Spring literally brings color back into our lives—from blooming flowers to brightening skies, the growth of new grass and sprouting trees reveals a shade that looks just as good indoors as it does outside: the gray of winter mixed delicately with the green of spring. This color—call it gray-green, sage, or pale green—embodies the essence of renewal and tranquility, what the season is all about.
The gray-green of this spring provides a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, texture and tone, awakening and dormancy. It’s the calming color you imagine emanating from our gardens and shooting up from the once-frozen ground. It’s also the perfect shade to bring into your home, whether it's via paint on your walls or through decor items like throw pillows, blankets, or rugs.
“The sense of wellbeing that we gain from time outside in the natural world has resulted in a desire to re-create this sense of connection and positivity in our homes, driving a renewed love for greens of all hues, as well as biophilic design,” Ruth Mottershead, the creative director of Little Greene Paints, told BHG in a previous article.
If anyone can prove any color deserves to have a moment, it's home and lifestyle icon Martha Stewart. In a recent post about hosting her annual Easter lunch, she showed off her entryway walls and door painted in the serene shade.
In Stewart's countryside home, the hallway effortlessly leads you from the outside to the indoors—as you come in from the colorful yard, you’re transported to an equally calming environment, immediately setting an inviting tone.
Gray-green is versatile enough to bridge the gap between a neutral color and an earthy tone, offering a softer alternative to a bold statement wall. It can serve as a backdrop to a variety of design aesthetics: It brings visual interest to a home with minimalist furniture and allows maximalist design to stand out. With its brightness, moodiness, and depth, it doesn't take away from your design palette but also adds personality to your space.
“One of the wonderful characteristics of green is that its makeup means it is very versatile,” Mottershead said. “Green can be easily used in many interior spaces because of its neutrality without being beige.”