Dark Olive
Often used for its genuinely dark qualities, Dark Olive remains a staple for Benjamin Moore designers. It is widely considered one of the best colors in its class to anchor a room without demanding the spotlight. We've gathered 15 real-home scenarios to help you visualize this color alongside our expert data.
Hex
#616253
LRV
13.52
Dark Olive in Real Rooms
Dark Olive has a low LRV of 13.52 — it absorbs light and reads as a genuinely dark, enveloping color. It's neutral in temperature, making it adaptable across different lighting conditions and room orientations. Grouped in the Gray and Neutral family, the photos below show it applied in a bathroom, living room, bedroom, kitchen cabinets and misc.
2 Bathroom Photos
Pairing Dark Olive with natural stone like travertine or slate creates an earthy, elemental bathroom that feels connected to nature. It moves the design away from plastic-heavy modernism toward something much more timeless and tactile.
Bathroom vanity and tile work beautifully with Dark Olive walls.
@amandatutt
Mirror and fixtures complement the Dark Olive bathroom backdrop.
@thedivinemundane
2 Living Room Photos
Choosing Dark Olive for a main living area is a commitment to timelessness. It avoids the trend-cycle fatigue of brighter hues, offering a sophisticated neutrality that can be reimagined every few years simply by swapping out textiles or accent pillows. It is the ultimate foundation for an evolving home.
Sofa and fireplace draw focus against Dark Olive living room walls.
@mazzyscaliforniaranch
Seating arrangement and hearth are anchored by Dark Olive paint.
@1890sfixerupper
3 Bedroom Photos
For guest bedrooms, Dark Olive is a welcoming embrace. It's a universally appealing tone that feels clean and fresh for new arrivals, yet has enough "personality" to make their stay feel special and considered. It works across all seasons, feeling cool in summer and cozy in winter.
Headboard and bedding coordinate with Dark Olive bedroom walls.
@katiehomesteadandranch
Bedroom furniture arrangement showcases Dark Olive wall color.
@katiehomesteadandranch
Nightstands and bed frame stand out against Dark Olive walls.
@katiehomesteadandranch
2 Kitchen Cabinets Photos
Choosing Dark Olive for cabinets allows you to be more adventurous with your tile and stone choices. Because the cabinetry is so well-grounded, it can balance out a heavily veined marble or a colorful geometric backsplash without the room feeling "busy."
Cabinet doors finished in Dark Olive create visual interest.
@greennichehome
Kitchen cabinetry painted Dark Olive adds depth and character.
@greennichehome
6 Misc Photos
More spaces painted in Dark Olive, shared by homeowners and designers across kitchens, hallways, dining rooms, and beyond. This collection shows how one color can take on a dozen different personalities depending on the room.
Accent wall in Dark Olive draws the eye across the room.
@katemarkerinteriors
Coordinating Colors
White Wisp reflects far more light (LRV 78 vs 14), opening up a space where Dark Olive encloses it.
Winter Orchard reflects far more light (LRV 70 vs 14), opening up a space where Dark Olive encloses it.
Sea Haze reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 14), opening up a space where Dark Olive encloses it.
At LRV 82 vs 14, Swiss Coffee is decisively the brighter choice.
Similar Colors
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 14 vs 12), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 14 vs 14), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 14 vs 14), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 15 and 14, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Complementary Colors
A 5-point LRV gap (14 vs 9) makes Dark Olive the marginally brighter of the two.
Violet Sparkle reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 14), opening up a space where Dark Olive encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (18 vs 14) makes French Violet the marginally brighter of the two.
A 6-point LRV gap (14 vs 7) makes Dark Olive the marginally brighter of the two.
Violet Dusk reflects far more light (LRV 70 vs 14), opening up a space where Dark Olive encloses it.
Iced Lavender reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 14), opening up a space where Dark Olive encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 14, North Cascades is decisively the brighter choice.
Lighter Colors
A 6-point LRV gap (19 vs 14) makes Rooftop Garden the marginally brighter of the two.
Rolling Hills reads slightly lighter (LRV 25 vs 14), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 14 vs 14), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 8-point LRV gap (22 vs 14) makes Tate Olive the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 14 vs 14), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Darker Colors
Dark Olive reads slightly lighter (LRV 14 vs 10), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 6-point LRV gap (14 vs 8) makes Dark Olive the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 14 vs 11), so neither reads brighter in a room.