The Colorful Yet Subdued Alternative To Outdated Gray Paint

The color of your home plays a huge role in its overall decor. It dictates everything from the shade of your couch to the wood tones you choose for your dining set. While gray has had a long and intense moment in the spotlight, it's lost its luster for many. And if you're ready to move on, repainting means finding a shade that you won't hate in a few weeks and one that matches the decor you don't want to change. That's exactly why the solution to getting rid of millennial gray is emerging in a warm, earthy design trend: olive green. The neutral yet luxurious tone borders perfectly on the cusp between gold and khaki, making it a great choice for a wide range of aesthetics. 

The undertones of olive pair well with bold oranges and yellows or muted rusts and dusty pinks alike. It also works with classics like white and black, warming a space from the inside out. While this muted green is neutral, there are ways to streamline the shade to blend it with the decor you have. One is to focus on accent pieces that enhance your new color. Despite popular opinion, bold and calming elements of design can co-exist in harmony. Therefore, implementing some stunning velvet curtains or a chair can play up the cozy warmth of the olive walls while also adding a daring punch of texture to the space. With a palette in mind, you've just got to find the right brand of paint to make the change.

A full color swap is a big step in design. If you've been noticing rooms in your home that might not benefit from cool gray paint colors anymore, it's likely time to go for the olive, but how do you know which one to buy? Sometimes it comes down to shade. Valspar's paint color of the year for 2025 was a stunning example of how names can be deceiving. Their "Warm Eucalyptus" is a dead ringer for many olive products. It provides the same internal glow with a softness that's difficult to beat. Similarly, Dunn-Edwards' "Midnight Garden" gives a moon-kissed look to the muted green. A great way to see which is right for you is to tape up warring paint samples you're considering, and see how they compare. You can also try it out on other elements to test run the color.

If you're not ready to make a big renovation commitment, there are lots of ways to add an earthy olive green touch to your home without paint. Style your home with olive-colored carpet, furniture, accent throw pillows and blankets, curtains, and artwork. This lets you embrace the sophistication of this warm color without committing to a major change right away. If you're not sick of it after a few weeks, it might be the right time for you to ditch the gray and update your home more permanently.