Green Paint

At COAT, we've done the legwork to curate the perfect selection of green paints for UK lighting conditions.

Sage Green Paint

With a natural grey edge, sage green paint is always popular. Try lighter shades like Yard Party, or lean into really grubby sage greens like The Trail and Jojo's Green.

Olive Green Paint

Olive green is naturally warmer than most, with a touch of yellow pigment. Deep olive shades like The Tobacconist will warm up even the coolest of north-facing spaces.

Emerald Green Paint

Rich emerald shades are always a popular choice. Jewel-like, they are often brighter than more muted sage or olive green shades, and lend themselves to well-lit spaces.

Warm Green Paint

Warm greens have a touch of yellow pigment, to knock out any freshness. Pan and Ode to Toad are great examples of warm greens, which can work especially will in north-facing or dimly lit spaces. The Tobacconist is a bold choice, but COAT"s most popular warm green. Fresher greens like Detox or Rathbone Place have blue undertones, and more grey - so can feel cooler.

The size of the room shouldn't dictate which green paint shade you choose. Think more about the lighting conditions, and how you want to feel in the space.

For a small room with little natural light, you could embrace the small size with a warm dark green shade - and create a coccoon effect. This can be particularly effective in small bedrooms of cosy living rooms, where relaxing is important.

If your room is small, but with plenty of natural light - you could opt for a pale or mid green shade like The Trail or Next Tuesday. These shades will feel deliberate and classy, without feeling oppressive.

To pick the right green paint shade for your space, just think about how you want to feel.

If you want a deeply cosy space then go for mid to dark greens. Grounded in nature, these green shades will make any space feel comforting.

If you're after a classic refined look, then mid sage greens are usually a no-brainer in any space. Colours like The Trail, Yard Party, and even Jojo's Green are good options.

Always check your compass, though. Opt for warmer yellow-based greens in north facing spaces, and anything you like in southerly ones. Similarly, east facing spaces will get flooded with morning light so you can go darker in spaces like kitchens and dining rooms where you spend the mornings.

You can easily create beautiful schemes by following a few simple interior design rules.

The 60:30:10 Rule

Interior designers swear by this rule for creating balanced colour schemes. If you've found your perfect green, then use this for 60% of the space - typically the walls. Next, choose a similar shade for 30% of the space - often the ceiling, or woodwork. Choosing a shade lighter or darker than yours usually works best. COAT's colour chart is arranged in columns, to make this super easy.

Finally, choose an obvious contrast for the remaining 10%. This creates distinction, which helps with balancing the room. Against green, this could be an off-white with slight green undertones. Or alternatively choose something from the other side of the colour wheel, like a burnt red or orange. A pop of any red-based shade on detail or even in furnishings, will look incredible.

Green paint is always great in a living room. Choose sage green for a natural feel that's perfectly timeless. Popular sage greens at COAT are The Trail, and Yard Party.

If you're looking for a timeless scheme with a slight sense of drama, then choose a deep olive green shade like Pan or The Tobacconist. These yellow-based greens are warm and sophisticated, for the perfect grown-up living room.

Green is the perfect choice for a bedroom. As humans we're deeply connected to nature, so the perfect green shade can feel deeply soothing.

For east-facing bedrooms, you can choose a darker green shade like deep olive or emerald green. The morning light will flood in, creating an energising space early doors.

For west-facing bedrooms, you could opt for a paler shade as these won't get much morning light - and nobody wants to make it harder to get out of bed.

Pale or mid green shades are best for kids rooms and nurseries. Green is a calming colour, with a deep connection to nature - so it’s ideal for creating a sanctuary for the little ones. By choosing lighter shades like Detox, Kind Regards or Yard Party - so avoiding anything bright - you won’t introduce too much visual stimulation. Instead, the space will feel serene and perfectly soothing.

Sage green is still incredibly popular. It's a timeless shade that's never out of fashion - because it's never in fashion. Pale sage green shades like Next Tuesday and Yard Party are muted enough to work in almost every space, whatever the lighting conditions. For south facing rooms, darker sage green paints like Park Life and Jojo's Green will sit beautifully with the warmer light.

You can absolutely use green paint on exteriors, and it makes a particularly nice front door choice. Contemporary takes on traditional dark green like Park Life or Nomad are deeply coloured and tasteful, without being bright.

Green is a timeless paint choice for furniture and kitchen cupboards. Sage green is a particularly popular choice, with colours like Jojo’s Green and Park Life working really well as timeless options. Choose an Eggshell finish paint for furniture and kitchen cupboards, and be sure to sand and prepare properly - choosing a multi-purpose primer for the best adhesion and final result.

You can buy green paint samples online from most paint companies via their websites. Unlike most, COAT offers clever Peel & Sick samples, which are painted with real COAT paint and 100% accurate. You might prefer a small tester pot to check the quality of our paint, too.

The best greens for both facing spaces are those with warmer undertones. Northern light is stable, but cooler and more blue in tone than southerly light. Choosing a green shade like Yard Party, Ode to Toad or The Tobacconist , with warm undertones, will balance the cooler light in north facing rooms, helping the space feel homely and balanced.