Create an on-trend interior scheme with emerald green, whether it’s a quick update or a total revamp.

Deep, vibrant, opulent and regal, this colour is sure to add show-stopping drama to a space. It sits on a spectrum of dark, moody hues and evokes dense, evergreen forest, classic British racing cars and luxurious velvets. It has been a popular interior choice since the early nineteenth century, when a new paint dye was made by mixing verdigris with arsenic.

The pigment became an overnight success, making its way into paint, wallpaper and upholstery fabrics across Europe, despite being highly toxic. While they’re thankfully no longer poisonous, walls painted in emerald green still lend a sense of opulence, especially when paired with other jewel tones, such as amethyst, sapphire blue and ruby red.

Get the look

Dark accents
Stick to a palette of limited hues, pairing emerald walls with accessories in sophisticated black and grey to add a sense of drama.

Luxury texture
Create a tactile scheme with key pieces; the above lush velvet Cenova sofa in forest green, £3,572, contrasts beautifully with the Neat shag-pile rug, £849, BoConcept

Pick a print
Use large-scale, botanical wallpaper in tonal colours to add impact. Try Cole & Son’s Palm Jungle 1003, £78 per 10m roll, for a similar look to the above.

Creating a shape with paint

Quick refresh This simple scheme by Russian designers Int2Architecture uses paint to add interest to the room. For a more complex scheme, decorate a space in green and white and then add accents in soft petrol blue or teal. 

Play with perspective

Make a short room appear longer by continuing the paint from one wall on to the ceiling, floor and surrounding walls. Our eyes are drawn to thirds, so painting a third of the adjoining wall is the natural choice. Alternatively, if the room already has a clear line to follow – such as a window frame, floorboard or row of lighting – use that to draw your gaze through the space.

Subtle finish

For a layered look, paint different surfaces, such as brickwork and flooring, in the same hue. Use a matt paint suitable for all materials for a consistent finish

Using prints and accents

Emerald green is such an interesting and complex hue that it works well in a simple palette with additional interest from materials and textures.

Look for prints with eye-catching geometric patterns in neutral or greyscale hues, marble or wood- effect surfaces and gold metallic accents. This stylish kitchen by Los Angeles-based interior designer Caitlin Murray at Black Lacquer Design achieves the look perfectly.