As a certified color expert, I spend most of my days helping homeowners sift through endless paint chips and talking them off the ledge of second-guessing (because trust me, we’ve all been there). But my love for New England color didn’t start in a color studio. I grew up in a home on the Historic Registry, surrounded by quirky charm and old-house soul. And later, during our own multi-year Vermont farmhouse renovation, I learned just how transformative paint can be. The right color doesn’t just change a room,  it makes an older home feel warm, grounded, and true to its bones.

Over the years, I’ve noticed I return to the same tried-and-true hues again and again. Not because I’m stuck in a rut, but because these colors work beautifully with New England architecture and light. They feel timeless, cozy, and instantly welcoming. Today, I’m sharing those five go-to colors with you, plus the color principles behind why they’re so reliable.

Photo Credit: Crisp Architects

What Paint Colors Are Best for a New England Home?

You might be thinking, Why would paint colors behave differently here? I promise, they do. New England homes come with a special set of characteristics that influence how colors show up on your walls. Here’s what makes this region unique:

• Cooler, softer natural light. Many of my clients, especially those in rural areas, also get strong green reflections from surrounding woods, fields, and mountains especially in the summer months.
• Antique or unpainted wood tones. Older homes often feature warm, rich wood that plays beautifully with some colors and completely clashes with others. Add to that slate tile floors in the mudroom and brick fireplaces, and you have distinct russet browns and reddish earth tones that must be considered when picking paint colors.
• Classic architecture. Colonial lines, farmhouse bones, millwork, and low ceilings give older homes charm but can also create darker spaces. The right paint color can enhance this character instead of fighting against it.
• Major seasonal shifts. Summer sun washes colors out; winter brings cool shadows that make some hues look minty, dingy or muddy. The goal is to choose colors that ride these swings gracefully.
• Bright whites can fall flat. If clean modern whites feel harsh, sterile, or oddly gray in your home, you’re not imagining it. Luckily, there’s a workaround.
• Timeless New England style favors earthy, desaturated color. Ou color palette in New England is rooted in Colonial Pigments. As a result, low-chroma colors (aka dirty colors) and historically inspired hues feel naturally at home here (and no, you don’t have to stick to the “Historic” fan deck to get the look!)

With that foundation in mind, here are the five paint colors I recommend over and over for New England homes.

1. Warm, Creamy Off-Whites

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but one of my most reliable creamy off whites that looks gorgeous (even in the darkest spaces) is Sherwin Williams Dover White. This is the white paint I go to again and again for ceilings, trim and white walls.

Sherwin Williams Dover White. Photo Credit: @hatcliffconstruction

Why We Love Dover White By Sherwin Williams

• One of the biggest mistakes I made when we bought our 1790s farmhouse was painting the walls of our dark dining room White Dove by Benjamin Moore. What I didn’t know was that certain white paints look terrible in dark spaces! Silly me, I was just trying to brighten it up.
• What I learned in my Color Expert Certification traing is that this is a common misconception. In fact, bright whites can look flat or dingy in low light, but creamy whites glow in dark interiors with small windows or porches overhanging. Warm whites with yellow undertones can even handle the cool northern light we get in the winter!
• Now I know that Dover White is stunning in low light rooms. It has the same high LRV (83) as White Dove but carries more warmth, perfect for darker New England rooms.
• It plays beautifully with antique furniture, patina-rich wood, and traditional trim.
• While it isn’t stark, sterile, or overly yellow it also feels classic, cozy, and quietly historic.
• I highly suggest considering a warm off-white like Dover White as a softer alternative for trim when you want white but not builder-basic white.

Best for: Trim, ceiling and anywhere you want to use white. It looks great in foyers, on kitchen cabinets, living rooms, bedrooms and hallways.

2. Soft Beiges, Taupes & Warm Greiges

I feel like a broken record sometimes, but I will happily admit that Sherwin Williams Neutral Ground is one of my most recomended paint shades when coming up with clients home color combination . I literally cannot count the number of clients for whom I have specified this creamy warm neutral beige paint color!

But don’t run away when you hear me say “beige” this is much softer and lighter than the beige paints of yore. This is much lighter and not as intensely yellow of the beiges of the early 2000s.

Neutral Ground on The walls with darker contrast trim in a mudroom. Photo: @buildingacasehouse

Why It Works

• Neutral Ground handles both summer’s strong directional light and winter’s cool blue shadows.
• A higher LRV (70) brightens darker homes with low ceilings and small windows.
• Feels grounding and warm during long winter months.
• Doesn’t clash with earthy fixed elements like brick and antique floors.
• A perfect backdrop for the muted greens, reds, and blues often found in historic New England homes. Having a workhorse neutral like Neutral Ground is key when using an accented neutral scheme for interior design.

Best For: living rooms, dining rooms, parlors, historic trim moments

3. Earthy Sage Greens

Examples: Benjamin Moore Nantucket Gray (shown above in my office) or Sherwin Williams Grassland

Why It Works

• Soft, muted, low-chroma greens feel naturally at home in New England’s landscapes and historic architecture.
• Timeless without drifting into “colonial kitsch.”
• Beautiful for cabinetry, wainscotting, and even exterior trim.
• Adds color while keeping the overall palette calm and refined.
• Looks great with muddy and complex undertones of fixed elements like stone, brick and aged wood.

Best For: mudrooms, kitchens, libraries, guest rooms

4. Dusty Gray-Blues

When I meet with my clients before our color consulting appointments, I always make sure to ask what colors they are drawn to. Three quarters of the time the answer is often greens or blues. When I sift back through the paint schedules I have created, these dusty blues come up time and time again.

Examples: Brewster Gray, Wales Gray, Templeton Gray, Puritan Gray (all Benjamin Moore)

Brewster Gray by Benjamin Moore is a perfect example of a New England paint color that can be used on walls, trim or accents and always feels timeless.

Why It Works

• All of these above mentioned blue gray paint colors have enough weight for traditional millwork but stay soft and livable thanks to gentle graying.
• These mid tones vibe effortlessly with historic wood, clear old-growth pine planks, aged oak, even yellow-leaning maple.
• Look New England coastal, farmhouse, or traditional depending on your styling.
• I love these colors for reverse trim in spaces with lots of ornamental woodwork.

Best For: Stairwells with tons of woodwork, bathrooms, bedrooms, mudrooms, breezeways, Federal-era home’s foyers and stately home offices.

5. Earthy, Desaturated Reds (Brick Tones)

While red is not a paint color that comes to mind for most people, earthy brick colored pigments are traditional early New England and always look at home in the classic homes of the North East. I use these red paint colors in moderation for my paint schemes. The key is to use them for a pop of contrast!
Examples: Benjamin Moore Audubon Russet, Walnut and Boston Brick

A rusty red bench in a mudroom gives a pop of contrast. Photo: @sanfordcollectiveinteriors

Why It Works

• Browned, earthy reds with warm undertones feel rooted and authentic, never costume-y like blue or purple-leaning burgundies. I love those that look like they were created using natural pigments.
• Provide the “pop” most color schemes need while still looking natural and historic.
• Perfect for unexpected moments of charm: interior doors, stair risers, a kitchen island, or built-ins.
• Echo classic New England barn reds and brick tones.

Best For: front doors, dining rooms, interior doors, built-ins

How to Choose the Right Color for Your New England Home

Keep these principles in mind as you narrow your options:

• Pay attention to light direction, it changes everything. North facing rooms and those with small windows or low ceilings get less warm direct light and the colors will need to be adjusted accordingly.
• Consider your wood undertones, they’re part of the palette whether you want them to be or not. A lot of older wood floors and beams have orange tones which pair well with blues and greens but clash with taupes. Keep that in mind when you are picking your main neutral and your highlight colors.
• Look down. Your floors matter more than most people realize. As do the other fixed elements in your home including brick, stone and slate.
• Your personal style determines how muted or saturated you should go. While traditional New England colors are based on colonial era pigments, if you prefer a bit more saturation, the key is keeping it consistant throughtout your whole home palette.

The post The Essential New England Color Palette: 5 Foolproof Paint Colors for Classic Homes appeared first on A Season For Home.

If you’ve been scrolling paint decks for the perfect gray green that isn’t too cold or too yellow, put this one on your list to test. In this post, I’ll break down everything you need to know about Creekside Green Benjamin Moore: its undertones, LRV, where to use it, what whites pair best, and even a few alternatives to check out. I’ll also give you my honest opinion about how it actually looks on the wall.

What Color Is Benjamin Moore Creekside Green (2141-40)?

BM Creekside Green 2141-40(also sometimes referred to as Creek Side Green) is a medium-depth green gray paint color with a hint of warmth that keeps it from feeling too chilly. It lands somewhere between green and gray, leaning slightly sage but still neutral enough to work as a backdrop color.

It has loads of chalky white pigment and gray blended into it to make it feel soft and historical.

TREND ALERT: “Chalky” is a term that is popping up again and again in the paint world! Benjamin Moore’s color of the year 2026, Silouhette is the perfect example of this huge trend in paint right now. Basically, Silhouhette is to brown as charcoal is to black. If this analogy is working for you, then apply it to Creekside green! Creekside Green is to Green as Charcoal is to Black!

If all this talk of depth, warmth and chalky tones has your head swimming. What you need to know is that in real life, Creekside Green has that earthy subtlety for when you want a green that doesn’t scream my 8-year old helped me pick out this green. It’s muted and natural—with a silvery quality of garden fresh sage.

LRV of Creekside Green Benjamin Moore

The LRV (Light Reflectance Value) of Creekside Green is 31.43, which puts it in the darker midtone range. It absorbs a good deal of light instead of bouncing it around, so it feels more grounded and dimensional than a lighter gray green (like October Mist.)

In bright daylight, it shows more of its green side. In dimmer spaces, it leans deeper and moodier, almost like a weathered gray with a green cast. If you want a color that changes throughout the day, this one definitely does.

While an LRV of 31 sounds really dark, I want to reassure you it is not going to feel oppressive! I originally discovered Creekside Green because I was looking for a lighter version of Antique Pewter by Ben Moore.

Undertones of BM Creekside Green

Creekside Green is a gray green paint with a hidden orange undertone. Yes you read that right- orange! Undertone is where paint color gets tricky, and why I find paint so fascinating! When I analized Creekside Green’s base color on a digital value, I learned that it comes from a blend of orangish yellow and gray, not green at all.

Paint Color Nerd Note: Nantucket Gray, is another paint color with this odd hidden orange undertone. While I don’t have access to the acutal recipes from Ben Moore I do know that when I was studying painting in college I often made greens like this by blending yellow and black. My guess is, this is essentially the same thing. It is an interesting way the color pigments mix and interact- but with house paint pigments!

What this means in real life is, Creekside Green Benjamin Moore appears like a muted sage green paint color. And if you’ve read this far, you already are aware there are tons of green paint colors that can be called muted and sage. But Creekside Green will never feel sophmoric, brash, childish, garish or bright. It will always feel sophisticated, nuanced, complex and curated.

These qualities are what make this color so interesting. In my apartment kitchen the paint color looks entirely different on different surfaces. The light warms it up a bit in some areas and in others it looks much cooler. I like it because it never feels flat or one-dimensional. It shifts, but always stays tasteful.

Where to Use It in Your Home

This color works best when you give it something to play off of. I used super dark brown trim and hung cast iron on the wall for contrast. Here are some other ways to consider using BM Creekside Green:

• Kitchen cabinets: This color looks amazing in our apartment kitchen paired with unlacquered brass and blackish green soapstone counters. We used it on the walls with taupe cabinets, but the reverse could easily work!
• Bedrooms: I love a deep green bedroom. Creekside will give a cozy, cocoon-like feel without going too dark. I’d love to see it with natural linen and oatmeal colored textiles.
• Bathrooms: BM Creekside Green pairs beautifully with warm marble or quartz, basic white tile, or mixed metals.
• Built-ins and millwork: I especially like darker mid-tone paint colors like this on millwork, bookshelves or a fireplace surround.
• Mudrooms or entryways – it hides dirt and adds character. Use it for your cubbies or built ins!

Whites to Pair with Creekside Green Benjamin Moore

Since Creekside Green is lacking saturation or what is sometimes called a dirty color, I like to put it together with warm off-whites without much saturation. These are safe bets:

• Benjamin Moore White Dove (OC-17): My favorite all-purpose white. BM White Dove is not going to feel overly cool or stark. It has warmth and gray to mellow it out a bit. A much better bet than Chantilly Lace.
• Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee: I used this as the white in our finished barn and it is super pretty with greens. The warmth feels velvety with Creekside Green.
• Sherwin-Williams Greek Villa: I verified this creamy classic white. It is a great default white, and is lovely with the muted complexity of Creekside.
• Sherwin-Williams White Duck: If you have been reading here for a while, you know I always push going with a darker white for trim. The best one for BM 2141-40 is White Duck. It feels warm, without being yellow, and has enough gray in it that the pairing feels fresh and of the current moment.

If you’re feeling bold, try color drenching which is painting the trim and walls the same color. It makes a small space feel intentional and dramatic in the best way.

What Colors Go With Creekside Green

Creekside Green is surprisingly flexible. It looks great with a mix of earthy and neutral colors. Stick with colors that have a similar level of chroma for most cohesive feel.

Neutrals To Pair With Creekside Green

Other than the whites I mentioned above, you have a lot of options with warm neutrals. While I love this green juxtaposed with a cooler greige like Revere Pewter, I feel like these colder neutrals are trending out, and you may regret using them in your home.

I love the way it looks with Benjamin Moore Crisp Khaki, which is one of my favorite Khaki Paint Colors. With Creekside Green, the golden undertones in Crisp Khaki look warm and buttery! I looked through a ton of options and this paint color hits a certain sweet spot. I think partly because its LRV 54.6 looks just right with the depth of this green. For a lighter khaki, you can use Wool Skein. If you want an alternative warm neutral that doesn’t pull yellow or gol,d you could use Minimalist from Sherwin Williams, a favorite for minimalist interiors, or Accessible Beige.

Coordinating Colors

The key to picking coordinating colors for this green paint color is that they all feel like they live in the same color world and create a lot of interesting energy together. I love the way a soft plum like Kasbah from Ben Moore AF-640 or vintage peach like Ben Moore Galt Peach CW-210 or pretty much any of my favorite Peach Paint Colors would look great with it. If you like softer yellows, I’d go with a butter yellow like Ivory Porcelain/Ivory Tusk.

Dark Colors and Alternatives To Black

I don’t recommend black paint, and instead call for nearly black hues instead. In this palette I used Sherwin-Williams Clove on my trim in the space with the Creekside Green in my kitchen and it is such a great alternative to black. It has richness, plenty of depth, but instead of harshness, there is a subtlety that I highly recommend. If you want a super dark with green undertones (like for your window trim) use Tavern Charcoal by Ben Moore. It is a great match.

Alternative Colors to Try

If you like the look of Creekside Green Benjamin Moore but want to compare a few others, here are some close cousins worth sampling:

• Benjamin Moore October Mist (1495) – Way softer thank Creekside and delightfully silvery. If Creekside is too deep for you- this former color of the year is a trusted green. I’d love to see it in a sun-drenched breakfast room
• Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog (SW 9130) – A tried and true option (another COTY in fact) if you want a cooler green with stronger blue undertones.
• Benjamin Moore Nantucket Gray: This gray green paint color is a bit earthier and leans even more into that orange base. It is a shade lighter than Creekside. I have these two in adjacent spaces and they jive quite nicely.
• Benajamin Moore Antique Pewter: If you want to go darker than Creekside, Antique Pewter is your girl. I have this color on the other side of the Creekside, and it is a whisper more deep and in my opinion it looks legit gorgeous in darker rooms- for when you want to lean into the depth!

Final Thoughts

While I am not going to claim this paint color will work for everyone, in every situation, I do have a strong affinity for it. I’ve used it in our apartment kitchen and I love the darker value, because it is balanced by a white-washed quality that makes it feel like it is straight out of an antique farmhouse. So while it is on trend, it is also going to have staying power, and you won’t want to repaint in a few years.

If you have been on the hunt for a gray-green sage paint, then I highly recommend sampling Benjamin Moore Creekside Green 2141-40. In our farmhouse kitchen, it is balanced, interesting, and has just enough gray to make it feel grown-up. I’ve decorated the adjacent living space with off-white, taupe, chocolate and green textiles with pops of brick red for contrast. The overall look is timeless and welcoming.

I love watching this paint change throughtout the day. Every time the light shifts, it surprises me in a good way. It’s one of those colors that makes a space feel pulled together without looking overdesigned. Definitely one to sample, you might end up loving it as much as I do!

Need more help with your paint colors? Sign up for a Virtual Paint Color Consultation. I will help you select the perfect colors for your home.

The post Benjamin Moore Creekside Green Review appeared first on A Season For Home.

Benjamin Moore Nantucket Gray

This tried and true paint color is one of my favorites of all time. In my husband’s building business, we have used this warm gray green paint color on the exterior of homes and in commercial spaces. At home, in our Vermont farmhouse, we have used it to highlight the millwork in my home office.

So if you are looking into whether or not this is the right muted green paint color for you, you are in the right place. Read on to learn all about it!

It is absolutely gorgeous on wainscoting and trim, but it can also work as a wall color too! While it is a darker paint color, the slight softened and chalky tones make it both currently on-trend and evocative of it’s Historical Collection roots!

BM Nantucket Gray Undertones

Don’t let the name fool you, Nantucket Gray is definitely not a gray paint color! It is a green paint color with relatively low saturation and warm olive tones.

To understand a paint color’s undertone it is helpful to compare it to other colors. This process of comparison helps our eyes and brains understand color better. It is quite clear that Nantucket Gray is not a gray when comparing it side by side with Repose Gray which is a neutral gray paint color.

Next, look at the interesting thing that happens when you put Nantucket Gray next to a cooler green like Evergreen Fog. See them side by side in the image below.

Comparing these two green paints allows us to see the subtle orange undertone in Nantucket Gray. This orange undertone secretly hides beneath its gray green surface and is what makes it so complex!

The last way we will come to fully understand the undertones of this enigmatic paint color is to compare it to a low-chroma tan like Greenbrier Beige.

In this way we are back to seeing the green side of this color! But without any illusions! Next we’ll talk about the LRV of this color.

What colors Go With Nantucket Gray?

Nantucket Gray fits seamlessly into homes with New England Style. It’s part of my recommended Historic Paint Colors that work in 2026. This color looks excellent with khaki paint colors and creamy off-whites without too much yellow.

I also love the way Nantucket Gray looks with textiles in shades of russet red, brick and terracotta. Emily Starr paired it beautifully with a muted Prussian blue color on her mantle. Navy would also be really lovely with Nantucket Gray. Two of my favorite navy paints are Soot and Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore.

In my office, we painted the floor with Gloucester Sage from Benjamin Moore. It is almost like a deeper version of Nantucket Gray and the pairing looks great with the sisal area rug and White Dove paneling and cabinets.

If using it for reverse trim like I did in my office, you could use Sherwin-Williams Wool Skein or Tapestry Beige by Benjamin Moore on the walls and the Nantucket gray on the trim, wainscoting and doors. For a contemporary look color drench your space with it and pair with White Oak like the below mudroom space from Shapeless Studio.

Where to Use Nantucket Gray HC-111 In Your Home

This color looks great in kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms. I also love it for a mudroom or hallway with shiplap or wainscotting! Due to it’s mid-dark LRV it is best paired with creamy off-whites and light khakis to keep spaces from becoming too dark.

Nantucket Gray Kitchen Cabinets

Can you use Nantucket Gray on kitchen cabinets? Yes! Nantucket Gray is a terrific choice for traditional kitchen cabinets, espically shaker front and inset style doors. Use brass drawer pulls for a warm classic feel. A black soapstone counter paired with it (look for a slab without a ton of green) or black slate would be lovely. Black granite would also be a timeless choice. I also love white marble-like quartz counters. That’s what we have in our kitchen and I love how durable they are! Do not do a brown granite, as this will look dated and evoke Tuscan kitchen vibes from the early 2000s!

Image: Julia Chasman Design shows us a perfect example of Nantucket Gray on kitchen cabinets (left) and Caroline Meehan (right) shows how a creamy off-white looks with BM Nantucket Gray cabinets.

Nantucket Gray For Exterior

My mom’s house is painted Nantucket Gray (see image above) and it is timeless, cottagey (is that a word) and the perfect level green without too much saturation. Notice how she used a muted creamy trim color? I think this is key! Please, don’t go with a stark white on your trim.

A good exterior trim color to go with Nantucket Gray is White Duck by Sherwin Williams (LRV 74.) This will give the impression of “white” trim without the harsh look of pure white.

PRO TIP: If you are replacing your windows, choose a non-white window with creamy neutral tones. I like Andersen Windows and Doors “Canvas” color. If you go with Canvas, Benjamin Moore makes a paint that matches it exactly. This way your trim matches your windows and the whole unit will read as one color. This detail can make the home look more expensive and it makes the windows look more elevated. Read more about picking exterior colors here.

I think this color is best for a coastal bungalo, on a traditional New England style homes like a high posted Cape or for a Colonial revival style home. If you want to compare some other greens for exteriors read this.

Similar Paint Colors

• Farrow and Ball French Gray: This is the best dupe for Cheyanne Green or Nantucket Gray. It is a couple of notches lighter (it has a LRV of 43 vs Nantucket Gray which is 39.)
• Svelte Sage by Sherwin-Williams: This is a favorite of mine that is very similar. I’ve recomended it in several homes for my color consulting clients. It is a very similar value and saturation, but slightly warmer.
• Benjamin Moore Victorian Garden: This is very close but a little more gray and less green. If you are looking for an exterior color that’ll pull a little less warm, try this one.
• Ben Moore Texas Sage: This is one notch darker, so if you brush it out on your exterior and feel that it could be a touch darker, try Texas Sage too.

Lighting Considerations

Ultimately we can talk about this paint color until we are blue in the face, but what matters is how it looks in your space with the lighting of the room. In warm light and rooms with Southern exposure the orange lurking below the surface will be more noticible. In North-facing rooms it will appear more cool and gray. In rooms wihtout much natural light it may look much less saturated.

How Do You Know If Benjamin Moore Cheyenne Green (aka Nantucket Gray) Is Right For You

Consider Whole House Color Scheme: The best way to know if this color is right for you is to look at your whole house color shceme and see if Cheyanne Green (aka Nantucket Gray) harmonizes or not. Ideally when you move from space to space in your home, you want the colors to flow and work together. The easiest way to do this is to pick up a paint chips at your local paint store, or purchase large scale samples from Samplize (that’s an affiliate link by the way) of each color in your home. Add Nantucket Gray to it and see if they go together.

Test It Out: Next, test this paint color on your wall! You can do this first, mess free with your large sample sheets. I always recomend to my Color Consulting clients to look at the sheets on different walls and at different times of day in varying light conditions. After you’re sure you like it, then buy a small can and test it out on the wall. Try to cover a large enough space so that you are not seeing the color underneath- which will influence your perception of the color.

Need More Paint Color Help? Sign up for a one on one paint color consultation —virtually! Our tried and true method using color correction accounts for the unique fixed elements in your space as well as your design vision! Simply click here to learn more about working together.

The post Nantucket Gray Review Benjamin Moore HC-111 appeared first on A Season For Home.

Yorktowne Green: One of our featured dark teal paint colors. Source

Trend Alert: Dark Teal Paint Colors

We are embracing color! Blame it on whiplash from the gray trend, followed by the surge of minimalist black and white farmhouses, now more people are embracing adding colors to our spaces. With that, there is a documented movement toward dark paint colors.

According to color psychologist, this color trend is not arbitrary! It is our desire to make our spaces feel secure, cave-like and cozy. Additionally, as a reaction to minimalism, we have opted to add joy to our spaces in the form of color. Which is why going with a bold statement color, like dark teal green, is a great way to make a space calming while providing a marked departure from everyday neutrals and off-whites.

Having started adding dark paint colors in my own home, I can say it feels good to go bold after so much timidity! If drenching a room in dark paint seems a bit scary, I am here to lend my expertise so you can try this trend in confidence.

Read on for details on my favorite dark teal paint colors for you to try. Pick up a can up at your local Lowe’s, Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore paint store and make a statement with one of these rich and dramatic shades.

Cascades by Sherwin-Williams SW 7623

In all fairness, Cascades has been trending for a couple of years now. It was color of the month for Sherwin Williams in September of 2023, and there are plenty of color reviews out there if you are considering this color. Here is one I found helpful.

Highlights of Sherwin-Williams Cascades

• It pulls more green than blue when compared to the other colors in my lineup.
• It is supremely dark with a LRV of 4 – one of the darkest I have pulled.
• It’s a really great dark green paint for an exterior on a Modern Farmhouse if you are looking for an update from black or white. I love the way this color looks with black windows!

Storms In Paris by Tonester Paint

Tonester’s Storms in Paris is a glorious deep teal paint color that’s having a viral moment on the internet. {Can I just say how happy it makes me that paint color can be viral? I love my job!} One of my Vermont color consulting clients told me about this paint color and I was instantly in love!

This tiny little paint company, which according to LinkedIn, has only two employees, claims this paint color is its best seller. I’m assuming that has to do with the virality of it, not so much its mass appeal, but I can see why someone would make the effort of mail-ordering a paint like this.

I give Storms In Paris mad props for being both bold and enigmatic. It is much darker than any of the Benjamin Moore dupes I could find, so if you want a really dark dark teal and Cascades isn’t quite right, it is probably worth ordering and having it shipped. They do offer peel-and-stick color samples, so if you’re not in a rush, you can test first.

Now I have not painted with this color myself yet, so I am only going by what I have researched but here are a couple of things to know about this color:

Storms In Paris Paint Color Highlights

Tonester paints come in ceramic and latex so make sure you know what you are ordering. Ceramic paints are durable and low VOC, but they are more expensive and can be more challenging to apply.

The drydown of this color is noteworthy. {Drydown is when a color changes when it dries.} I’ve noticed that the color in the can and video appears more blue than the way it looks painted in a room, according to official images published by the brand. I am not sure if this has to do with the way they color corrected their media or if the actual paint itself changes a lot. I watched several TikToks (like this one) about this color and the paint color looks much lighter in several of the videos. So buyer beware, and test test test!

Yorktowne Green by Benjamin Moore HC-133

While Yorktowne Green is one of those beautiful, timeless historical colors, it also happens to be quite trendy right now. I have specified this color to a couple of clients in the last couple of months, and I noticed it was the main featured color on the homepage of Benjamin Moore in March. With thousands of colors Ben Moore can choose to feature, this says a lot.

Laundry Room cabinetry painted Yorktowne Green by Benjamin Moore in Utah Show House, photo by Jessica White Photography

highlights Of Yorktowne Green (aka Vanderberg Blue):

• Compared to the rest of the deep teals this one has a subtle gray pallor that gives it a vintage look. So if you are not sold on the idea of an almost-black shade, this may be your perfect dark teal paint color.
• While it’s not necessarily more pigmented than the other dark teals, it comes across as more saturated because it is lighter in value. So it will feel more bold than the others.
• This is the perfect color to use if you are thinking about color drenching, as it has just the right level of ashiness to give it a velvety feel.

Pacific Sea Teal by Benjamin Moore 2049-10

I adore this color! It is so wildly dark but still distinctly teal. It has a LRV of 5.93 which puts it into the nearly black category.

Pacific Sea Teal bedroom on Instagram

When I was looking for a dupe for Storms In Paris, I came across this paint color and loved how dark it was. So if you are wondering what is a good dupe for Storms In Paris? Here’s my pick! I definitely choose Pacific Sea Teal from Benjamin Moore. It has the same depth and richness as far as I can tell from the way SIP looks online. I have verified Pacific Sea Teal in the flesh and it is a truly gorgeous color!

Mallard Green by Benjamin Moore 2053-10

I included Mallard Green in this collection because it is a lighter value option and a bit more saturated but still gives moody enveloping vibes.

Deep River Green by Valspar 5010-3

Valspar Deep River Green is a great dupe for Storms In Paris with a similar LRV and tonality.

Valspar really knocked this color out of the park: Deep River Green is so pretty! If the higher-end paint brands are not in your budget, you should still be able to bring joy into your house with a gorgeous moody teal paint color!

In general, I do not recommend Valspar if you can have room in your budget for premium paint. In my color consulting training and talking with professional painters, I learned that Valspar is not as high quality as Sherwin Williams (who owns Valspar.) They explained that you’ll need more paint for the same coverage. Furthermore, the durability is not as good, so you’ll have to paint again sooner. {For fashion enthusiasts, think of it like Old Navy vs Banana Republic.}

Coordinating Colors For Deep Teal

If you are wondering what colors to decorate with for accents or in adjacent spaces, I have some ideas below. Note that I’ve used Yorktown Green here for illustrative purposes. This paint is a slightly lower chroma and more grayed out shade so the coordinating colors are of the same level. Dial up the chroma to match your chosen shade of teal.

In general, dark teal is one of those hues that works with both high and low chroma colors thanks to the very dark value. When picking your coordinating colors, make sure the specific teal works with it.

Colors To Go With Dark Teal Paint

• Off White: Go with a darker shade of off white in the cooler family like Snowbound from Sherwin Williams. See more favorite whites for trim and ceiling.
• Gold and Yellow: Trendy pale lemon yellows look so good with dark teal. I’m loving Goldtone by Benjamin Moore. For a brightly saturated accent yellow try Dorset Gold.
• Lime Green, Chartreuse or Citron: This family of colors looks so good with dark teal. I’ve picked Baby Bok Choy but Agave by Ben Moore is also super fun with it.
• Brown and Tan: You really cannot go wrong with beige, tan and brown teamed up with dark teal. I love the redder shades of brown like Saddle Soap, warm tans like Artisan Tan and the cooler taupes as well.

Conclusion: What is the Best Dark Teal Paint Color?

The answer is: none of them because they all have their plusses and minuses and it depends on where you are using them. Here’s a rundown of each color:

• Cascades: This is an absolutely gorgeous color. Very dark and a smidge more forest green than the other teals listed here. There are lots of online reviews and photos so there’s lots of opportunities to read up more on it.
• Storms In Paris: Though this looks like a great color, I recommend ordering one of the large peel and stick samples before using it to make sure it looks the same in real life.
• Yorktowne Green or Vanderberg Blue: If you want a slightly lighter paint with historical vibes go with this one. It’s great for exteriors and color drenching.
• Pacific Sea Teal: If you want the look of Storms in Paris, but want a major paint brand use this color. It has the same depth and value but a hair less blue.
• Mallard Green: Use this if your room has limited natural light. It is more saturated and a brighter value to compensate for the limited spectrum of visible color with artificial lighting.
• Deep River Green: If you are looking for an inexpensive option, this is the best choice! Valspar is available at Lowes.

Whatever you choose, have fun adding a bit of drama to your space and enjoy the enveloping coziness you create with one of these deep teal paint colors!

The post Best Deep Teal Paint Colors appeared first on A Season For Home.

The Best Green Exterior Paint Colors for Your Home

If you have read my primer on how to pick an exterior paint color scheme and you have decided to to go with a green, then today’s curated collection of my favorite green paints for the outside of your home is the next stop in your color journey! If you’re new here, my name is Katie and I am a certified color expert. I help people pick the perfect paint schemes for their homes during virtual color consultations and I also write about picking the perfect shade of paint here on my blog. Welcome!

If you find this post useful, make sure to PIN IT to your idea board so you can keep it handy!

Homes Painted Green: A Timeless Choice

Green painted homes have an enduring charm that works well on both classic and modern style homes. Whether you’re drawn to the warmth of an earthy olive, a historical sage or a trendy deep green, there’s a shade for every style. Below, we highlight some of the best green exterior paint colors to consider for your home.

• While green is considered a cool color, there are a wide range of greens from warm olive tones to soft and cool mint greens. So I made sure to cover the spectrum of warm to cool greens so you can find just what you are looking for.
• In the next section, you’ll get details on each color plus some color pairings including a trim and accent color for each one so you can complete the look.
• And make sure you scroll down for more tips on choosing the perfect accents to compliment your chosen green paint.

Popular Green Exterior House Paint Colors

Benjamin Moore Herb Bouquet

Herb Bouquet 460 by Benjamin Moore is one of my favorite green paint colors for exteriors. It is a pretty sage green with blue undertones that won’t feel washed out. It feels like a soft, muted green with colonial vibes on a house exterior.

If you’ve read my post about picking exterior colors, you know its key to picking a darker paint than you think you should. Sunlight really lightens up the perceived value of the paint colors.

Here’s why I love this color: Herb Bouquet is dark enough with an LRV of 35.37 that it won’t get washed out by the sun, but it has enough blue and white pigments in the mix giving it a soft sage feeling.

I recommend this color over lighter bluish greens like Prescott Green HC-140 (LRV 55.76) because it won’t read as pastel, cutsy or “sweet.” So if you are considering Prescott Green for your house paint, buy a sample of Herb Bouquet too, and brush it out.

• Herb Bouquet is perfect for traditional colonials and cottage-style homes.
• It works beautifully with cream-colored trim for houses especially with white or cream windows.
• Because it is a cooler green, I like it best with cool fixed elements. Pair it with charcoal or black roofs or natural slate roof.

Benjamin Moore Kennebunkport Green

Here is another option if you are looking for a sage green house paint. Kennebunkport Green by Benjamin Moore (HC-123) is a rich, mid-tone green with a good balance of cool and warm undertones. It has a LRV of 31.23 It is from the Ben Moore Historic Paint Deck and goes well on traditional New England house styles. I recommend it for a Cape Cod, two-story Federal-style colonial, or a low-slung Farm House.

When compared to Herb Bouquet side by side you can see Kennebunkport has a good deal more warmth to it which makes it better suited to go with warm toned fixed elements (Like a bronze roof or dark brown windows.)

Note: If you have a Modern Farmhouse that has been painted all white or black and white, but you are thinking of painting it green do not use Kennebunkport Green. Instead, I suggest going with a much deeper green (Like Vintage Vogue, Antique Pewter BM 1560, or Sherwin Williams Pewter Green.) On these clean-lined houses, Kennebunkport Green reads as too pastel and will miss the mark.

Benjamin Moore Vintage Vogue

Vintage Vogue is a trendy deep, moody green with cool undertones. I think of Vintage Vogue as being a modern-day forest green. So if you have bad memories from the 90s of Forest Green, don’t run away from Vintage Vogue. It is much cooler!

• It’s a great dark green (LRV 11.85) to use on a Modern Farmhouse instead of all white. Pair it with earth tones or garage doors in dark-stained mahogany color. Above I’ve mocked it up with an off-white trim.
• Since it is so dark, a brighter white trim can look too stark, so I suggest going slightly dirtier to mute the contrast a bit. I paired it with Dragon’s Breath, but you could easily go with a truer black.
• It is a very low chroma green with a good deal of gray, so make sure to pair accents that are also dirty, muted and complex.
• This versatile paint color can also be used as part of a three or four-color Victorian colorway or used on modern one-story homes.

Sherwin-Williams Pewter Green

Sherwin Williams Pewter Green SW 6208 is is a dark gray-green with subtle cool undertones. Along with Benjamin Moore’s Antique Pewter I recommend it if you like the look of a dark green house but you don’t want it to be too deeply saturated.

• SW Pewter Green is a sophisticated exterior paint color to pair with cool toned stonework and fixed elements. 
• I like it on Ranch Style homes or the above-mentioned Modern Farmhouse.
• With a LRV of 12 it is dark enough that you can use it an accent color. For example, in the above mock-up I used it as a contrast trim with a lighter greenish gray (Sensible Hue.) It would also work great on shutters!

Benjamin Moore Yorktown Green

Yorktown Green is a hot color right now and I am here for it! I love this color for interiors on an accent wall, for an accented neutral color scheme or on built-ins. It is also so gorgeous on exteriors!

Yorktowne Green HC-133 is a striking deep green with strong blue undertones. It is quite low in value with a LRV of 11.1. So if you love the look of a contemporary all black house but want something a little more colorful, this is your color.

Now I know some of you will say, that’s a blue paint color, not green. And I kind of agree with you. But look at it below compared to its sister color, Newberg Green, and it’ll look more green!

• Yorktowne Green is great for historical homes and Victorian color schemes, but it is also a nice modern look for a coastal home or when paired with a bright accent like Olive Moss (BM 2147-20) it can look very fresh and contemporary.
• This has a strong blue cast to it, so if you prefer a cooler green- this is definitely one to consider.
• Pair it with cooler fixed elements like charcoal or black roof. It looks awesome with black windows.
• Consider keeping the trim painted Yorktowne Green too. If you love the vibe of an all-black house, this is a great green paint color to use instead for a more colorful approach.

Benjamin Moore Adirondack Green

If you liked Herb Bouquet and Kennebunkport Green then consider Adirondack Green too. This is a colorful deep version of a sage green that’s perfect for a cape, Bungalow, or small cottage with lush landscaping. If your house has a wrap-around porch or ornamental details this is such a great color to use!

I like the way cream trim works with it, and black accents are also nice. Depending on where you liv in the country, it is also super pretty with light red, peach or coral accents for a bit of whimsy.

Benjamin Moore Springfield Sage

Springfield Sage (510) is a rich olive green exterior paint color from Ben Moore which looks excellent with creamy trim. I’ve shown it here mocked up on a colonial-style house but I also like this paint for a Modern ranch or Mid-Century Modern homes as well as an alternative to black or white for Modern Farmhouses with vertical siding.

1. Paint the siding and trim in the Springfield Sage and pair it with black windows.
2. If you have warm fixed elements like a bronze roof, red roof or brick chimneys or foundation, this olive green is a great compliment.
3. I love it with red tones. Try it with Georgian Brick on the door!
4. Use a low saturation griege like Natural Cream or Wool Skein for your trim color.
5. If you like the warm olive tones of Springfield Sage (LRV 23.02) but it is too dark, test Nantucket Gray which is a warm gray green or Ben Moore’s Dry Sage (2142-40) which is a a few degrees lighter (LRV 34.63.)

House Painted Green: Choosing the Right Accents

A green exterior provides a versatile backdrop that pairs beautifully with a variety of trim, shutter, and door colors. To create a well-balanced and visually appealing home exterior, consider these complementary color combinations:

• Trim: Soft, creamy off-whites help highlight architectural details and keep green-colored homes from feeling too dark. Most of the above color palettes have my recommendations for softer off-whites. For a high-contrast look go for Benjamin Moore White Dove, Sherwin-Williams Alabaster, and Benjamin Moore Simply White.
• Doors: Complementary door colors can enhance the personality of your home. Consider warm wood tones, deep reds (like Benjamin Moore brick Red), or blacks with a hint of navy blue for a striking contrast.
• Shutters: Dark, grounding colors add dimension to green exterior paint colors. Charcoal gray, deep navy, and rich black tones like Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron or Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore work beautifully.

Green Painted Homes: Bringing It All Together

Without a doubt, deep teal paint colors are trending, but other shades of green are also great on exteriors. When selecting a green exterior house paint color, consider the surrounding environment, architectural style, and existing hardscaping. Soft greens like Springfield Sage or Herb Bouquet are excellent choices for homes in wooded areas, while deeper tones like Yorktown Green or Pewter Green create a dramatic yet sophisticated look in urban and suburban settings.

By pairing green exterior house paint colors with creamy white trim, contrasting door colors, and deep-value shutters, you can create a home exterior that feels both timeless and fresh. Whether you’re going for a contemporary farmhouse look or a stately, classic facade, a house painted green is a beautiful and versatile choice that enhances curb appeal and stands the test of time.

If you still need help deciding, remember I am just a few clicks away! Sign up for a virtual paint color consultation and we can work together to come up with the perfect custom paint scheme for your home!

The post Green Paint Colors For Exteriors appeared first on A Season For Home.