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.
Pin This for Later⤵️








I love the color! Did you continue with the trim color upstairs in the hallway? Also, did you keep the dark grey/black doors? Thanks for the great ideas! I love your blog!
Thank you! Yes, the color will continue the same way in to the upstairs hallway. We have finished that space just yet, but it will be the same there.
I never heard of Sherwin Williams Willowleaf, and now I’m obsessed! It looks beautiful.
It is absolutely just as beautiful in person. I am happy to have introduced it to you. โบ๏ธ
I absolutely love this, Lauren. Since our home sits in the woods, we have used various shades of green paint throughout our kitchen and living room to tie in with the nature all around us. But this color…wow, it’s perfect. I love how it looks with the hardwood flooring too. Thanks for sharing!
I am certain that is BEAUTIFUL!! ?