Move Over Sage Green: This Is The Green Paint Alternative That Designers Prefer

You'll find paint colors in every shade of the rainbow, and it's fascinating that many of them have names that sound like something delicious to eat. From brands like Behr and Benjamin Moore, there are plenty of colors to whet your appetite, including Blueberry Buckle, Strawberry Shortcake, and Pumpkin Spice. Even when you're looking for colors a little more savory than sweet, you'll find familiar favorites like paprika, olive, and sage green. But for designers, there's another shade of green paint that sounds just as appetizing as all the rest, and it's getting more attention these days than your basic sage green. Basil SW 6194 from Sherwin-Williams is an alternative color that designers recommend if you're looking for a deep, bold green that's anything but neutral.

There are a lot of green paint colors for a vibrant home, and sage has been a go-to shade for the past several years. Prized for being a versatile, neutral color, the millennial green trend in 2025 featured this soft, grounding hue as a symbol of sustainability and wellness. But in 2026, designers are starting to think about greens that go beyond the safety of sage. Designers like Danielle Davis, the founder of 56th Street Design Studio, are taking a beat when it comes to using sage greens. She tells Good Housekeeping, "It's ok to incorporate various tones and shades to complement sage green, but it doesn't necessarily have to be in every room." Instead, she recommends giving Basil green a try.

With Basil SW 6194 from Sherwin-Williams, we have a green paint color that works for walls, cabinets, vanities, kitchen islands, and can even give your home more curb appeal. Described by the company as "fragrant" and "nature-inspired", Basil is even more calming than sage greens, but it also gives a greater sense of adventure than sage does. "If you still want to paint your room green but want a different option than sage, try this," Davis says. "It will pack a punch in any room, but it is still fairly easy to pair furniture and accessories with."

Considered by some to be one of the best dark greens for home interiors, Basil is a highly saturated color that will show up even in a dark room. With subtle gray undertones, it's on the cooler side, and the blue is more dominant than yellow, something you can easily see when you compare it side by side to Sherwin-Williams' Sage Green SW 2860. There's not a hint of olive in this organic shade of green, but it still works well with natural, earthy colors like burnt orange, cream, brown, and beige for balanced temperatures. Use Basil as a moody bedroom accent wall, or give kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms a crisp, clean look by pairing it with Sherwin-Williams' Pure White SW 7005, which has just enough yellow undertones to balance the cool blue-gray in Basil.