A sober vivacity. A composed dynamism. An austere light-heartedness. The colour olive green evokes oxymorons and does so with elegance, recalling nature and communicating relaxation. It has been present in the colour palettes of interior designers and furniture companies for some years now, mainly because of its ability to blend well with many furnishing styles: contemporary, vintage, even rustic.
How is the colour olive green?
Olive green takes its name from the fruit ofOlea europaea, the olive tree. More precisely, it refers to that slightly yellowed green of ripe olives. It is a warm, slightly earthy shade, neither too bright nor too dark. In interior design, it actually refers to a whole range, fromolivine (named after themineral of the same name) to dark olive green, which tends less towards yellow, rather than a precise shade.
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How to match olive-green walls?
Walls in this colour are a bold yet very elegant choice. With its warm undertones, it communicates a certain sense of cosiness, which can be enhanced by colour combinations with other elements in the room.
- Warm neutrals: shades such as beige, cream,ecru and dove grey enhance the warm component, giving the latter the role of discreet protagonist of the room;
- whites and greys: especially in their cold shades, they create a sophisticated balance, more suitable for contemporary and – in the case of grey (or even black) – even minimalist furnishings;
- natural wood: furniture and floors made of brown woods (from teak to walnut, from the darker shades of oak to the olive tree itself) lend themselves to both rustic and modernist atmospheres. Light-coloured woods, on the other hand, are more suitable for rooms furnished in a Nordic style;
- earthy reds and exotic yellows:burnt orange, terracotta, mustard yellow andochre create vivid contrasts;
- Metallic accents: especially in the warm tones of gold, copper and bronze, they highlight the elegance of olive green, emphasising its luxurious soul.
With Rio Verde’s Golden Prestige line of paints, you can ‘metallise’ not only the metal itself, but also a variety of materials, from wood to glass, from plastic to textiles, and even small portions of wall.
How to match furniture
This green lends itself perfectly to use as a secondary colour, combined with walls and floors in the shades listed in the previous paragraph, i.e. whites, greys, warm neutrals, natural wood, earthy reds and exotic, spicy yellows.
- In the living room: olive green will be the protagonist in a sofa or armchairs; in an important sideboard, perhaps vintage; in a console table; in coffee tables or bookcases.
- In the kitchen: on cabinet doors, combined with smooth surfaces and metal elements in minimalist and contemporary style rooms. Together with natural wood and stone for kitchens with a more rustic flavour.
- In the dining room: tables and chairs with wooden or metal frames painted olive green certainly add a touch of subtle elegance.
- In the bedroom: on linen, on the headboard of the bed or on shelves and chairs.
- In the bathroom: mosaics and small tiled areas, but also cupboards and shelves, as well as towels and textiles. Those who want to ‘dare’ with the 70s revival can also think about sanitary ware in this colour.
What materials to match?
This colour goes well with many materials.
- In contemporary style rooms: concrete and leather (in Brutalist style rooms), dark wood, metal, glass and leather(Mid-Century modern), steel (minimalism), light wood and natural fabrics (Scandinavian style).
- In rustic style environments: rough wood, stone, jute, terracotta.
In general, it also lends itself to use in fabrics and materials with rich textures and intricate patterns.
What is the difference between olive green and khaki?
Khaki – to which we have already devoted an article – is a shade of beige that can have olive-green undertones. In the variant khaki green, Anglo-Saxons sometimes equate it with olive green.
