Color Guide: Ode to Olive

8 Reasons to Add This Sophisticated Green to Your Color Cocktail

19 May 2011
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Has someone ever suggested a color for your home that made you raise an eyebrow? I love it when I present something new to a client that makes them a bit curious or even a little apprehensive. After all, it's my job to expose you other possibilities. It's the reason why you hired me.

Introducing the color Olive. Sure the thought makes you crave a cocktail, but I'm talking about fabrics, furniture, and fascinating color combinations. Olive alone may sound like a drab hue, but within the right context it can quickly become one of your favorite colors. Why don't we give it a try:
Contemporary Kitchen by Turn Collaborative
Turn Collaborative
Olive and gray: Black marble waterfall counters paired with olive green leather and metal bar stools add high style and functionality to this contemporary kitchen.
American Traditional Kids by Love Your Room LLC
Love Your Room LLC
Olive and pink: The color palette is perfect for the young girl with discriminating taste. Deep green drapery and coronet keeps the pink wall from feeling saccharine-sweet yet making this little lady feel like the princess of her castle.
Contemporary Bedroom Contemporary Bedroom
Olive and fuchsia: This color combination works well when they are secondary accent colors. A potent combination, a little goes a long way in this glamorous high-contrasting bedroom.
Contemporary Living Room by Michael Fullen Design Group
Michael Fullen Design Group
Olive and orange: Two handsome club chairs in our feature color help to ground the room while making visual space for a pair of splashy orange doors. A toss cushion is added to the sofa for good measure.
American Traditional Dining Room by LDa Architecture & Interiors
LDa Architecture & Interiors
Olive and turquoise: Olive plays a supporting role in the midst of a vibrant hue like turquoise. The two work in tandem to enhance the warm wood dining room furniture.
Contemporary Bedroom Contemporary Bedroom
Olive and eggplant: A rich color combo of olive and eggplant evokes feelings of comfort and sensuality while providing a touch of drama — all desirable characteristics for a romantic boudoir.
American Traditional Bedroom Traditional Bedroom
Olive and sage: Variations in the same color almost always agree in a room. It provides the space with a soothing, monochromatic color palette that almost acts as a neutral.
Contemporary Living Room by Elad Gonen
Elad Gonen
Olive, plum and mustard: Sounds like horrible ingredients for a sandwich, but it's a deliciously enticing color palette. The olive accent wall reminds you of the purpose of the room. The furniture, bold and inviting, remind you that comfort and style are not mutually exclusive.

More: Olive Green: Sophisticated or Drab?
More guides to using color in home design
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Nicoll Campbell
Absolutely divine and to die for, I always rave about olive but no one believes me until they see it. Olive Sage and Forest Green with splashs of burnt orange, eggplant and caramel browns are in my homes palette and it just works, as its not to hot and not to cold.
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lisaminter
I love olive and it is the color of my seat cushions in my kitchen and I have the sofa and chair in olive in the family room. Paired with cream, cranberry red, and muted gold, I've created a space that's both comfortable and elegant. Olive is one of my favorites.
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PRO
Dura Supreme Cabinetry
I love the olive green counters and plaid chairs with the dark stained cherry cabinetry! It's a fantastic combination in this wet bar... - Mandi @ Dura

https://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/pictures/home-bars/limelight-wet-bar-dura-supreme-cabinetry-img~1da10cd903a092d8_9-2170-1-6b46cae.jpg" src=" https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/pictures/home-bars/limelight-wet-bar-dura-supreme-cabinetry-img~1da10cd903a092d8_2170-1-6b46cae-w240-h160-b0-p0.jpg" data-pin-no-hover="true" width="240" height="160" onmousedown="preventImageDrag(event)" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false" oncontextmenu="PhotoContextMenu.show(event,13429781);return false;"/>
Limelight Wet Bar · More Info

https://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/pictures/home-bars/limelight-wet-bar-dura-supreme-cabinetry-img~fb41a76403a092e4_9-2169-1-60def3c.jpg" src=" https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/pictures/home-bars/limelight-wet-bar-dura-supreme-cabinetry-img~fb41a76403a092e4_2169-1-60def3c-w240-h160-b0-p0.jpg" data-pin-no-hover="true" width="240" height="160" onmousedown="preventImageDrag(event)" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false" oncontextmenu="PhotoContextMenu.show(event,13429803);return false;"/>
Limelight Wet Bar · More Info

https://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/pictures/home-bars/limelight-wet-bar-dura-supreme-cabinetry-img~3191cb9603a09281_9-2169-1-ede3dc9.jpg" src=" https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/pictures/home-bars/limelight-wet-bar-dura-supreme-cabinetry-img~3191cb9603a09281_2169-1-ede3dc9-w240-h160-b0-p0.jpg" data-pin-no-hover="true" width="240" height="160" onmousedown="preventImageDrag(event)" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false" oncontextmenu="PhotoContextMenu.show(event,13429648);return false;"/>
Limelight Wet Bar · More Info

https://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/pictures/home-bars/limelight-wet-bar-dura-supreme-cabinetry-img~ff8125f303a092f7_9-6176-1-3bf9b24.jpg" src=" https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/pictures/home-bars/limelight-wet-bar-dura-supreme-cabinetry-img~ff8125f303a092f7_6176-1-3bf9b24-w240-h160-b0-p0.jpg" data-pin-no-hover="true" width="240" height="160" onmousedown="preventImageDrag(event)" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false" oncontextmenu="PhotoContextMenu.show(event,13429831);return false;"/>
Limelight Wet Bar · More Info
   

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