Olive Greens for Living Rooms

warOlive green is a timeless choice for living rooms, bringing warmth, depth and an effortlessly elegant feel. Its earthy undertones work beautifully with changing light, creating a space that feels calm yet characterful.

In bright rooms, softer olive shades with golden or mossy undertones feel natural and inviting. In lower light, deeper olives with hints of brown or charcoal add warmth and richness, especially when paired with warm neutrals, wood and textured fabrics. For a bolder look, dark, almost blackened olives create a dramatic, cocooning atmosphere, particularly when accented with brass or leather.

We always recommend trying a sample pot in your own space before committing. Light changes throughout the day, and sampling is the best way to find the olive tone that feels perfectly balanced in your living room. The right olive green will ground your space while adding sophistication, warmth and timeless charm. We’ve picked some of our favourite olive shades below to spark your inspiration.

Popular Olive Green Paint Colours

Crown Trade Tuscan Olive

Benjamin Moore Dark Olive

Dulux Trade Overtly Olive

Farrow and Ball Bancha

Little Greene Olive Colour

Johnstones Trade All About Olive

Creating The Perfect Colour Scheme

When choosing an olive green for your living room, think about the mood you want to create. Lighter, mossy tones bring a soft, natural freshness, while deeper olives add richness and drama. To elevate the look, pair olive walls with warm woods, natural textures like rattan or linen, and soft metallics such as brass for a touch of elegance. For a more contemporary feel, contrast olive with crisp whites, stone, or black accents to give the room a modern edge. The right shade and styling can completely transform your space, whether you’re aiming for relaxed and inviting or bold and cocooning.

You might want to continue the olive shade across your woodwork for a bold, cohesive look often seen in period homes, or create contrast with a softer neutral or a deeper green. Both approaches can add depth and interest to the space.

Olive greens also pair beautifully with warm neutrals, soft pinks, or earthy terracottas, bringing balance and warmth to your room without overpowering it.

And don’t forget the ceiling. Keeping it a crisp white can sometimes feel stark, so try a lighter shade of green or a complementary neutral to create a more harmonious, seamless finish.

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Little Greene Olive Colour is a deep, earthy green with golden undertones. It brings warmth and character to living rooms, creating a grounded yet inviting atmosphere that feels timeless and sophisticated.

Dulux Heritage Drab is a muted olive with an understated, vintage elegance. Perfect for living rooms, it adds a sense of quiet strength and comfort, making the space feel both refined and welcoming.

Farrow & Ball Lichen is a soft, mossy green with a gentle, organic depth. In living rooms, it introduces a calm, restorative quality, blurring the line between indoors and nature for a space that feels relaxed and harmonious.