Trending color—is sage green the new millennial gray?

Move over, millennial gray! With its calming presence and earthy undertones, sage green has taken over design, from interior and fashion design to wedding trends and branding. Is it the new go-to neutral? Explore sage green’s versatility, complementary color combinations, and why it resonates strongly in today’s aesthetics. Whether you’re a designer or simply color-curious, uncover the allure of sage green.

What color is sage green, exactly? Well, it’s tricky to pin down because “sage green” encompasses a range of shades. Generally, it’s a muted, grayish-green with earthy undertones. Some might describe it as dusty, silver-green, or muted olive. Think of the soft green of sage leaves – that’s where this color gets its name!

If you’re looking for a precise definition, the most common hex code for sage green is #9ca770.

But sage green is more than just a single hex code. There’s a whole color palette of sage green shades, ranging from lighter, almost silvery greens to deeper, more muted tones with hints of brown (such as Mocha Mousse) or blue.

What is the color code of sage green in different color systems? Check out these values for a quick reference:

The sage plant has been used for centuries in embalming, as anti-congestion, to treat wounds, and as an ingredient in other herbal remedies for its astringent properties. Sage green, with all its color characteristics, is associated with the plant Salvia officinalis.

In Ancient Rome, sage was harvested in a special ceremony by people wearing clean clothes and using special tools. After that, the rest of Europe adopted sage as an essential medicinal ingredient. Later, the color sage was used in textiles and art.

What is the psychology of the color sage green? The name comes from sauge, the word for the plant sage in Old French. The origin is the Latin word sapere, which means “to have good sense.” Much of Celtic mythology was built around nature. Sage leaves were eaten to promote knowledge and immortality, and sage became a symbol of wisdom. 

Why is sage green so popular now? Sage green became popular in interior design not long ago, when many were transitioning from dark interiors. This color is perfect for creating relaxing and soothing spaces. From interior design, this color has trickled into the broader design world and popular culture.

Want to know the different shades and tints of sage green? Check out this cheat sheet with all the hex codes you need to use in your designs.

By increasing the value, we can create a rich sage green color that looks luxurious. The palette, as a whole, is excellent for a monotone interior design room.

By decreasing the value, we can create light, calming tints of sage green.

What colors go well with sage green? We’ll look at some color palette options below, but for now, just know that sage green goes beautifully with color lavender, another soothing and relaxing hue. 

There’s so much you can do with sage green. Designers have used it for everything from fashion to interior design and wedding invitations. Sage green is one of those soothing, calming colors that’s also great for skincare brands. 

Let’s take a look at some color palette inspiration.

Sage green is the gray of our generation, so mixing it with some bright colors can make a color palette more contemporary. If you’re looking for a project that’s more ‘out there,’ this color palette is excellent, with a bright vermilion red as an accent color.

Here’s the list of hex codes to get this color palette right:

If you’re feeling more experimental, try this color palette with its vibrant range of saturated hues, including green, blue, and pink colors. Because sage green is relatively subdued, it contrasts nicely with bright, saturated hues.

In this case, sage should be used sparingly. This color palette is more on the complementary side but with various punchy shades.

The hex codes on this color palette include:

Following the theme of complementary colors, this color palette offers a muted tone. Sage green provides a pop of color here, while the rest are either dark or desaturated. This type of palette would be great for a wedding invitation or a brand for a serious, professional company.

You can use this color palette with the following hex codes:

This color palette is softer and not as punchy as the first few. It’s playful and unexpected, so while not as loud, it’s just as enjoyable. Use the second shade as a background color, while the rest create emphasis in composition.

Want the hex codes for this color palette? Here you go:

Want to add a subtle yet brighter touch? Try the classic seafoam green.

These dusty mauves and the sage green make a tremendous moody spring color palette. Bright colors are popular in spring, but why not stand out with something different? These cooler tones are perfect for an elegant restaurant menu and branding.

To get this color palette, use these hex codes:

If you want to elevate the winter theme one notch, this elegant and sultry color palette is ideal. Use sage green as the accent color to balance out the darker tones. This bold color scheme is classy, too, so use it for a wedding color palette or an upscale brand.

Use this color palette in your following project with these hex codes:

In this color palette, sage green, dark purple and blue are subdued, while bright green is a cool accent color to use sparingly—think of a brand that wants to use a bright color during the spring months. This color combination could be used for a spa brand because the first shades are soothing while the last is neutral.

Use these hex codes to get this beautiful palette right:

Here’s a color palette with louder colors. This palette is unexpected yet playful, perfect if you fancy something bright and happy.

Use sage green and the darker shade as the grounding colors, while the last three are a little more out there. There’s even a shade of blue that’s pretty close to the iconic cerulean blue color.

The list of hex codes for this eye-catching color palette includes:

If you’re still into the dusty color scheme of a few years ago, you’ll love this balanced combination of relaxing and contrasting colors. Try using it in interior design or on wedding invitations. The accent color here would be purple, while the other four shades offer lighter and dark versions.

For this cool palette, you want to try these hex codes:

Looking to stay on a green color palette? These colors are great to use in combinations of three. Whether you’re into interior design, fashion, or a winter wedding invitation, this color palette is soothing and moody.

Copy these hex codes to get the greenest palette of them all:

Want more than just green? Try adding a hint of mustard yellow!

Sage green has many uses, whether as a single color or in combination with others. In this example, you can use it for wrapping paper or as a backdrop for a nature-focused design. Using irregular patterns, you can give it an extra touch of organic graphic style, making for a stunning packaging design.

While sage green can be applied to many items, we wanted to offer a sage green tone to images in this case. Adopting a sage look can only reinforce your message if you’re a brand looking for pictures to stand out from the rest. This type of image preset is great for a brand focused on the outdoors—think hiking, trekking, or even exploring. 

A soothing color like sage green is perfect for a wedding invitation. In this set of invitations, sage green is a fantastic backdrop that looks classy and unassuming. Botanical patterns just add a beautiful touch to an elegant wedding. 

Sage green is also great as a grounding color. This yoga flyer set uses shades of green, while the purple offers a nice punch. Sage green has always been connected to nature; there’s nothing better than a yoga flyer to show that. 

If you’re looking for a neutral color for a presentation, sage green is perfect. It won’t get in the way of your message—or, in the case of this presentation, your pictures. Sage green is a great color to display images because it isn’t loud and can let the content speak for itself.

Which season is sage green good for? Sage green took fashion by storm a couple of years ago, becoming what browns were in the early 2010s. It’s an excellent choice for spring, but because of its muted qualities, the fall season is also a great time to use this color. 

Sage took over interior design when transitioning from browns to dark colors became a trend. Sage green was the easiest color to adapt if you wanted a relaxed environment but still a light shade for personality. Sage green is often combined with lighter colors because it’s so flexible and allows you to choose a neutral color with a little more character than gray. 

When using sage green in your designs, you have many options to explore. Try everything from invitations to presentations, interior design, and fashion statements. Be sure to use this sage green color inspiration in your next project!

Colors can say so much, so why not build your own personal color palette by taking this quiz? Or watch our free course on color theory. And be sure to get some help from Envato. With an Envato subscription, you get access to 19+ million high-quality assets and templates across the broadest range of categories. Whether you need video content, music, graphic templates, photos, fonts, or anything in between, we’ve got you covered!