Sage is a color derived from the earthy, slightly gray-green coloring of the sage brush plant. Sage is used to create a calm, neutral feeling but sage green paint in a room can be overpowering and feel dull if it is not balanced with the right colors. Bring sage green paint to life with splashes of color in the furniture and décor to highlight the beauty in the subdued green hues.
1 Assess the lighting requirements of the room. If the room is devoid of natural light, the sage color risks making the room feel smaller and dull. Add a large wall mirror, paint window sills or door trim white, or add a couple of lamps to the room to counter this. If you are adding lamps, shades with white or neutral tones are best, so the light they give forth is clean and bright.
2 Choose neutral-toned furnishings in colors like wheat or taupe. Sage is a naturally a desert plant and is complemented very well by sandy or wheat colors. Lighter wooden furniture will also draw on this color combination. Avoid bright yellows; dusty yet warm hues will match with sage green, whereas bright gold and yellow will be overpowering.
3 Include a few statement items, such as a throw rug, cushions or a wall hanging which contain plum, maroon or raspberry colors in them. Adding a touch of warmth to the décor will really balance out the room and counteract any overpowering feeling the sage green color may create. Purples can also act in this way, but be even more minimalist if choosing to add purple elements into the room; the same goes for rusty orange hues.
4 Hang crisp, white curtains on the windows. Sage really benefits from white, which makes the latter seem fresher. Silver can also have this effect, but it needs to be used sparingly; a silver candelabra on the mantle, or a silver frame for a wall mirror will brighten the sage.
