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Forest Green vs Hunter Green: what is the difference?

Trying to pick the perfect green color for your home? Let’s compare Forest Green vs Hunter Green to see which might be perfect for you!

Green paint colors are really having a moment and I am here for it.

Green is a natural, cozy color that can give your home a fabulous aesthetic.

From sage green to blue green to dark green – all shades are trending.

Forest Green and Hunter Green are two popular shades of dark green. Let’s talk about them and their similarities and differences!

hunter green vs forest green

Forest Green vs Hunter Green

Forest Green and Hunter Green are both terms to describe dark green colors.

Forest Green describes a dark green color that resembles the shade of an evergreen tree. Forest Green often has a small amount of blue to it and is usually cool toned.

Hunter Green is generally used to label a very deep and dark true green. There is a lot of overlap between emerald green and hunter green, though Hunter Green is usually darker and more muted than Emerald green. Hunter green sometimes has a slight warm tone to it, while others are more true green.

Let’s look at some paint colors that are each Forest Green or Hunter Green to better illustrate the differences.

Forest Green Paint Colors

Benjamin Moore Forest Green

benjamin moore forest green

This color is called exactly Forest Green and it’s a great example of a deep green with a dash of blue mixed in. In the right lighting, it could read as almost teal. It’s that evergreen coming through.

Click here for a peel and stick sample of Forest Green.

Sherwin Williams Rookwood Sash Green

Sherwin Williams Rookwood Sash Green

This is a very rich forest green. It has just a touch of blue undertones, and in cool light could look a bit teal. If you are looking for a deep green paint that feels cool toned, this is a great option.

Benjamin Moore essex green

benjamin moore essex green

This is an extremely dark forest green color, very dramatic and can make a room feel extremely cozy.

Click here for a peel and stick sample of essex green.

Behr Meteorological

Behr Meteorological

This is an almost teal green color because it has a lot of blue undertones to it. This jewel tone is really rich and plays well with both warm and cool undertones.

Clare Current Mood

Clare Current Mood

This trendy color has a lot of blue undertones to it, making it a beautiful teal green paint color.

Behr Rainforest

Behr Rainforest

This is a rich, true green color. It’s super dark making it moody and perfect for a small space.

Hunter Green Paint Colors

Behr North Woods

Behr North Woods

This is a deep green color with muted undertones, so it doesn’t look too green but almost black on the wall, especially at night.

See my complete north woods color review.

Sherwin Williams Shade Grown

Sherwin Williams Shade Grown

This beautiful deep green color has a vintage feel and pairs really nicely with metallic tones and light neutrals.

Click here for a peel and stick sample of shade grown.

Benjamin Moore Waller Green

Benjamin Moore Waller Green

I love that this green is very dark but not overwhelmingly green. It almost looks charcoal in certain lighting. It’s a great dark green wall color that can almost look neutral in the right lighting!

Click here for a peel and stick sample of Waller Green.

Fusion Mineral Bayberry

Fusion Mineral Bayberry

This paint is meant for furniture but isn’t it stunning. This is a really true olive green if you are looking for the perfect shade!

Sherwin Williams Rock Garden

Sherwin Williams Rock Garden

This is a deep emerald. In a bright room, it will feel energized and not dark and dreary.

Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Rock Garden.

Benjamin Moore Dakota Shadow

Benajmin Moore Dakota Shadow

This is really a gorgeous olive green paint color! It has a really earthy, boho feel to it!

Click here to get a peel and stick sample of Dakota Shadow.

Benjamin Moore backwoods

benjamin moore backwoods

This is a deep but bright olive green color, great for a look that is dramatic but doesn’t at all read black.

Click here to get a peel and stick sample of backwoods.

Behr Black Bamboo

Behr Black Bamboo

If you like an olive green, this is a great option. It’s dark but not too dark, the green tones really shine through.

Sherwin Williams Pewter Green

Sherwin Williams Pewter Green

This is the perfect earthy sage green paint color. It is gorgeous on the exterior of a home in an earthy, wooded lot!

This color is sort of on the border between mid-olive green and dark green, but I think it verges on dark green so I am including it here. It’s a great dark green interior paint color!

Accent Colors for Hunter Green and Forest Green

Hunter Green and Forest Green both pair with similar accent colors.

For neutrals, stick to creamy soft whites to nicely contrast the deep green shades.

These shades both pair well with black and deep charcoal black.

A warmer toned green, like Hunter Green, will accent strongly against a warm purple or red color (like terra cotta!)

A cooler toned blue-green, like Forest Green, pairs nicely with other shades of blue and green.

Forest Green vs Hunter Green: Which should you choose?

If you prefer to decorate with warm colors, go with Hunter Green. If you like cooler accents, choose a Forest Green! Keep your flooring, counters, and tile in mind when selecting!

Still not sure what paint color to choose?

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My Paint Color Formula ebook walks you through the painless process of expertly testing paint swatches to ensure you have the perfect color for your home.

Learn more about the Paint Color Formula here!

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Thanks for reading!

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