I Found the Perfect Green Gray Paint Color
We finally did it! We painted the foyer and stairway. It only took me 4 months of debating over paint color samples to choose, but I finally found the most perfect green gray paint color of my dreams!
Every so often a paint color comes along that looks beautiful in literally every single type of lighting. (Sherwin Williams Sea Salt and Farrow & Ball Pigeon to name a couple.)
Sherwin Williams Willowleaf
Ever since I saw this green gray paint color called Sherwin Williams Willowleaf, there was no going back. It is THE one that is neutral with just the right hint green to make it interesting and unusual.
It is a beautifully muted green that strikes the perfect balance between earthy and elegant. It has a calming, refreshing, grounded vibe that would be versatile in all kinds of decorating styles: modern, traditional, boho, or rustic.
I’m so in love with it as an alternative to a true neutral when you want a color pop while keeping the flexibility to pair it with lots of other colors in a room.
Do you remember our all white foyer before? I still love that look, but I wanted a little bit of color. (Sherwin Williams Willowleaf felt just colorful enough without straying away from neutral. It feels daring yet safe all at the same time.)
Related: 12 Best Sage Green Paint Colors for a Relaxing Room
Related: Top Recommended Contrast Trim Paint Color Ideas
Why you should contrast trim instead of painting an entire room
There was no way I wanted to bust out scaffolding to paint the two-story wall going up our staircase. So painting the trim in a contrast color while keeping the existing white wall gave us the refresh we craved without starting completely from scratch.
- Saves money
- Saves time
- Requires less effort
- Looks historical
- Hides dirt
It took way less time, energy, and money to paint just the trim rather than repainting the entire space. We were able to keep our walls the same Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace color so we had less work on our plate.
Plus, I love how it can instantly give a room some historical charm. It almost feels like something out of Colonial Williamsburg.
An even bigger plus? The darker color hides dirt and smudges really well as opposed to white. Our girls leave evidence of dirty fingerprints everywhere, but painted trim disguises all of it.
Related: How to Paint Doors and Best Ways to Make Them Durable
More Green Gray Paint Colors We Love
I’ve shared before other sage green paint colors we considered for other room makeovers we’ve done in the past. These are some of our top favorites.
- Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog
- Farrow & Ball French Gray
- Benjamin Moore October Mist
- Benjamin Moore Saybrook Sage
I’m sure we’re going to make some people mad that we didn’t stain our wooden door, but we ended up painting the back of our front door the same SW Willowleaf color to feel continuous with the trim.
Robert and I have a few more small projects in mind for this space, so I’ll share the progress on my Instagram Stories soon.
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Hi, Lauren, I have been such a fan for a long time. I love the color! I have been looking at F&B English Grey but I like this one better. I do have a question about the trim on the doorway that goes into your dining room: did you paint both sides in the Weeping Willow? I am unsure about the transition from one room to the next. Looks beautiful!!!
It is a common question. The navy blue stops and the grey begins as it leads into the foyer.
This is an interesting color. In some photos it looks very grey and in others I see sage coming through. Did you paint all the surfaces (walls, trim, doors) in the same sheen or did you use a different sheen for the wall from the trim? Thanks, I always look forward to reading your blog.
Hi! Yes! It does catch different hues in different areas. But I love how it looks in all the lighting and spaces. We used Semigloss throughout the whole project.
Wow what a difference the color made in your entry. Gotta love paint.. :- Looks amazing.
Paint is the magic to change a space. ?
You know everything old becomes new again?
We live in a cape cod brick home built in 1950 in a historical town.
In 1974, when we moved in, Williamsburg was all the go.
Oh for a weekend in Williamsburg.
We painted our wainscoating an d trim a very rich tan.
We still refresh in same colors and.enjoy the look.
So now, we are back in style!
I love how that works too!! ??
Oh, I love it! So gorgeous, like your entire home!
Thank you, Ellen!