What Colors Tone Down Green Walls? [11 Color Options]

Green is an undeniably bold color choice when it comes to painting your walls. Bright colors can sometimes look harsh and a bit loud when used on interior surfaces. Finding colors to tone down green walls can be a challenge. We have researched this subject extensively to bring you an inclusive selection of colors that can tone down green walls. 

There are certain color choices that you can use to soften strong colors such as green by strategically placing these colors around your space. Adding accent colors can help tone down certain shades by adding contrast to the color palette. Many colors complement green walls, but certain tones will help to neutralize bold shades. Here are some colors that will tone down your green walls:

  1. White
  2. Neutral
  3. Grey
  4. Green
  5. Blue
  6. Gold
  7. Neutral wood tones
  8. Earth tones
  9. Black
  10. Brown
  11. Pink

Finding a color that can subdue your green-walled space is only one of the many questions that you are likely to have during your room decorating project. You may wonder what colors neutralize green and other colors that contain green undertones. You may ask yourself what colors make green and other green-tinted colors look less green. We will answer all of these questions and discuss other closely related topics in this post. Just keep reading!

Black chair at wooden desk in green open space interior with armchair and couch, What Colors Tone Down Green Walls? [11 Color Options]

1. White

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Modern loft interior of living room with green armchairs on white floorin

As the ultimate in light neutral colors, white can neutralize the look of almost any color, including different shades of green. The white-painted bottom portion of the green wall pictured above helps to dilute some of the overpowering colors of the jeweled tone green upper portion of the wall. 

A white painted wood floor also adds an urban splash of style to this space. The earth-toned planter and the bronze metallic accents also add a warm burst of color to help neutralize this deep cool green color.

2. Neutral

Warmer versions of white, shades of neutral colors are great for neutralizing surrounding colors. The green wall pictured above behind the neural colors of the bed is a great example of this decoration method.

The neutral-colored bedding grounds the green wall in the background for a soft and cozy ambiance. Gold and natural wood accents warm this space and assist the neutral shades to tone down the green shade of the wall. 

3. Grey

The perfect neutral mixture of black and white, grey is a perfect color to tone down most colors, including most shades of green. The deep dull green pictured in the example above is toned down even more by using this deep grey as a color companion. 

By brightening the space, wall lighting can also play a big part in toning down powerful colors as you can see in the example above. Wall sconces, such as those pictured below, can help you replicate this look in your space.

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4. Green

Interior mockup green wall with green sofa and green armchair in living room

Sometimes the perfect contrasting color is a different shade of the same color. In the example above, a warmer olive green mutes the vivid green color of the wall behind it and makes the space more inviting. 

The contrasting green color of the wall brings out the golden undertones of the olive green couch. This subtle but effective contrast also gives this space some dimension and depth.

5. Blue

Interior design of living room with stylish armchair. Wood paneling. Modern home staging

Green shades are a mixture of shades of blue and yellow. Shades of blue accent the space in the example above to cool and subdue the vibrant shade of green. 

The wall art uses different shades of blue and green color in an artful combination to bring these room colors together for a cohesive look. Live greenery also helps to bring some subtle contrasting colors and add a sense of dimension that can also help to draw attention away from a strong wall color.

6. Gold

Luxury interior with stylish furniture, gold decoration and elegant personal accessories.

A deep green wall can make your space appear dark and uninviting. Adding the warm sparkle of the color gold will brighten up any color, including the deep moody shade of green pictured in the example above.

The live greenery gives this living room a dimensional and airy feel. The white and gold wall art also breaks up some of the deep green colors to tone down the overall look.

7. Neutral wood tones

Stylish living room in house with modern retro interior design, brown wooden furniture, plants, decoration and perosnal accessories in home decor.

Light and slightly warm, neutral wood tones can help to neutralize a bold color such as green. As shown in the example above, this subtle shade of golden brown brings out the yellow warm tones of the bright spring green wall. 

Use light accent colors to subdue a similar color palette. White and light neutral-colored accent pieces can be added to this color combination for a softer and more inviting color scheme. 

8. Earth tones

Earth tones refer to colors that can be found in nature such as browns, greens, and blues. The particular color scheme pictured above consists of a variety of earth tone colors containing shades of orangish-brown mixed with lively green shades, representative of the colors of earthy soil and natural greens.

Combining rusty brown and green bedding helps to tone down the green walls in the background and create a boho look in this space. The wooden accents scattered throughout the room bring these earth tones together, completing the look with a calming and alluring ambiance. 

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9. Black

At first, you might not think that black is a good color to tone down anything, including your green walls. In the example pictured above, bold black furniture adds a classy contrast and combines with the bright accents scattered throughout the room to dilute the deep jewel-toned green wall.

The black couch makes the deep green wall in the background look edgy and modern while toning down the strong color. The lightly colored outline of the couch draws the eyes, causing the green wall to fade subtly into the background. 

10. Brown

Deep chocolatey shades of brown are striking and eye catching. The intensely warm color in the example above breaks up the vivid green color in the background for a timelessly classy and subdued look. 

Brown is technically an earth tone but is a deeper, richer color that is comfortable and inviting. Pairing chocolate brown accents with a green wall makes brown the focal color of this color combination. 

11. Pink

Copper lamp and table in a green living room interior.

Pink is a unique and quirky color that can add character and charm to any space. Because pink is a dilution of red, it is also a complementary color to green, making it a great choice to accent your green wall.

This bright and fun shade breaks up the intensity of the green wall in the background. Copper accents add more fun metallic color to this color scheme. 

What color neutralizes green paint?

Neutral colors neutralize green paint by muting the color green. Light neutrals like shades of grey, tan, and cream will give your shade of green a deeper color. 

Analogous colors, or those that are located beside the color green on the standard color wheel, combine with the color green to intensify the color. These are the colors that you should stay away from when trying to neutralize your green paint.

What color neutralizes green undertones?

Yellow and orange can amplify green undertones. Warm woods are notorious for bringing out even the slightest green undertones, so staying away from these colors is important if you wish to neutralize the green undertones. 

Using cooler tones such as blues, greens, or violets can help to neutralize green undertones. Your green-tinted color will be neutralized by comparison with other cool colors. 

What color makes green look less green?

Mixing any color with its complementary color will make it appear less vibrant. This method of color mixture makes bright colors, like green, look less like their original color. 

Red is complementary to green on the color wheel and will lessen the green color. Adding more blue or yellow, the two colors that make green, will tint your green to a more yellow-green or more blue-green. 

Why does my grey paint look green?

Shades of grey typically contain undertones of other colors such as green, blue, or violet. Warmer colors like reds, yellows, and oranges can bring out the green undertones in your grey paint. 

The undertones can sometimes be hard to spot. They will likely appear in your room when compared to surroundings and accents. 

Final thoughts

Green is a vibrant lively color that can bring a natural cool color into your space. Using green can be tricky indoors, especially if the lighting isn't sufficient. 

Don't give up on a fabulous shade just because it seems overwhelming in your space. First, try toning down your green walls by accenting your wall using one of the colors above. 

Before you go, here are some other articles that may be of help to you:

17 Beautiful Living Rooms With Green Walls Ideas

Should Interior Doors Be The Same Color As The Walls?

What Colors Go With Olive Green Walls?

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