected! 

Remember, sage greens can seem cooler compared to warmer finishes (as well as exposure and other factors). 

A common comparison is Benjamin Moore Saybrook Sage (#2) and October Mist.

• Depth-wise, they’re almost the same, with Saybrook’s LRV of 46.54 and October Mist’s 45.46. Suuuure, this makes Saybrook Sage a touch lighter, but fractionally. 
• With their approach to sage green, or green in general, this is where you’ll see a shift in temperature. Saybrook Sage contains more green, yellow, and less gray, making it a bit more colorful (higher chroma) than October Mist.
• With all of their color readings considered, and the way paint colors most often appear in real homes with real lighting, October Mist most often appears a bit warmer than Saybrook Sage, even though it has a tiny wink less yellow (overstatement). 

My FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore October Mist

5. SHERWIN WILLIAMS AUSTERE GRAY 6184

If you love sage green paint colors that are a more muted blend of green and gray, Austere Gray could be your color. 

Here it is in a dining room, looking warm, while still carrying a heavy gray backpack… 

With an LRV of 51, Austere Gray is in the light-medium range, but it’s on the subtle side of it. With its increased gray, be careful using it in a dark room. Dark rooms often suit colors with a bit more color (chroma) vs. less. 

Get the best paint color advice with Kylie M’s Online Paint Color Consulting! 

Here’s Austere Gray in an east-facing living room looking more like a blue-green-gray blend...

As with all sage greens that can lean warm or cool, Austere Gray changes its tune from room to room (even wall to wall). Compare the images above and below to see this glorious shift. These photos were taken in my friend’s home – same home, different looks! 

If Austere Gray is up your alley, definitely compare it to Contented and Comfort Gray, which you’ll learn about shortly. 

6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS CLARY SAGE 6178

Does Sherwin Williams more or less kick Benjamin Moore’s toosh when it comes to the best sage green paint colors? Yes. While BM has legends like October Mist, SW has some pretty badass and beautiful shades – like Clary Sage. If I have another daughter (medically impossible, but anyway), that’s what I’d name her. Then when she’s older, I’d dye her hair green, for sure. 

Our girl, Clary Sage, definitely has a glorious green hue. This green is wrapped up in a pretty, muted warmth, so it’s not overbearing with its yellow-green hue. 

As for depth, we wouldn’t normally ask a girl that, but she sits at 41, making her a medium-depth. 

7. SHERWIN-WILLIAMS ACACIA HAZE 9132

Is Acacia Haze a sage green, or just a regular ole green paint color with a cool-appearing blue-gray backdrop? It’s up to you and your perception.

That said, put it in a room with the right (or wrong) surrounding finishes and exposure, and it can look shockingly blue-green…

Blue, green, or sage – no matter what you call it, it looks darn pretty! 

More often, Acacia Haze appears way more balanced than shown above. However, it demonstrates how important it is to SAMPLE AND COMPARE a range of colors in your room!

Here it is compared to the cool hue of GE Cafe White appliances (which are a bugger to coordinate colors with, btw)…

Acacia Haze has an LRV of 32, putting it well into the medium depths. If you ask me, it’s a bit dark and slightly too green-blue appearing for my usual sage needs. That said, with this increased depth, I often suggest it for well-lit exteriors and accent walls. 

In this next image, my client was sure she wanted a brighter green for her vanity (as shown with the samples). I explained to her how her current cabinet color, Acacia Haze, is a beautiful choice with her floor tile…

8. FARROW & BALL LICHEN No.19

lf you’re looking for the best sage green paint color from Farrow & Ball, look no further than Lichen. Now, F&B are stingy about sharing their LRVs – that’s being generous. Based on my color readings (I have 2 different tools), its LRV is about 34. 

Lichen is a beautifully natural-looking sage green, popular with those who like their sage with a visible warmth. That said, give it the right environment, and a slightly cool vibe can creep up on you. 

By the way, if you want a similar shade in Benjamin Moore (as F&B isn’t easily available and can be pricey), you have to check out Benjamin Moore Louisburg Green – seriously, they’re ridiculously similar. 

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Lichen…

9. BENJAMIN MOORE CHEYENNE GREEN 1502

When my client sent me photos of her Cheyenne Green cabinets, I was green with envy – even a little sage green. 

FUN FACT: Cheyenne Green is also known as Benjamin Moore Nantucket Gray HC-111. Thank you, BM, for giving the same color different names, so we can all second-guess ourselves. 

Cheyenne Green with Benjamin Moore Fog Mist, a gentle greige, on the walls. 

Cheyenne Green is one of the more organic, muted, sage green paint colors. In fact, some people find it too muddy to be a real sage green, but you do you, baby boo. 

With its LRV of 39.83, it’s a medium-depth shade with a gentle softness. 

Here is Cheyenne Green/Nantucket Gray in a reasonably dark den, looking gloriously green, and cooler than it usually looks…

Sherwin Williams Best Greige Paint Colors

Yet here it is, another room (in the same home) looking softer and less green, but still not crazy warm…

I’m like a broken record, I know…

Always sample a range of similar colors in your own home to see how they compare. Look at them throughout the day, on different walls, with different lighting. 

10. SHERWIN WILIAMS WILLOW TREE 7741

Willow Tree often comes under the radar, as it’s not located near the other popular sage greens in the fan deck. While you’ll find no shortage of gorgeous greens alongside Willow Tree…they just aren’t as sage-inspired. But don’t underestimate this badass beauty, its roots run deep (get it?…).

Willow Tree has a really neat, kind of dusky appeal, while still doing the job of ‘sage’. Here it is being compared to Sherwin Williams Escape Gray (it didn’t make the short list) and Benjamin Moore Imperial Gray, which is #notsagegreenatall…

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Willow Tree’s LRV is 41, making it a soft, gentle, medium depth. If you’re looking for a more olive-inspired green, look at SW Green Sprout, which is right above it in the fan deck. In fact, comparing the 2 shows you how sage Willow Tree can be! 

Are you looking for a LIGHTER shade of sage? The Best Light Sage Green Paint Colors

11. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SOFT SAGE 9647

Soft Sage is a gentle, muted approach to sage green (its name serves it well). Found in the Emerald Designer Edition, Soft Sage has an LRV of 50, so it sits on the higher end of what I think sage looks like.

Here’s your Peel & Stick of Soft Sage…

The Best Light Green Paint Colors

Personally, this is one of my favorite sage greens, which is surprising, as it isn’t as warm as some others that I love. It must be its low chroma (increased gray/less green-yellow) and depth that hits my happy place, making it a super calming approach to sage.

12. SHERWIN WILLIAMS EVERGREEN FOG 9130

Evergreen Fog hit the streets running in 2022 and hasn’t stopped since. Is it sage? Is it green? Don’t know, don’t care – call it what you want, it’s gorgeous. 

The Best Blue & Green Bedroom Paint Colors | This bedroom is north-facing

Evergreen Fog has an LRV of 30. While it’s darker than Acacia Haze, because it has less blue, its depth doesn’t put me off as much (because it’s all about me…right?). While going any darker makes a color like this less likely to look sage green, this is the perfect sage green for many of my Online Paint Color Consulting clients. 

Compare these kitchen cabinets (below) to the accent wall in the previous bedroom. This just shows how some of these greens can change in response to their environment.

While Evergreen Fog might be a bit much for an entire room (unless you have good lighting), it’s an awesome accent wall color and also fabulous for cabinets.

13. MAGNOLIA SILVERADO SAGE

I never dabble in Magnolia colors, but if you do, check it out. As shown below, my client has Silverado Sage on her weeeee lil’ pantry door (along with what we chose for her walls and cabinets – Pure White and Agreeable Gray), and I fell in love.

I’d link to its main page, but because I’m in Canada, Magnolia Home won’t give me access (insert heavy blinking and sighing HERE). However, you can get it at McCormick’s Paints.

The Best Paint Colors for Your Home’s INTERIOR Doors 

Silverado Sage has a good depth (technically, it’s called ‘meat on the bones,’ but I like to keep things simple). With an LRV of almost 28, this baddy is on the looooow end of the range, for sure, but offers a beautiful approach to sage.

14. SHERWIN WILLIAMS COASTAL PLAIN 6192

If your idea of the perfect sage green color is heavy on the green, have I GOT the color for YOU! 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Coastal Plain…

Coastal Plain is gorgeous. While most of my clients don’t find it overbearing, it’s definitely color-forward, with the gray being a backseat driver. I’m anxiously waiting to get some good AFTER photos of this color in action! 

More so than some others, Coastal Plain flexes its color muscles more, going between appearing like a cool sage and a warm one. 

With an LRV of 37, Coastal Plain sits in the ample bosom of the medium-range. Again, once you go darker with this type of color, it starts to look more ‘dark green’ than sage. 

15. SHERWIN WILLIAMS COMFORT GRAY 6205

As comforting as it sounds, Comfort Gray is a gentle, soothing shade of green. Is it sage green, though? You tell me, but it’s close enough to sample and explore. 

The same could be said of all the colors shown below. Yet, for some people, these greens that are heavy on the gray are their ‘perfect’ idea of sage green. 

You’ll find most of these explained in my blog post, “The Best Green-Gray Paint Colors.”

Comfort Gray has an LRV of 54, so it’s on the edge of the light and light-medium ranges. This makes it hot for single rooms, especially bedrooms (that said, blues and greens, in general, are popular colors for bedrooms). They can also be pretty in bathrooms…

I’d be curious to know the Kelvin ratings of these light bulbs, since this bathroom doesn’t have any natural light. Remember, your Kelvins can totally change how your paint color looks! 

Yay, more samples…

REVIEWS: SW Egret White | SW Modern Gray | SW Requisite Gray | SW Versatile Gray. As for Oyster Bay, it was the first one listed in this blog post! 

In my consulting, Comfort Gray comes up a lot, as I often recommend it for rooms and exteriors. This is thanks to its depth and its approach to color. Sure, scientifically it’s a warm green, but don’t expect it to appear that way in the average home.

Comfort Gray most often looks like a green-gray blend with a whack of gray for good luck. 

Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray Color Review

THE 4 BEST LIGHT SAGE GREEN PAINT COLORS

As we chatted about earlier, there’s a line where a sage green paint color is so light that it loses its sage appeal. Instead, it just looks…green. While the darker greens come on a lot hotter, the light sage line is much fainter.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here’s the place for any random quandaries, queries, or concerns.

ARE THERE LIGHTER SAGE GREENS OR DO THEY LOOK MINTY?

Worrying that your sage green could look mint is a valid concern. However, it’s more of a concern in the lighter shades of sage than in the darker ones. That said, there are many GORGEOUS light sage paint colors that aren’t mint-toned at ALL. 

WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM COLOR WITH SAGE GREEN?

There’s no 100% answer, as it greatly depends on the sage green you choose, along with other finishes in the room. Also, most sage greens suit many white paint colors, and it depends more on the look and contrast YOU want. Generally speaking, the best whites to sample are…

• Benjamin Moore White Dove is a balanced, warm shade of white that works well with a range of greens. 
• Sherwin Williams Alabaster is another soft, warm white that can play well with sage green hues. 
• For a brighter, cleaner contrast, check out colors like Benjamin Moore Simply White, Chantilly Lace, and Sherwin Williams White Snow. 
• Sherwin Williams Pure White can be a happy medium between all of the white worlds! 

IS SAGE GREEN STILL IN STYLE OR IS IT DATED?

Sage green is definitely still in style. While it’s not a fit for every home, my clients are still asking for and using a wide range of sage greens on their walls, cabinets, exteriors, and front doors. 

Also, some home styles color certain colors longer, in a more timeless way. For example, a home in the authentic Modern Farmhouse style can suit sage green, no matter the color trends. The same goes for some coastal, beachy, cottage, woodsy, and lakeside homes. 

WHAT ARE THE BEST SAGE GREEN CABINET COLORS?

Funny you should ask that…

Sage green is a popular color for painted kitchen cabinets, built-ins, and bathroom vanities. Whereas previous trends embraced the darker side of green, many are opting for lighter, muted shades that cater to the sage end of things. 

This is why I have a blog post dedicated to this topic: The Best Sage Green Cabinet Colors. 

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAGE GREEN, GRAY-GREEN, & OLIVE GREEN?

Great question. With all of the color families and groupings, it’s easy to get confused. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what you call your green, so long as you’re madly in love with it! However, to help in your search…

SAGE GREEN: A combination of green and gray, along with a limit on how light or dark it can go. Many light greens aren’t seen as being ‘sage’ green’ and the same goes with dark green paint colors. 

GREEN-GRAY: There’s no big difference between sage green and gray green when it comes down to it. 

• One small difference is that you can get a very light green-gray or a very dark one – you can’t do that with sage green. 
• Both can be warm or cool-appearing; however, cool green-grays might ACTUALLY have blue in them, whereas sage greens only appear that way. 

As for GRAY-GREEN, putting the gray first makes it the boss (which is also why I walk ahead of Tim). This means you’re looking at gray paint colors with green undertones – way different from sage green. 

OLIVE GREEN: Olive greens are warm, muddy, somewhat colorful shades of green. Sure, they can still be organic and natural-looking, but they tend to look richer, warmer, and often darker than sage green. 

WHAT COLORS GO BEST WITH SAGE GREEN?

Oh boy, where do I even START? While it can depend on each color’s particular depth and intensity (saturation), there’s a wild and wonderful range of colors that look good in a color palette with sage…

• OFF-WHITE: Soft and subtle off-whites like Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White, White Duck, and Shoji White.
• SOME MUTED TAUPE: Muted taupes can be interesting if you like the play of green and violet-pink undertones.
• PURPLE: Some purple paint colors can be pretty accents to sage green, more often in home decor than walls. 
• DARK BLUE: Navy blue can be an interesting partner to sage green, especially with soft warm whites and creamy off-whites.
• BEIGE: Any number of beiges, both lighter and a bit darker can be interesting partners to sage green. However, they usually need to be lighter than the sage you’re using. 
• GRAY-GREENS: Muted shades of gray or even warm ones like Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter and Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray.

Seriously, I could go on and on…and on.

SUMMARY

• While many sage green paint colors appear cool, they’re most often warm greens, but their environment changes their look. 
• The most popular sage greens have an LRV between 35 and 50 (give or take). 
• Benjamin Moore’s most popular sage green paint color is October Mist. Sherwin Williams is Evergreen Fog. 
• Many of my clients are requesting sage green for their kitchen cabinets, but they’re also popular for single rooms (bedrooms, in particular), exteriors, and front doors. 
• Sage greens suit a super wide range of white paint colors – there are few limits.

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Get the best paint color advice with Kylie M’s Online Paint Color Consulting!