The 'Quiet' Color Every Designer Is Using Right Now to Add Instant Calm to Any Room

If you look back at the many beautiful houses we've toured at Homes & Gardens so far this year, a particular color appears again and again: sage green.

While the hype around sage green paints subsided slightly after its rise to fame in 2021, interior designers are again returning to this timeless soothing shade in 2026, using it in all settings, from kitchen cabinets to bedroom walls and even staircases.

A calming color that couldn't be more versatile, it makes sense that sage green has made its mark in the world of interiors once again. Powerful enough to stand up beside punchy colors yet subdued enough to ground a scheme and instantly transport you to a place of tranquillity, these houses prove the enduringly appealing power of sage.

While an all-green room could in theory be a little overwhelming, this relaxing family TV room makes a case for green in all its grounding glory.

Hollie Velten, founder of SPACES by Hollie Velten LLC explains, 'We inherited the client's green sofa and wanted to support it in a cohesive drench vs opposing it with contrast. This color has a soft undertone, so it feels calming instead of vibrant, which we wanted in this TV room, leaning into the low light for relaxing evening family TV and puzzle time, which will feel moody, vs trying to brighten it. I tend to use small repeat pattern prints, vs bold large scale in the window treatments and textiles here, to keep the softness.'

Sharing the colors that goes with sage green, Hollie adds, 'I like this color with the trim and ceiling the same, avoid white whites and use warm off-whites if necessary. Blues and plums look good with it also, and browns and woods, as it can easily feel earthy.'

While sage green works alongside almost every interior design style, it couldn't be more complementary in period properties steeped in history.

Interior designer Marion Lichtig used it throughout this Arts & Crafts Hampstead Cottage, applying a dark sage green to the dining room's walls, and bringing lighter variations of the color into the kitchen. She explains, 'I used Farrow & Ball's Green Smoke in the dining room to pick up the color of the original tiles in the fireplace with Atelier Ellis Pollen in the living room, and Green Smoke in the library to mirror the dining room to give a balance to the space.'

Marion adds, 'As Green Smoke is quite strong, I styled it with soft muted colors on natural fabrics and different textures with a jute rug so that the room would feel calm.'

Henriette von Stockhausen, founder of VSP Interiors, used sage green throughout this country home reimagined with color. She explains, 'Sage green is one of my favourite colors to work with. It has a wonderfully calming quality and feels both timeless and versatile.'

A color that couldn't be more fitting in a traditional bedroom, Henriette explains, 'In this project, we used it to create a soft, natural backdrop to the room’s scheme. The wallpaper is George Spencer Design’s Palm Stripe in Pearl Grey, which reads as a very soft sage-grey. It brings subtle movement and texture to the space without overwhelming it.'

She continues, 'Sage green works beautifully when paired with warm, gentle tones. I particularly love it with blush pinks, as we used in the bedroom, where the lead fabric was an antique, softly coloured suzani.'

'It’s an ideal choice for country house settings, as it effortlessly brings the outside in and creates a seamless, comforting transition between indoors and out. Layering it with natural materials and soft textiles enhances its warmth, making it one of the most soothing and inviting colors to live with.'

While rich, earthy tones make up this elegantly colorful London townhouse, the sage green kitchen commands attention in the best possible way.

Lishan Tham, director and founder of Studio Shan explains, 'The upper cabinets were in Atelier Ellis' Tea & Toast, to match the ceiling color as well so that the units flow seamlessly in the space. We love her colors as they are rich but calming at the same time. The lower cabinets were in Silver Lichen (Dulux), chosen to go with the striking Cristalos Maestros deep ocean green quartzite worktop, which we found at the beginning of the project and fell in love with for its color and large-scale wave vein.'

Lishan adds, 'We chose tone-on-tone colors with the barstools (green metal and ocean green leather); as well as using pops of yellows or orange in flowers, warm wood tones in cutting boards and ceramics to add contrast.'

While cheery yellow might dominate this eclectic entryway, the sage green staircase is the grounding touch that brings balance and tranquillity to the room.

Known for her love of color, interior designer Alice Palmer chose to bring in sage green to counteract the vibrancy of the yellow paint. 'For gentle contrast, I chose a soft sage green for the staircase, which sits really naturally alongside the yellow walls. I kept the original floor tiles, and I love how its monochrome pattern anchors the space and gives everything a sense of balance.'

She continues, 'While yellow and green might sound bold against a black and white floor, the muted tones and textured finish keep the look calm and inviting rather than overwhelming.'

Alice adds, 'I love mixing color and pattern to create spaces that feel bold, unique and balanced. I try to incorporate color into all of my designs, drawing inspiration from my travels in India, Morocco and the West Indies. For me, color and pattern can completely transform a home into a layered space, full of personality.'

The Sage Green Shopping Edit

A deeply relaxing color that provides respite from bolder shades, designers rely on sage green to ground their schemes and provide that all-important sense of calm in the home.

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