Say Goodbye To Boring White Walls With This Earthy Neutral Alternative

If you're willing to say goodbye to the all-white kitchen and other colorless rooms, you might be looking for a good replacement for your walls. When you envision alternatives to white paint, your thoughts might head straight for a selection of beiges or grays, but those can feel equally dull. Don't get stuck with those overplayed paint shades when you can embrace earthy colors, like pale green, instead. Designers are expanding their definition of neutrals in home design, and the light, pale hues of fresh vegetation are now in.

While this color use may surprise you, pale greens are among the best alternatives to white paint. Because we're surrounded by the greenery of plants outdoors, inside our homes, these shades also feel like neutrals. And since greens have a calming effect on our senses, we won't be distracted by walls in these colors like we might be with brighter options on the fandeck. Even if you're looking for a paint color to use before putting your home on the market, these outdoorsy hues can make buyers feel at ease.

There are many different pale green alternatives to choose from for your walls. There's no reason to say goodbye to earthy tones — you can pick a neutral shade of pale green that has warm undertones, such as Sherwin Williams' Honeydew, to suggest groundedness. For a soft feeling, choose a paint with gray or blue undertones, like Benjamin Moore's Thornton Sage. Or consider Paradise from AFM Safecoat for a minty look when you're in the market for a non-toxic, low VOC paint.

If you're unsure of how to decorate with nature's favorite hue on the wall, keep in mind that using pale green as a neutral background allows brighter accent colors to shine. To cultivate a dramatic atmosphere, add pops of reds or oranges, or to emphasize calm, go with blues and purples. Even though you're saying goodbye to white walls, that doesn't mean you can't use it to accessorize. Whites and greens mix nicely together, particularly in bedding. And since green evokes nature, you might consider pairing it with natural materials, like wicker, wood, and bamboo.