Step Aside, Emerald—Meet The New Greens of 2026

Low-chroma greens are the clearest sign we’ve moved on from emerald’s glossy era. Instead of a bright, saturated jewel tone, these greens live in a quieter family—moss, olive, hunter, eucalyptus—shades with undertones of brown, gray or black so they feel calmer and more organic. In the Christiane Lemieux space above, you can see how the walls sit in a smoky, in-between of moss with charcoal—a color that absorbs light instead of bouncing it back. And the finish is what makes it feel so elevated. In matte limewash, green looks like soft shadow; in chalky plaster, it takes on a mineral, almost stone-like depth. Even in a subtle eggshell or satin finish, it has that quiet, book-cloth matte instead of emerald’s high shine.

If emerald was the pandemic’s lacquered showpiece, veined green marble is its grown-up, architectural successor. In the Jeremiah Brent-designed kitchen above, Calacatta Turquoise slabs from ABC Stone showcase big, stormy waves of forest green shot through warm white. And across the board, I’m seeing variations on this look: deep hunter greens with pale streaks (like Verde Alpi), moodier blue-greens with dramatic inky veining (think the Guatemalan marbles you’ve probably seen on chunky coffee tables) and lighter, clouded greens with milky movement. The beauty of this category is that you don’t need a full kitchen reno to get the effect—brands are translating it into everything from sculptural furniture to marble decor and lighting.

Verdigris patina is the most unexpected detraction from emerald—a finish defined not by pigment but by oxidation. It forms when copper ages, shifting into moody shades of aquamarine, sage, bronze and rust that feel textural and timeworn rather than polished or glossy. In the kitchen above—designed by architect Alessandro Giudici and paired with a Saatchi-displayed portrait—you can see its appeal: it adds instant history. And while real verdigris patina shows up in porcelain and stone tiles, the look translates everywhere—backsplashes, hardware, even custom range hoods. The best part? You don’t have to commit to actual metal or renovation-level installs; artwork, rugs and wallpaper can mimic the same mineral depth and patina-soft texture.

Tapestry-style prints are the icing here—they showcase the best of low-chroma, woodland greens with a touch of aristocratic drama. Instead of the flat geometrics we saw in 2020, today’s patterns feel pulled from a manor-house mural: shadowy forest scenes, mossy canopies and foliage rendered in murky olives, pine and bark-browns. The House of Hackney wallpaper above is the blueprint: dense, moody, layered. It turns the walls into a living landscape, which instantly makes the surrounding greens in a room feel richer and more deliberate. But of course, you don’t need a full-wall mural to get the effect. A single tapestried textile (pillow, ottoman, lampshade) delivers enough of that old-world pop.