Meet the Hue TikTok Has Dubbed a “Gateway Color”

It’s no secret that TikTok loves a viral design moment. And from the 4.6 billion views and counting on #IKEA to Amazon holiday ornaments in a Shea McGee–approved shade, it’s safe to say TikTok loves relatability, too. Cue creator Avery Brynn’s hilarious hypothesis that stealth neutral sage green is actually a “gateway” to a more inspired palette of colors and prints at home. 

The shade, Brynn says, goes with everything from bolder hues like plum, light blue, and mustard yellow—or the “Anthropologie colors,” in her words—to toile-adorned chinoiserie. That it’s practically a neutral makes it a valuable tool in the peace accord–like negotiations that might accompany moving in with a partner when your preference skews more toward Serena & Lily and earth tones than Dallas Cowboys merch. There’s a phycology to it, says Michael Rolland, paint expert at The Paint Shed: “Sage green evokes a natural gentleness and is inherently unintimidating.” High-stakes cohabitation quibbles or no, sage green is a longtime editor and reader favorite. 

Keep reading for proof that sage pairs well with a variety of colors in any room. 

Sunny Color-Blocking

Boldness is the name of the game in this artist and first-time homeowner’s sun-washed kitchen. The effect is helped along by grounding green lower cabinets in an earth tone, which gives way to a radiant marigold hue that continues toward the ceiling. 

Pretty in Pink

Pairing gray-green walls with mauve, terracotta, and rose-hued accents creates a striking yet calming color combo in this nursery, which was created by an interior decorator for her son.

Purple Perfection

Nowhere does sage green’s power as a pseudo-neutral stand out more than in this sleek basement reno, where it plays a sophisticated second fiddle to the sitting area’s striking lilac accents.

Monochromatic Magic

Sometimes it’s an understatement that makes the biggest impact. Case in point: this serene soaking tub vignette in Molly Baz’s monochromatic bathroom.

Peachy-Keen Playfulness

High-contrast color-blocking in this London abode creates a chic but cheeky interplay between the cabinets’ gray-toned green and the peachy toe kicks and side panels.

Jewel-Toned Old-World Jubilance

More-is-more maximalism blooms in this London nursery, where verdant sage green wall paint creates cohesion among the colorful Murano glass chandelier, botanic upholstery, and cheery paintings.