6 min readIs it any wonder that L. Frank Baum dreamed up the Emerald City—not ruby or sapphire—for Dorothy’s journey? Perhaps it’s a spillover from years of obsessing over Wicked, but designers are currently bewitched by all things emerald. We’re noticing this vivid green, with its tinge of blue undertones, pop up across interiors from painted cabinetry to gem-like ceramics.
“Emerald is having its moment because after a decade of sage, people are ready for a green that finishes its sentences,” says designer John Maloney McNamara of Coosa. “Sage is a suggestion. Emerald is a decision.”
The drama is there, but it is not demanding or gaudy, Maloney McNamara explains. “It has the saturation of a jewel tone, but the grounding quality of something you find in nature. And it carries the atmosphere of places we love to travel to: the banquette at a Paris bistro, the bar at an old London club, a green door opening onto a courtyard in Mexico City.”
When it comes to introducing this jewel-toned hue into your interiors, Naïka Joviane Andre, founder and principal designer of NJA Interiors, recommends pairing emerald with warmer, earthy tones because they complement its natural quality and keep the green as the center of attention. Other designers like to inject this vivid color into a palette of crisp black-and-white interiors for a jolt of freshness that’s the equivalent of popping a design Altoid.
Whether you want to introduce a dose of emerald by displaying a reed diffuser like Voluspa Bewitching in moody green princess-cut glass or drench a bookcase in the Backdrop paint color Troop Beverly Hills, there are plenty of ideas that will have your friends green with envy. Here’s how designers recommend incorporating emerald into the home.
Make It Intentional
For interior designer Betsy Wentz, emerald is the happy color du jour because it helps ground all the other colors and patterns but still feels fresh. That’s one of the reasons she chose the hue for her Abner Henry lounge design.
“The lacquered stain gives it that deep color that brings the outdoors in, and it’s exactly what lets the patterned red feel intentional instead of sweet.”
Lower the Contrast
“Anything too high contrast can start looking dated,” says Fariha Nasir, interior designer and author of Home, Improved, who used Farrow & Ball Berrington Blue on the wainscoting to temper the Duck Green of the closet drawers. She used the beige-on-white botanical wallpaper as a neutral base to make sure the colors were easy on the eyes. Still, it is impossible not to notice the whimsical hue that plays up the space.
Emphasize With Shine
To lean into the gem-like quality of emerald green, designer Leah Alexander of Beauty Is Abundant chose a gradient wall sculpture from Zieta to glow up an entryway.
“Emerald—the color and the precious stone—signifies abundance, prosperity, renewal,” she says. These sentiments go hand in hand with anyone who has wanderlust and appreciates a good surprise. To emphasize the saturation, Alexander placed the art piece against a white wall for added impact.
Glamour Up With Velvet
For a timeless take on this green, integrate it into upholstery. Designer Alfredo Paredes upholstered his Ina sofa in emerald velvet to give the piece real depth that happens to change with the light—just like a genuine gem.
“Jewel tones like emeralds bring warmth and mood to a room without taking it over,” he explains.
Pair With Graphic Patterns
Painting the entryway built-ins in Benjamin Moore Chrome Green created an immediate “wow” moment that set the tone for the whole house, says Rebekah Zaveloff, cofounder and creative director of Imparfait Design Studio. The effect was further emphasized by the graphic wallpaper and floor tile, as the dramatic green served as a focal point. Integrating brass hardware added just the right dose of sophistication to keep the overall look from skewing too youthful.
Try It as a Wood Stain
For a house with a midcentury modern style, Rachel Rector, cofounder of Chinotto House, wanted to take advantage of a kitchen with plenty of natural light. She convinced her cabinetmaker to stain the cabinetry green.
“We originally envisioned a warmer, more olive-toned green, but our client fell in love with the saturation of the emerald against the warm white walls and neutral wood floors,” she says. “It feels tropical and bold, and it’s become one of our favorite moments in the home.”
Layer on Jewel Tones
Emerald is nice, but when it's set against another jewel tone, the richness is intensified, yet still balanced. To lean into the vibrancy, designer Sarah Storms, of the design firm Styled by Storms, chose a variation of emerald tones and set them against the sapphire of the built-in cabinet.
“It’s the ‘new black,’” she adds. “If color is something that you may be scared of, green is often a gateway, and emerald specifically has a calmness that elevates any palette.”
Drench for Maximum Effect
A cave-like bedroom is actually just the spot to swap white walls for this verdant hue. Here, Chinotto House chose Sherwin-Williams Kendal Green to fully drench the walls and ceiling. Keeping the bedding white allowed the color to be the primary player.
“It's a primary bedroom for a single male, so we also wanted it to feel masculine and sophisticated,” Rector says.
Try It With Tile
A spa-like space doesn’t have to be neutral, as Ansley Majit, founding principal and creative director of Lark + Palm Interiors, has demonstrated by adding invigorating tile that brings joy but still reads as peaceful.
“We started with this beautiful marble, which has gorgeous green veining running through it, and the saturated green tile became a way to pull that color out and really celebrate it,” she says. “I love the combination because the marble brings movement and softness to the green, while the black-and-white marble floor is a classic, grounding moment. It gives all that color something graphic and familiar to sit against.”
Choosing the narrow option gave the design rhythm and prevented the shower from feeling too heavy.
Treat It as a Playful Element
“The brighter, more saturated shade makes me think of painted beach chairs, old gas station signs, and amusement parks,” says Tyson Ness, founder of Studio Ness. “Those flashes of color are tied to summer road trips and days at the beach.”
Adding this energetic tone to the mostly white interiors wakes up the room without taking over or distracting from the sprinkle of other energetic colors.
Find the Right Contrast
One of the reasons emerald works so well with natural stones and brassy elements is because those tones are on the other spectrum of the color wheel. Take it a bit further by contrasting the hue with deep plums and purplish colors. That’s the trick to making it feel equally suited for a traditional or contemporary home, points out designer Blair Burton, who paired emerald glazed tile with aubergine cabinetry, black stone, aged brass, and warm wood.
“On paper, green and purple might sound like a lot of color, but because both are deep and complex rather than bright, they feel rich together rather than competitive,” she adds.
Choose a Centerpiece
A malachite mirror frame is quite literally the jewel box moment of this bathroom designed by Michelle Gerson.
“It ties together the touches of green in the marble floor and the wallpaper, creating a cohesive, layered space,” she says.
Invite the Whole (Green) Family
Double drenching in similar shades of green is one of the easiest ways to introduce emerald into your interiors. Create a color palette using a spectrum that ranges from chartreuse to olives to emeralds and work from there. Having the ceiling and the molding in a deeper tone, such as Little Greene Dark Brunswick Green, creates a cocoon-like effect that is offset by grassier varietals on the wall and Citrine bay window.
Introduce It as an Anchor
In a minimalist space, furniture often serves as an anchor, especially when the coloring is bold. Designer Renée Gaddis brought in the jolt of color by adding Century Furniture nightstands in a deep green that’s impossible to miss.
“Because the aniline dye is transparent, the natural figuring of the maple veneer shows through, giving the green incredible depth," she says.
