Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher Have Broken a Key Color Rule in Their LA Farmhouse – it Shouldn't Work, But Somehow it's Masterful

We're a little bit in love with Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher's LA farmhouse – it's spacious, unexpectedly modern, yet undeniably rustic, with sustainability at its heart, thanks to the clever design by Backen & Gillam Architects⁠.

But there's one thing that goes against a major design rule – the couple's choice of a dark emerald green sofa against the gray stained wood walls. While there's nothing wrong with decorating with these shades together, the faux pas lies in pairing two dark shades in one room. If you're wondering what colors go with dark green, Mila and Ashton may have given you an unconventional answer.

Despite breaking this key living room color rule, it works beautifully, creating a cozy and inviting space. But there are a few crucial reasons for this, which I'll go into in more detail below. I've also selected a few buys that will help you recreate Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher's living room aesthetic – from a green Velvet Taper Arm Sofa from Quince, to a dark wood centerpiece bowl (Crate & Barrel), which mirrors the gray walls.

Anh Ly, former architect and founder and CEO of functional furniture store, Mim Concept, explains: 'A rich, deep sofa in a room with charred wood tones, slate walls, or espresso finishes doesn't disappear; it anchors the space and creates an atmosphere of intimacy rather than monotony.'

Shop Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher's Living Room Look

So why does this unexpected color combination work so successfully when all the design rules say it shouldn't?

Firstly, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher's living room benefits from plenty of natural light. Not only does this break through the use of dark-on-dark color but lifts and changes the way the room looks throughout the day, depending how the light falls.

Another design technique that helps create definition in this room is the combination of textures. Anh explains: 'The secret to success is layering texture and subtle tonal variation so the darkness feels intentional, not flat. A matte weave linen, a velvet sofa in a nuanced pigment and warm metallics or organic woods all break up the darkness just enough to feel curated.'

There are plenty of clever ways to use texture in interior design, but in this instance, the natural texture of the wood-panelled walls contrasts beautifully with the luxe luster of the rich green velvet. This not only adds interest and depth but prevents the colors from looking flat, as a matte-painted wall, paired with a simple cotton-covered sofa might.

Equally, the use of natural materials, such as leather of the director's chair style dining chairs (find similar at Williams Sonoma), the unpainted wood table, and fresh foliage (a faux blossom tree like this one from West Elm will work equally well), all help to lift and lighten the overall look.

Editor, Jennifer Ebert says: 'Decorating with dark gray and dark green requires some careful choices when it comes to the tones of the colors. This can make or break the room. The key? Picking a green with warm tones – olives, moss, forest greens are all yellow-leaning rather than blue-toned. Pair those greens with warm grays – think smoky (brown-toned) rather than steely (again, blue-toned). Ignore the tone, and your room can quickly feel gloomy and unwelcoming.'

She adds, of Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher's living room: 'Here, though in smaller proportions, the green is the hero color, and the gray is the grounding backdrop, echoed subtly in the tones of the wooden floor and the bowl on the table. The two also introduce texture, which is a non-negotiable in a room with a gray-green color scheme. Leave it out, and the room will feel lifeless.'

While most of us aren't lucky enough to enjoy the high ceilings or natural light that Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher's farmhouse has, you can experiment with pairing dark colors by taking away some of these elements from their quietly luxe aesthetic.

If you like the idea of an emerald sofa like Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher's, but don't have the space or light for dark gray walls, consider these other colors that go with dark green. Conversely, there are lots of ideas for decorating with gray that will help to bring warmth and coziness to your space.