The best green exterior paint colors are muted greens that come to life in the sun, such as Sherwin-Williams Rosemary (SW 6187), Sherwin-Williams Green Onyx (SW 9128), and Sherwin-Williams Laurel Woods (SW 7749). Green can be tricky outside: too light looks minty, and too dark reads black. Choose a green that contrasts with your brick or stone.
As paint color consultants, we see many paint color trends come and go. Recently, we’ve seen a big increase in clients interested in adding color to their homes — even on the exterior!
One of our favorite trends is the growing popularity of blue and green exterior color palettes, which is why we were so excited to pull together our favorite green exterior paint colors from real client projects. Every color below has been on a real house we’ve worked on, from a 1906 Victorian in one of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods to a mountain Airbnb at 8,000 feet.
Green can also be a wonderful paint color to pair with earthy brick, as long as the green paint color is earthy too.
Key takeaways
- Best overall: Sherwin-Williams Rosemary (SW 6187) — dark without risking looking black, with an LRV of 14 and subtle yellow undertones that keep it warm.
- Best for bright sun: Sherwin-Williams Green Onyx (SW 9128) — a mid-tone green (LRV 31) muted enough for climates with bright sunshine, like the Florida Gulf Coast.
- Best with red brick: Benjamin Moore Newburg Green (HC-158) — a muted, teal-leaning green that creates a beautiful complementary contrast with red brick.
- Skip if: you’re drawn to a light green for a sunny lot. Light greens can turn minty outside — we’ve seen it happen with Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog (SW 9130) again and again in Colorado.
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Is a Green House Exterior a Good Idea?
Yes, dark green can be a gorgeous house color, especially in a warm, earthy palette with brick, warm stone, wood tones, and warm neutrals. Be careful when every nearby home is very light, since a near-black exterior can look harsh. A muted, warm dark green such as Sherwin-Williams Rosemary (SW 6187) feels moody without clashing with lighter neighboring exterior palettes.
Are Green Exterior Paint Colors Still in Style?
Yes. Dark charcoal, green, and blue exteriors are still in style, although lighter, warmer palettes are more common overall. Earthy greens are trending too: Sherwin-Williams Rosemary (SW 6187), a warm dark green, is a really popular color on Pinterest right now. Dark exteriors work best for homeowners who want a house that stands out.
How to Choose a Green Exterior Paint Color
Green can be tricky. If you go with a color that is too light, it can look minty. If you pick a color that is too dark for the conditions, it can look black. And whatever you choose has to contrast with your brick, stone and other hard finishes. Here’s what we’ve learned from testing greens on real houses.
Green Exterior Paint Tips and Tricks
- Too light looks minty: Choosing a light green or sage green paint color that looks lovely indoors could end up looking like mint green in the sunshine. We have tested Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog (SW 9130) so many times in Colorado, for example, and it always ends up looking minty.
- Too dark looks black: If you pick a color that is too dark for the conditions, like Sherwin-Williams Laurel Woods (SW 7749) at an LRV of 6, it can look black as you test. That’s how you know to go lighter.
- Contrast with your hard finishes: On our Laurel Woods suburban project pictured below, we picked Laurel Woods because it created a very nice contrast with the brick. Other greens we tested had the same depth (darkness) as the brick, and you couldn’t see them.
- Expect it lighter outside: Colors look much lighter and more colorful outdoors than indoors, especially in bright sunlight. A green that looks heavy on a chip often looks just right on siding.
- Look for warmth: Yellow undertones keep a green warm. Sherwin-Williams Green Onyx (SW 9128) and Sherwin-Williams Rosemary (SW 6187) both have them, which is why they look so good with warm stone, brick, and wood.
- You just have to test: Put large samples on the actual house, next to your brick, stone, and trim, and look at them at different times of day. Learn more about our method here: how to test paint colors.
9 Favorite Green Paint Colors for Exteriors
These are the green exterior paint colors we keep coming back to for siding, trim, and front doors, each one shown on a real client home.
1. Sherwin-Williams Green Onyx (SW 9128)
Sherwin-Williams Green Onyx (SW 9128) is a medium green paint color that looks beautiful indoors and outdoors. It’s muted enough to work in bright sunshine (like the Florida Gulf Coast!) and soft enough to pair with lots of green foliage.
With an LRV of 31, Green Onyx is a mid-tone green. But it appears lighter when used as an exterior paint. Colors look much lighter and more colorful outdoors than indoors, especially in bright sunlight.
Green Onyx is a warm paint color thanks to its yellow undertones. Its undertones keep the color warm without skewing too yellow, partly because the color is so muted. While it looks beautiful on a home’s exterior with lots of sunlight, it can also work well in shady spots or cloudier climates.
Trim and accents for Green Onyx
Sherwin-Williams Oyster White (SW 7637) is a warm, muted, very light greige with green undertones. With an LRV of 72, it reads as a soft white outside and pairs beautifully with this home’s green stucco exterior.
Sherwin-Williams Black Magic (SW 6991) is typically considered a true black with slightly warm undertones. It’s the perfect, timeless complement to the Green Onyx exterior and Oyster White trim.
2. Sherwin-Williams Rosemary (SW 6187)
Sherwin-Williams Rosemary (SW 6187) is a gorgeous, moody green paint color that I absolutely love to use for exterior projects. Rosemary has an LRV of 14 and subtle yellow undertones that keep it warm and beautiful. It’s dark without risking looking black.
Outdoors, Rosemary paint is a gorgeous sage green perfect for Victorian exterior color palettes and other historic homes.
Rosemary on a 1906 Denver Victorian
This house is one of my favorite exterior projects ever as a paint color consultant. It was built in 1906 in one of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods.
We used Rosemary on the home’s siding, brick and all of the different styles of shingles on the exterior. This simplified the look of the home, which only made it that much more beautiful.
Nearly everything that outlines the house is Sherwin-Williams Black Magic (SW 6991), a very dark black with an LRV of 3: the fascia, soffits, gutters, downspouts, trim, window trim, columns, corbels, mouldings, and the garage door and its trim. On the porch, we used Sherwin-Williams Fawn Brindle (SW 7640) for the ceiling. The porch floor, stair treads and front door are a warm brown similar to Sherwin-Williams Fairfax Brown (SW 2856).
Rosemary on a Sunny Colorado Lot
This gorgeous Colorado home sits on a beautiful lot that backs onto a community trail. The lot has plenty of green foliage but not many large trees, so the house gets a lot of sun. The home’s original palette featured muted dark blue siding and dark gables, and the front door was painted to match the gables, so the exterior didn’t flow as beautifully as it could.
Sherwin-Williams Taupe Tone (SW 7633) went on the front gables, Sherwin-Williams Egret White (SW 7570) on the trim, and Sherwin-Williams Stolen Kiss (SW 7586) on the front door. You can see the full palette in our dark green house exterior with stone project spotlight.
3. Sherwin-Williams Laurel Woods (SW 7749)
Sherwin-Williams Laurel Woods (SW 7749) is a deep green paint color with a near-neutral undertone that leans slightly warm, and an LRV of 6 — dark enough to read almost black when used for interiors. We used it on two Colorado exteriors, where it appears brighter and looks cohesive with surrounding trees and greenery.
Sherwin-Williams files it under neutrals rather than greens, and on a small chip, that classification makes a certain amount of sense — there is not much obvious color in it. Put it on a full exterior, however, and the bright sunlight really helps the green tones shine.
Greens generally have either yellow (warm) or blue (cool) undertones. While Laurel Woods can look cool — especially when compared to very clear yellow-green hues — it does have a subtle yellow undertone. That small amount of warmth matters more than it sounds like it should. It is the reason Laurel Woods looks so good next to warm brick and other warm paint colors.
The deep green hue looks just as beautiful nestled among evergreens as it does in a suburban neighborhood with mountains in the background.
Laurel Woods on a Mountain Airbnb
The first home is a gorgeous Airbnb near Idaho Springs, CO, in the mountains west of Denver, at 8,000 feet of elevation. It is an Airbnb called Haddad Hollow. The owner, Jonalle Haddad, is a close friend of our family and an extraordinary chef. You cannot lose staying here.
Laurel Woods in the Denver Foothills
The second house is a suburban home in the Denver foothills. While it’s very different from the Airbnb, it turned out just as beautifully with Sherwin-Williams Laurel Woods exterior paint. You’ll notice that with a lower elevation, the Laurel Woods paint looks a bit darker compared to the mountain home.
This is also the house where we tested several greens against the brick. Some had the same depth as the brick and simply disappeared. Laurel Woods created a very nice contrast with it.
4. Benjamin Moore Newburg Green (HC-158)
Benjamin Moore Newburg Green (HC-158) could technically be called a teal color, but it’s much more muted than you would expect from a teal. This color shines in the sun outside, which is why we love to use it as an exterior paint color. Newburg Green is very dark, with an LRV of 10.58.
We picked Newburg Green for the siding because it just looked so beautiful with the red brick. The contrast of the complementary colors is absolutely beautiful.
Since the windows were white vinyl, we picked a white trim that was warmer and darker than the vinyl. We like to pick a warmer white trim to keep the white from looking too stark. Benjamin Moore Classic Gray (OC-23) is one of our favorite white trim colors for the bright Colorado sun. When you go cream vs. a light gray, it can start to look yellow. In this case, Classic Gray looks soft and white.
You could also use this palette with black window frames, but I would still paint the window trim white. Benjamin Moore Caliente (AF-290) makes a beautiful red front door that will make your neighbors stop and ask what color it is. A warm wood front door or a black door would be pretty too.
5. Benjamin Moore Ashwood Moss (1484)
Benjamin Moore Ashwood Moss (1484) is a gorgeous, deep green-gray paint color with warm undertones. It’s very dark and muted but colorful enough to show its green hues in the bright sunshine.
We used Ashwood Moss for the siding and garage door on this Denver home, paired with Benjamin Moore Tulsa Twilight (2070-10), a muted, earthy purple, on the stucco gables, front porch and front door, and Benjamin Moore Ballet White (OC-9), LRV 72, on the trim. See the full palette in our dark purple exterior paint color palette.
6. Sherwin-Williams Ripe Olive (SW 6209)
Here’s another example of green and purple together. We love this Victorian home palette’s dark green and purple color combination. I added light green and navy accents to balance the colors and a soft gray to neutralize the look. The gray makes this look very sophisticated.
Sherwin-Williams Ripe Olive (SW 6209) is a dark green paint with muted blue undertones, offering a good balance of warmth and cooler tones. It looks so beautiful paired with Sherwin-Williams Quixotic Plum (SW 6265). We used Ripe Olive on the horizontal siding, the rectangles under the bay window, and the pegboard.
For the light green accent, we used Sherwin-Williams Privilege Green (SW 6193) on the uppermost fascia and scrolls. It’s a slightly lighter green that adds contrast without making the house feel busy. Sherwin-Williams In the Navy (SW 9178), Pavestone (SW 7642) and Peppercorn (SW 7674) round out the palette with navy, soft gray and charcoal details.
Our clients chose this palette from four Victorian exterior paint color palettes, and we couldn’t be happier with the results!
7. Sherwin-Williams Pewter Green (SW 6208)
This is one of our favorite projects: green trim, a green roof, and red brick. We repainted the roofline, trim, and front door of this red brick cottage with a green roof using Sherwin-Williams Pewter Green (SW 6208) to match the roof.
Pewter Green has an LRV of 12. It’s crazy how muted the color looks on a swatch, but it comes to life in the sunshine. The storm door was painted Sherwin-Williams Greenblack, a black with green undertones (just like it sounds).
8. Benjamin Moore Split Pea (2146-30) for Front Doors and Shutters
Benjamin Moore Split Pea (2146-30) is one of the best front door paint colors for a statement-making first impression. This bright green paint color may seem too bold, but with the right exterior color palette it can be truly beautiful.
This client’s split-level home looks like it was made for a Split Pea front door. The almost-fluorescent green ties in perfectly with the foliage around the home, and the light color reveals the beautiful carvings on the door. It also looks amazing with the Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace (SW 7076) siding.
9. Benjamin Moore Windsor Green (CW-505) Front Door
This unique historical home features a gorgeous, warm exterior palette. The Benjamin Moore Earthly Russet (2173-10) siding is paired with two warm green paint colors: Benjamin Moore Providence Olive (HC-98) for the trim and Benjamin Moore Windsor Green (CW-505) for the front door.
Windsor Green looks warm and lovely next to the warm brown siding and offers a bit of freshness in this earthy palette.
Sample These Green Exterior Paint Colors
| Paint color | Peel-and-stick sample |
|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams Green Onyx (SW 9128) | Sample Green Onyx |
| Sherwin-Williams Rosemary (SW 6187) | Sample Rosemary |
| Sherwin-Williams Laurel Woods (SW 7749) | Sample Laurel Woods |
| Benjamin Moore Newburg Green (HC-158) | Sample Newburg Green |
| Benjamin Moore Ashwood Moss (1484) | Sample Ashwood Moss |
| Sherwin-Williams Ripe Olive (SW 6209) | Sample Ripe Olive |
| Sherwin-Williams Pewter Green (SW 6208) | Sample Pewter Green |
| Benjamin Moore Split Pea (2146-30) | Sample Split Pea |
| Benjamin Moore Windsor Green (CW-505) | Sample Windsor Green |
Green is the trickiest exterior color we test. The same green can look minty on one house and nearly black on another, depending on your sun, your elevation, and the brick or stone it sits next to — and a screen won’t show you any of that. Tape samples to the actual siding, next to your hard finishes, and check them in the morning and late afternoon before you commit. New to peel-and-stick samples? Samplize sends real manufacturer paint, two coats, in a 9” x 14” sheet, delivered overnight. I use them on every consultation. More on our method here: how to test paint colors.
Green Exterior Paint Color FAQ
What green paint colors go with red brick?
Choose a green with enough color to contrast with the brick rather than match its depth. Benjamin Moore Newburg Green (HC-158), a muted teal-leaning green, creates a beautiful complementary contrast with red brick. Sherwin-Williams Pewter Green (SW 6208) works as trim on brick, and Sherwin-Williams Laurel Woods (SW 7749) holds its contrast against darker burgundy brick.
What color trim looks best on a green house?
A warm, slightly darker white usually looks best, because a stark white can look harsh next to green. We paired Sherwin-Williams Oyster White (SW 7637), LRV 72, with Green Onyx and Benjamin Moore Classic Gray (OC-23) with Newburg Green. For a moodier look, Sherwin-Williams Black Magic (SW 6991) trim is gorgeous with Sherwin-Williams Rosemary.
What color front door goes with a green house?
Black, warm wood tones, and red are all beautiful with green siding. We used Sherwin-Williams Black Magic (SW 6991) on a Green Onyx house, Sherwin-Williams Fairfax Brown (SW 2856) on a Rosemary Victorian, and Benjamin Moore Caliente (AF-290), a red, on a Newburg Green house with red brick. Avoid matching the door to a dark gable color.
Key Learning Points
The best green exterior paint colors are muted greens with enough color to come alive in the sun and enough depth to contrast with your brick, stone and trim.
- Green is tricky, so test on the house. Too light and it looks minty. Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog (SW 9130) always ends up minty when we test it in Colorado. Too dark for the conditions and it looks black, which is how you know to go lighter.
- Contrast with your hard finishes, don’t match them. On our foothills project, greens with the same depth as the brick disappeared. Sherwin-Williams Laurel Woods (SW 7749) won because it created a very nice contrast with the brick, and Sherwin-Williams Rosemary (SW 6187) was chosen to show off a home’s stone, not blend into it.
- Muted greens come to life outside. Colors look 4–5 times lighter and more colorful outdoors than indoors. That’s why muted greens like Sherwin-Williams Green Onyx (LRV 31) and Sherwin-Williams Pewter Green (LRV 12) look so beautiful in the sunshine.
Whether you’re painting the whole house or just the front door, green is one of the most rewarding exterior colors we work with. It ties your home into the trees and landscaping around it, and the right green looks timeless rather than trendy. The trick is finding the green that works with your light, your elevation, and your brick or stone, and that’s exactly what we do on every exterior consultation.
Remember: NEVER, EVER use paint matches from a different brand than the one specified. Results are poor and there are no standards for the sheens. Even though your painter may truly believe it can be done, don’t do it. See results in our paint matching guide.
No matter what, always test your paint colors. It’s a standard best practice. Whenever I test my paint colors, they are perfect, and when I don’t test they turn out wrong. Learn how to test your paint colors like a pro.
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Related Posts
- Sherwin-Williams Rosemary exterior color palette on a Denver Victorian
- Dark green house exterior with stone: a Sherwin-Williams Rosemary project
- Sherwin-Williams Laurel Woods exterior: two real projects
- Sherwin-Williams Green Onyx exterior color palette
- 12 best green paint colors
- Best front door paint colors
About the Author
Hi, I’m Michelle Marceny, founder, owner, and Principal Color Designer at The Color Concierge. I believe a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space. The Color Concierge was born out of my drive to help clients fall back in love with their homes. My clients trust me to help them find the perfect paint color — whether that’s a whole-house color scheme or ideas for a single room.
Since founding The Color Concierge in 2017, my team and I have completed 1,000s of color consultations, online and in person. I’m a Certified Color Expert with nine years of experience creating interior and exterior color palettes throughout North America.
Every color review on this site comes from colors we’ve specified in real homes and photographed on location during our own consultations — not from a fan deck or a manufacturer’s website.
We love your comments! Please note that the blog is meant as general advice, and it is not possible to give out specific answers to your paint questions. If you want more specific advice, please consider purchasing a color consultation. Thank you for your understanding.
