
The ‘New Neutral’ Paint Color Everyone Is Adding To Their Homes In 2025, According To Designers
Green has been a staple for years, but what is it about this particularly soothing hue that has designers all abuzz in 2025? Sage green is having a moment on everything from walls to furniture and decor. Is it a connection to nature, versatility, and range from the deep and moody to soft and subtle that makes earthy sage green a favorite?
We spoke with home designers to find out their top tips for using this beloved color.
Why Sage Green Should Be Considered a Neutral
LAUREY W. GLENN
Sage green can—and should be—viewed as a neutral, according to designer Lisa Morton. “By using this softer green color, you’ll be creating a nature-filled space that also has a comforting and cozy feel,” she says. “Following Feng Shui, this color connects to the wood element, which represents balance, harmony, and rejuvenation.” What’s not to love about adding in elements that make your home that much more serene?
Michaela Quinton, director of design at Copper Sky Design + Remodel, echoes that statement. “Sage is a soft neutral,” she says. But, “when applied to certain design elements, it can really make a statement. Sage blends with both warm and cool tones and effortlessly enhances any space.
How To Incorporate Sage Green In Your Home
Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Start Small
Florida designer Rebecca Merritt loves sage in all rooms and applications. “It feels fresh without overwhelming a space, and it’s soothing enough for bedrooms and bathrooms but still has personality,” she says. Her favorite way to introduce clients is to start small. “Think built-ins, cabinetry, or even furniture pieces.”
Designer Kelly Sutherland agrees that sage is a great choice for bedrooms and on kitchen cabinets. She even suggests using sage in laundry rooms. “If you want color, but don’t want a big punch, sage green is by far your best bet,” she says. Sherwin-Williams Svelte Sage, which has a cool gray undertone, and Benjamin Moore Galapagos Green, a richer variation, are her choices if you’re stuck on choosing the right sage paint.
“Sage green is at its best when it’s not trying too hard,” says Caron Woolsey, founder and principal of CW Interiors. “It is timeless, especially with unlacquered brass or matte black hardware. And if you’re unsure where to use it, bring it in through textiles, artwork, or an antique rug with sage undertones—just enough to dip your toe in.”
Looking for something unexpected? Stark white millwork is out and inviting sage is taking its place, according to Dallas designer Courtney Batten of Paige Studio. “It’s a fantastic choice for cabinetry or paneling, offering a fresh alternative to classic white,” she says.
Alison Gootee
Color-Drench
If you already love sage and want to decorate your space in a way that’s unapologetically lively, color-drenching is the way to go. “Our favorite sage green at the moment is Pewter Green by Sherwin-Williams,” says Nashville-based designer Wendy Smit. Complement a color-drenched space with throw pillows and a rug with “some pops of green,” she adds.
For an all-over green kitchen, a pantry, or playroom, her go-tos are Farrow & Ball’s Pigeon, a unique shade with gray, blue, and green, and Sherwin-Williams Retreat, a muted green with blue and gray undertones.
For Palm Beach designer Victoria Meadows, the more sage the better. “For a living room, I like to start with a lighter hue on the walls and ceiling in a flat finish like Benjamin Moore High Park. Then paint the doors, trim and any millwork two shades darker in a high-gloss finish like Benjamin Moore Backwoods,” she says.
“In bedrooms, a color-drenched sage creates a moody, cozy, and sophisticated atmosphere that feels both timeless and inviting,” Courtney Batten adds.
Alison Gootee; Styling: Matthew Gleason
Palette Pairing
Unsure what to mix with sage? Kitchen designer Cyndy Cantley of Cantley & Company believes sage is one of the most multi-functional colors out there. “Darker shades of green, creams, and even corals and lavender play beautifully with sage, so you are never locked into a color and can change a few accessories for an updated look,” she says.
Victoria Meadows attributes sage’s chameleon-like quality to its ability to “blend well with every single color in the color wheel,” she says.
For a fresh take, she likes a cool-toned sage wallpaper with rich cognac-toned furniture and “punchy blue accents” to create a playful spin on nature-inspired hues. “Even a busy pattern can feel calm and soothing in this earthy shade,” she says.