Sage green resonates with feelings of tranquility, renewal, and progress. It makes you feel closer to nature and creates a sense of balance whether it’s used on a painter’s canvas or added to your home’s décor.
The only problem is that it isn’t a regular color you can find in your painting arsenal, and more than often, it needs to be created from scratch. So, how to make sage green color?
There are different ways to make sage green; the easiest one is mixing a dash of grey color with green. However, you will need to experiment with other color combinations, such as yellow/ blue and yellow/ blue/ red, to achieve a full array of sage hues.
Mixing colors in the right ratio is key to achieving the perfect shade of sage. I will tell you how to create a customized sage green color palette using your existing paints. So buckle up because I have several tricks up my sleeve that you’ll love.
Let’s begin with the basics!
What Is Sage Color Like?
Sage green color sits comfortably on the color wheel nestled between yellow and green, but it is predominantly a shade of green. Looking at it, you will find that sage is a gray-green hue that resembles dried sage leaves.
Since the color is connected to green, it symbolizes purity, calmness, freshness, and prosperity. It’s no wonder sage green has been hailed as a favorite in the home décor industry.
The calming visual properties of sage green combined with its timeless appeal means it can be incorporated creatively in traditional as well as contemporary spaces. So, if you want to spruce up your home or workplace interior, sage green is an excellent option to consider.
What colors make sage green?
If you’re wondering what two colors make sage green, the simple answer is green and grey. However, you should keep in mind that sage green has several shades that can be achieved by mixing other color combinations.
As sage is primarily green, you can also create it by mixing yellow and blue and tweaking the ratios to get the perfect sage color. If you’re satisfied with the initial dark sage green, you’re ready to start painting, but if you need to adjust its brightness, white paint is your best bet.
Mixing red with blue and yellow is another way to get sage color. But you should be careful adding red to the mix as it can quickly overpower the color.
Pro Tip: There are more than one ways to make sage green color, so don’t give up until you’ve given each of them a fair chance.
3 Ways To Make Sage Green Paint
If you want to create a customized sage green color palette, all you need are a few paints, a palette, and a mixing knife. Here, I will discuss three ways you can achieve the beautiful sage hue using the existing paints in your arsenal.
It’s time to mix things up!
Method 1
For this method, you’ll need four colors: blue, yellow, white, and black.
- Mix one part blue with two parts yellow to make the color green.
- Make a dark grey color with one part white and ½ part black. Remember that you can darken the color with just a dash of black but lightening it will require a lot of white paint, so add the black gradually.
- Add a little grey color that you’ve made to some of the green on the palette.
- Slowly mix the two colors to achieve the perfect hue and intensity.
Pro Tip: Work with primary colors to make the green shade, as it will allow you more control over the final result.
Method 2
This method only requires two colors: blue and yellow.
- Mix one blue and two yellow parts to create the base for your sage green color.
- Add more yellow to the mix to brighten up the color.
- You can play around with different quantities of green and yellow to get the perfect shade of sage green you’re looking for.
Pro Tip: You can add white color to the paint mix if the color isn’t light enough for your preference.
Method 3
For this method, you need red, yellow, and blue.
- Take two parts of yellow and mix it with one part of blue for a basic green color.
- Separate a small amount of the green color you created on a clear side of the palette.
- Add one part of red to the separated green color and mix until you get brownish-red paint.
- Now, gradually add the brownish-red paint to the green color for the perfect shade of sage green.
Pro Tip: Do not add red directly to the green color, as too much of it can overpower the color mix leaving you no choice but to start over.
How do you darken sage green?
If you’re not happy with the sage green color and wish it was a little darker or more neutral-toned, don’t fret because the solution is pretty simple.
All you need to do is add some grey color to the sage green, and the shade will instantly darken and look more subdued. Just make sure to introduce grey gradually so it doesn’t ruin the color you’ve already created.
Pro Tip: Adding grey will darken sage green but dull its brightness and intensity.
How to make light sage green paint?
You can lighten sage green paint by adding white to the mix. However, it will also make the color appear more subtle and muted.
If you don’t want to compromise the color’s brightness, you can add a lighter shade of green to reduce the color’s intensity but still maintain its freshness.
How To Create Sage Green Digitally?
If you want to nail the exact sage green color in your digital designs, it’s important to know its color code and identification across various systems.
The Hex code of sage green is #B2AC88, and if you’re working in an RGB colorspace, the percentage representation of the color is 70% red, 67% green, and 53% blue.
For a print project, you will need percentages for CMYK colorspace- 0% cyan, 3% magenta, 24% yellow, and 30% black.
Here are a few popular shades of sage green that you can explore in your digital creations.
| Shade Name | Hex code | RGB | CMYK Color Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sage green | #b2ac88 | 178, 172, 136 | 0, 30, 24, 30 |
| Surf spray | #aabfb8 | 170, 191, 184 | 11, 0, 4, 25 |
| Desert sage | #aaae9f | 170, 174, 159 | 2, 0, 9, 32 |
| Green lily | #b5c6b4 | 181, 198, 180 | 9, 0, 9, 22 |
| Laurel Green | #acbaa1 | 172, 186, 161 | 8, 0, 13, 27 |
| Sagebrush | #517470 | 81, 116, 112 | 30, 0, 3, 55 |
| Celadon Green | #b2c1a2 | 178, 193, 162 | 8, 0, 16, 24 |
| Silt Green | #adc3b7 | 173, 195, 183 | 11, 0, 6, 24 |
| Eucalyptus | #9cab9e | 156, 171, 158 | 9, 0, 8, 33 |
What is the best color combination for sage green?
The on-trend shade of sage green is having its moment in the spotlight as more and more homeowners are incorporating it into their living spaces. This muted color can transform your home into a peaceful haven for relaxation and attune your workplace to nature and equilibrium.
Since the color is inspired by nature, it works beautifully with natural and earthy materials and textures. It can be paired with different types of wood furniture and various materials like rattan and jute.
Here are my top 5 sage green color combinations.
Sage Green With Earthy Browns
There is something about earthy browns that instantly soothes your nerves and makes you feel grounded, but when you combine its properties with sage green, all its effects are amplified.
This color combination is perfect for homes in bustling cities as it provides a grounding connection to nature.
You could pair a sage green throw with an earthy brown or light ash neutral-toned bedspread to invite warmth into your bedroom. You could also add sage green accents to a kitchen with earthy brown cabinets.
Sage Green With Black
Here’s a color combination that demands attention for all the right reasons!
Black is a neutral color that highlights any color you pair it with, and sage green and black make for a dynamic space. This powerful color combination looks indulgent, modern, and chic and can add personality to any room.
There are several ways to use sage green with black. You could design your study or workstation in the color combination to invite positive energy. Or design your living room using the two colors for a modern and fresh appeal.
Sage Green With White
Not a fan of black for home interiors, but still want sage green to shine against a neutral backdrop? White walls are the answer you’re looking for!
White compliments sage green exceptionally and creates a fresh and calm ambiance in living spaces.
Whether you place sage green accent furniture against white walls or redo your kitchen with sage cabinets and white marble tops, the result will make you feel alive and happy!
Sage Green With Muted Orange
Sometimes, all you need is a pop of color to brighten up your space, and what better color to liven things up than warm shades of orange?
Muted orange compliments sage green very well and can be used to create some drama in an otherwise boring room. However, you shouldn’t go overboard with orange, or the sage green will lose its soothing effect in the chaos.
Instead, use warm shades of orange sparingly across the room. For example, you could add orange floor cushions against a sage green wall or place a tangerine throw on your sage green sofa.
Just remember, less is more when mixing up these two colors.
Sage Green With Dark Stone
Sage green fits right in with natural materials like hardwood floors, stone tile, butcher-block countertops, and other natural finishes.
Dark stone compliments the sage color and provides a feeling of freshness and groundedness. This color combination looks exceptional in kitchens, where dark stone can be used on counters, islands, and cabinetry, and sage green can be used on walls.
What I love about these two colors is that they can be used to create various kitchen styles, from rustic to more contemporary.
What acrylic colors make sage green?
If you need sage green acrylic paint for a project, mixing up different hues should be fun, allowing you to add depth and dimension to your painting.
Start by using sap green as the base and add zinc white, raw sienna, and ultramarine blue to the base color for sage green.
Initially, sap green was derived from buckthorn berries; since the color was organic, it wasn’t permanent enough. However, you don’t need to worry about that anymore, as sap green is now made using modern pigments that deliver lasting results.
Quick Guide For Making Sage Green With Acrylic Paint
- Place pea-sized amount of sap green, zinc white, raw sienna, and ultramarine blue on your palette.
- Using a palette knife, place half of the zinc white on a separate end of the palette.
- Mix a quarter of the sap green into the separated zinc white.
- Carefully add just a dash of raw sienna to this mix and combine the three colors until you achieve a uniform shade.
- Match the sage green to the color of your preference and make small adjustments until you’re happy with the results.
- If you want to intensify the hue, add a little more saps green.
- If you want to subdue the sage green and make it more earthy, add another dash of raw sienna.
- Suppose the color is too dark; you can lighten it up with some zinc white.
- If you prefer a cooler shade of sage green, add a little aquamarine blue to change the tone of the color.
Pro Tip: It can be tricky to add very small quantities of paint, so the best way to get the littlest possible amount is to dip your palette knife in a blob of paint and pull it out upright. The color you have sticking to your palette knife should be enough to do the trick.
FAQS
How do you make sage green food coloring?
Suppose you want sage green frosting for your forest-themed cake; you can make the color easily with food coloring. Add 6 drops of yellow and 2 drops of blue food coloring to the frosting to make a base color. Then add one small drop of brown to achieve the perfect shade of sage green.
How to mix sage green oil paint?
Mixing colors with oil paints is easier since it remains wet for longer. Simply mix two parts of yellow oil paint with one part of blue to get a base color. You can then experiment with red, yellow, and grey colors to get your preferred sage green shade.
How to make green with paint?
Green can be made using the primary colors yellow and blue, and you can tweak the amount of the two in your mix to achieve different shades of green.
Conclusion
Sage green is a unique color that symbolizes years of wisdom and the Universe’s truth. Using it for your home’s interior can evoke feelings of satisfaction and balance, something we all need at the end of a busy day.
Sage green also enhances the aesthetic appeal of your artwork when used creatively, so don’t be shy to grab some colors and start mixing them up to create a personalized sage green palette.