Nothing refreshes your cooking space quite like olive green kitchen cabinets. This hue has a certain energy and vibrancy to it, yet also has an earthy, muted vibe. You can choose from the brighter hues of the spectrum, or go for something more muted and muted. Either way, you can't go wrong with this kitchen color trend.
“I love using olive green in kitchens because it's a nearly neutral color,” explains interior designer Lauren Sweet Schuler, founder and principal of Studio Sweet Schuler. “It adds depth and interest without stealing the show. If you want your kitchen to feel warm, cozy, and calming, olive green is a great way to add a subtle splash of color.”
And it will complement any interior, whether it's a traditional farmhouse-style kitchen, a modern space with sleek lines and minimalist silhouettes, or something more playful with a slightly retro edge. To prove this point, here are seven green kitchen ideas in beautiful olive tones, so you can see how this shade can work in your home.
1. Match your cabinet color to your countertops
(Image courtesy of Julien Pepy Photography. Design: MIID)
Matching your olive green kitchen cabinets with other finishes in the space, such as marble countertops, kitchen backsplash and tile choices, can create a cohesive look that really highlights a more modern, sleek design.
In this modern kitchen by Paris-based studio MIID Interior Design, olive green cabinetry complements the subtle color of the marble veining, giving it an ethereal glow.
2. Paint a small kitchen
(Image courtesy of Stoffer Photography Interiors. Design by Kate Marker Interiors)
“My client's favorite color is green, so I chose Benjamin Moore's Dark Olive for the pantry,” explains Kate Marker, principal designer and founder of Kate Marker Interiors.
Kate already used earth tones in her own kitchen and knew their beauty in real life, so she made the bold choice to flood her kitchen with color, covering the kitchen cabinets and ceiling in the same earth tones to create an enveloping and elegant feel in the space.
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The dark, muted green infuses the space with equal parts rustic and elegant.
3. Pair it with wood accents
(Image courtesy of David Tsay. Design by RailiCA Design)
Olive green is a versatile color that can be used in a variety of settings. “It acts as a neutral color, not screaming, 'This color is here,' but complementing the space with natural woods and dark stains,” says Raili Clasen of RailiCA Design, the interior designer behind this modern olive green kitchen.
The earthy shade of olive green pairs perfectly with the honey tones of this wooden kitchen, creating a rustic yet calming look. “For clients who prefer something a little more fun, a splash of mustard or hot pink would be perfect,” adds Riley.
4. Use an accent color
(Image courtesy of Margaret Rajcic. Design: Kate Marker Interiors)
“I chose Benjamin Moore's Dark Olive paint because the green is natural, earthy, and unique for the kitchen,” explains interior designer Kate Marker.
Kate wanted something a little different for her home than the “typical white kitchen,” so she incorporated a soft olive green as a subtle accent color next to the space's swirling marble, creamy white tones, and rustic wood features.
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5. Balance it with lighter colors
(Image courtesy of Megan Lorenz. Design by Studio Sweet-Schuler)
When interior designer Lauren Sweet-Schuler of the namesake design firm, Studio Sweet-Schuler, first saw a sample of Sherwin-Williams' olive-green paint color, Crooked River, she immediately knew she wanted to use it in an interior project.
“We soon realized that of “I've never regretted choosing this color for this kitchen,” she says. But the space needed a balanced material palette. “The island had to be wood-like because it gets a lot of use, and white oak was the perfect color to complement the olive green we'd already chosen. Finally, we wanted a warm color for the rest of the cabinetry, so we went with Benjamin Moore's Phinney Gray for the rest of the perimeter cabinetry.”
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6. Match your cabinets to your trim
(Image courtesy of Margaret Rajcic. Design: Kate Marker Interiors)
“I wanted a color that would pop in the space, but had an organic touch and represented 'happiness,'” says interior designer Kate Marker, who specified Benjamin Moore's Mistletoe for the cabinets, trim, and doors in this modern kitchen design.
Olive green's versatility is not only reflected in its range of uses, but also in the range of shades it comes in, from deep, muddy tones to fresher, more lush tones. Benjamin Moore explains that there are touches of yellow that enhance the inviting and soothing qualities of this herbal green shade, with “Mistletoe” definitely falling on the end of the fresher, lighter end of the spectrum, which can add energy to a space, as mentioned above.
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explanation: A hint of yellow enhances the inviting and soothing feel of this herbal green shade.
7. Make them heroes
(Image courtesy of Tom Ferguson. Design: Luke Moloney Architecture)
Luke Moloney, principal of Sydney-based design firm Luke Moloney Architecture, decided to do something a little different in his own kitchen, adding deep olive green cabinetry to the minimalist space.
“The colour is Dulux's Shallot Leaf, and I chose it simply because I love it,” he says. “As this is my own kitchen, I didn't have to play it safe for my client. It's cool, warm, neutral and rich.”
“The canary yellow Vola faucet looks beautiful,” he adds of a striking addition not pictured above.
Is olive green a good color for kitchen cabinets?
Olive green is a great choice for kitchen cabinets, as some consider it a neutral shade thanks to its earthy undertones.
“The color has a naturally calming quality (much needed in a busy, task-heavy space like a kitchen) and pairs especially well with natural light,” says design editor Aditi Sharma Maheshwari. Lifestyle etc.“In fact, olive green is a great neutral color because it's not as moody as teal or as minty as sage. Plus, there are lots of colors that go with olive green, making it a great neutral tone to complement other bold colors. Think blues, pinks, and oranges.”
What color countertops would go with olive green kitchen cabinets?
When designing kitchen countertop surfaces to match olive green cabinets, it's best to choose a finish that complements the hue, such as a wooden countertop, a green-flecked terrazzo bench or a veined marble that will naturally pick up the color.
“Our favorite countertop material to pair with olive green cabinets is Danby marble, which has the green hue that's typical of this stone,” says interior designer Lauren Sweet Schuler. “Danby can be a very muted color or it can have a more pronounced veined pattern, but either way it pairs perfectly with olive green cabinets.”
