The color green sits at an interesting intersection. It can read as a nature-inspired, refreshing lift for a room. But when the color darkens, it envelopes like a moody, sensual, all-embracing cocoon.

Designers love to play with both palettes, but they especially excel with darker greens that add drama, richness and sophistication.

“Green has almost become a neutral at this point in interior design,” said Lucas Goldbach, partner and design director of Chicago-based En Masse Architecture and Design. “I often lean toward olive tones simply because olives bring a bit more warmth.”

Below are designers’ favorite dark green paint colors, starting with one of Goldbach’s go-to shades.

Sherwin-Williams | Ripe Olive

For this butler’s pantry in southwest Michigan, Goldbach wanted to contrast the adjoining kitchen while providing a dark backdrop for countertop clutter. “The darker green helps conceal elements that would otherwise stand out,” Goldbach said. “The color also references the verdant land the house occupies.”

The color above the wainscot, Benjamin Moore Dove Wing, adds a pleasing cream accent to the moodier green. Countertops are Copacabana Quartzite from Illinois-based Marble and Granite Supply. The wide plank white oak floors are sourced from Boen Wood Flooring.

Benjamin Moore | Caldwell Green

“We find ourselves reaching for Benjamin Moore's Caldwell Green time and time again,” said Rose Zefferino, CEO and principal designer of Pennsylvania-based Z. Domus Designs. “It carries this incredible richness—classic, but never stuffy. That’s exactly the sweet spot we aim for when choosing paint for custom cabinetry or millwork.”

Zefferino used the color on a mudroom’s paneled millwork for a project in Wayne, Pennsylvania. To ground the saturated color, brick flooring was laid, and a warm wood bench was placed above the storage space. “Thanks to the natural light pulling through the windows, the space transforms hour by hour—feeling earthy and fresh in the morning, then dramatic by dusk,” Zefferino said. “It just proves you don't have to play it safe in utilitarian spaces.”

Benjamin Moore | Guacamole

For a New York Upper West Side lawyer’s office, designer Tara McCauley used Benjamin Moore’s Guacamole, “a richly saturated color with warm, mossy undertones,” said McCauley. “It pairs handsomely with warm brown furniture.”

In stronger daylight, the color reads warmer and a bit more olive; as the light drops, it deepens, becoming closer to a true dark green. “At night, with the lamps on, it gets almost velvety and the room feels much more enclosed,” McCauley said.

Sherwin-Williams | Olympic Range

Creative director Alykhan Velji used Sherwin-Williams’ Olympic Range on an auxiliary room in his Calgary home. The result was a burnished, opulent look. “The tone is moody and rich, has lots of character, but doesn't collide with the neutral tones in the rest of the house,” said Velji of Alykhan Velji Designs.

Dark butterfly-motif wallpaper on the ceiling adds a touch of whimsy to the space. “I love styling this area and making it look different every time we collect something new from our travels,” said Velji. “It’s an ever-changing decor space in our home.”

Farrow & Ball | Studio Green

“For this living room project we wanted to drench the room with the deepest tone of green to read almost black,” said Ashley Powell, co-founder and interior designer at Dayton, Ohio-based Roseberry Allen. Farrow & Ball’s Studio Green delivered the look of a “moody haven,” she said. “The room almost feels like it’s sheathed in green suede.”

The play of light and shadow from sunlight creates a cool glow during the day before shifting to the atmospheric evening look. “We kept the palette fairly tight with a narrow range of neutrals and golds mixed with more deep green velvet,” Powell said. Also: a single pop of a jewel-toned-pattern on a pair of upholstered side chairs.

Benjamin Moore | Hunter Green

For this Washington D.C. row house kitchen, designer Kate Donahue used Benjamin Moore’s Hunter Green to give the space interest and character. “The ceiling height still allows the room to feel bright and welcoming,” said Donahue, director of design at Four Brothers Design + Build in Washington, DC.

The green cabinets were paired with light countertops, walnut cabinets in the island, and warm brass hardware.

“Hunter Green reacts beautifully to changing light,” Donahue said. “In brighter daylight, it reads as a rich botanical green, while in the evening it deepens into something moodier and more dramatic. This gives the room a lot of dimension throughout the day.”

Benjamin Moore | Vintage Vogue

Benjamin Moore’s Vintage Vogue was used on bookshelves in this Newton, Massachusetts home built around 1910. “The color reads like an organic green in brighter light, and during the nighttime, reads like a smoky green,” said Hannah Oravec, owner of Massachusetts-based Lawless Design.

Built-ins were paired with vintage furniture, and the home’s wood beam ceilings, fireplace and stained glass windows furthered the classic look.

Benjamin Moore | Pinelands

“We chose this deep green for a mudroom because the home is set in a wooded location—the color helps connect the interior to its natural surroundings,” said Tracy Morris, principal of Virginia-based Tracy Morris Design.

Morris said the color pairs well with wood paneling, woven baskets and soft textiles. “The green also connects seamlessly to other rooms in the home that feature greens, creams, and natural woods,” Morris said. “It creates a sense of continuity as your eye moves from space to space.”