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This article has been written by Miljana Drincic – a professional architect and interior designer – to ensure the content is unique and insightful.
Olive green is a tranquil tone that can make your bedroom feel serene and create a warm and inviting ambiance.
However, if olive green is used incorrectly, it can make your bedroom feel gloomy and oppressive.
So how do you use olive green in a bedroom correctly?
To decorate your bedroom with olive green properly, use olive green as either an accent or secondary color to stop it from overpowering the room – use olive green rugs, accent wallpaper, artwork, and furniture. Pair olive green with primary earthy pastel colors for balance.
In the rest of this article, I have used the knowledge gained through my work as a professional interior designer to give you 7 complete olive green bedroom ideas that you can copy or adapt as you see fit.
I have provided a custom mockup for each design so that you can see exactly how to use the olive green in that context.
I have also included the hex values of the main colors so that you can create your own palettes in the Adobe color wheel.
Related: 10 colors that go with dark green bedroom walls.
7 Professional Olive Green Bedroom Ideas
Below are 7 olive green bedroom ideas for you – complete with a full description of how to create the same look.
1: Lay an Olive Green Rug to Create Depth
Olive drab hex value: #6B8E23
Light brown hex value: #C8A87F
In this example, the olive drab rug adds to the visual depth of the room.
If you place the shorter edge closer to the door, its long side accentuates the length of the side walls.
The work table is a counterpoint at the far end of the room.
Because the walls are a low saturated brown, the furniture is mainly white – making the room feel lighter.
The floor lamp encircles this corner of the room.
The wall decoration above the bed is wooden – along with the nightstands – bringing contrast and warmth through the natural materials.
You can use decorative objects and houseplants to create flow.
This means that they’re connected by their attributes – such as texture or color.
The position and size of the green poster creates a visual unity with the carpet.
The white furniture at the far end creates a separate ambiance – the same goes for the wooden furniture around the bed.
Symmetrically placed nightstands and table lights create an ambiance that seems still and peaceful.
The brown color on the surrounding walls brings out the liveliness of olive drab.
The floor is neutral and goes well with the white furniture pieces.
The atmospheric lighting is provided by a warm LED ceiling baffle – placed above the credenza and parallel to the sidewalls – accentuating the green poster.
The curtain neutralizes the surroundings by following the established color scheme.
How to Copy This Design:
Place a large, olive drab carpet perpendicular (shorter edge) to the door.
Get a neutrally colored credenza and place it next to the carpet to enhance the perception of depth.
Put together a work/reading area at the far end of the room and use a task light to accentuate it – it can be a floor or table light.
Furnish the room with white furniture to make it feel light.
Use a light brown color for the surrounding walls, and a similar color for the curtain.
Use at least two more accessories that follow the green color palette – like the poster and the plant in this example.
Install a warm red ceiling baffle for atmospheric lighting.
Task lights can be placed on the work table and nightstands, or as floor lamps.
Take inspiration from these 22 LED bedroom lighting ideas.
2: Apply Olive Green Wallpaper to Create Rhythm
Olive green hex value: #808000
Beige hex value: #D8CAB5
Light brown hex value: #8F7768
Wallpapers are stylish and easy to incorporate into any space.
Even if you didn’t have a specific idea in mind when furnishing your bedroom, you can implement it subsequently through the use of the color and the texture of the wallpaper.
You can go for a more durable and expensive block print – or you can opt for machine print that is cheaper and can contain vinyl that enhances resistance.
The olive green wallpaper’s look and position immediately influences the flow of the room, especially when you use geometric patterns.
In this example, it is a simple linear composition – creating a nice ambiance with the armchair of the same olive green color.
The curtains are transparent – allowing the black window frames to be seen.
The rhythm is further supported by the shelves on the wall overlooking the wallpaper – they are rectangular and form a separate composition.
By adding a small, warm-colored rug, you can make the reading corner more pleasant.
The color of the carpet makes the green tones seem warmer.
The incandescent pendant light in front of the wallpaper makes the reading area functional and accentuates the color.
The general area lighting is baffled, allowing the desired ambiance to dominate.
With olive green wallpapers, I like the walls in beige and light brown.
The contrast is sufficient to make an effect – yet is not too big, which may bother the eye.
The dark floor in this combination weights the room whilst mosaic wood flooring becomes a part of the rhythm.
How to Copy This Design:
Place olive green wallpaper so that it creates an ambiance.
It can be in a reading area – like in this example – behind a table, a chest, or you can simply combine it with an attractive light.
Add another piece of furniture or accessory shaped or decorated in the same manner.
The motifs are usually geometric, or nature’s motifs.
Paint the room in earthy colors – in my experience, a combination of light brown and beige looks great.
You can use one color, but use beige with lighter olive, and a darker brown for dark olive tones.
Dark mosaic wood flooring goes great with geometric wallpaper.
A warm-colored carpet makes the ambiance cozy.
You can put up draw draperies to match the carpet.
The transparent curtain shows the black window frames, which become a part of the rhythm.
The rest of the furniture can be wood, with a natural finish.
The darker chest in front of the wallpaper draws additional attention to it.
Keep the accessories neutral – like the black and white canvas above the bed.
You can use one general ceiling diffuse light, and an incandescent pendant light for the wallpaper, as in the image.
For the general lighting, I use warm white LED.
Since we are aiming for ambient light in this design, it’s important that the color of both sources is warm.
Check out these 15 small bedroom lighting ideas from a pro designer.
3: Include Olive Green Textures to Create Harmony
Olive green hex value: #808000
Olivine hex value: #9AB973
Dark olive hex value: #556B2F
Brown hex value #765039
For this design, think about the variety of materials and textures.
Pick out several pieces in olive green tones, and see how they blend in together harmoniously.
You can find a marble green tabletop and make it warm and appealing by placing textiles in the room – such as cushions, armchairs, or curtains.
This design particularly focuses on bringing together carefully thought-out furnishing pieces.
The dark wood cladding on the wall feels serious yet stylish and the polished marble top on the credenza contrasts it – its reflective attribute makes the wall seem brighter.
The organic pattern on the curtain and the house plant creates a space where you can be centered and calm.
In my experience, using brown-red for the wall behind this area works well.
Pink can show up in small accessories, to add a fresh look.
The floor is dark, so it blends with the cladding and walls.
I would also advise using dark furniture next to the wood boards on the wall – it will blend in with the background nicely.
On the opposite side, however, you can use lighter pieces, like the bed and chair in the image – this sort of contrast replenishes the space.
The light green canvas on the opposite side brings the theme together with color and motif.
You can use shelves similar to the color of the wall to make them seem like one whole.
For light sources, use incandescent or halogen lights for the full effect.
You can use a recessed downlight and a pendant ambient light in the area with olive green.
If you use different colored light sources, it will seem confusing, so install all warm-colored sources.
How to Copy This Design:
For cladding, use fiberboard or plywood that you can paint a dark olive color.
Place a dark, hardwood furniture piece close by.
Add a dark olive polished material on top, if it’s not part of the original furniture piece.
You can use a vase or another accessory of similar finishing.
Add more textures, like olive green textiles – this could be in the form of an armchair, curtain, or carpet.
A house plant is always welcome because it adds to the variety of textures.
Pink details and olivine wall decor are great assets to the design.
Add an incandescent pendant atmospheric light.
Use an LED or halogen downlight above the bed as accent lighting.
You can add a general diffused light on the ceiling if you want to have equally distributed light throughout the whole room.
Here are 10 dark accent wall ideas for your bedroom that you can try.
4: Hang a Large Olive Green Canvas to Create Emphasis
Olive green hex value: #808000
Olivine hex value: #9AB973
Dark olive hex value: #556B2F
Light brown hex value #D3C7AE
The way objects come together is important for the general perception of a space.
Using furniture with straight lines – especially when notable in size – greatly influences the balance.
This design principle can be applied whether you wish to make changes to your current bedroom or apply the theme from scratch.
I prefer inserting a large canvas – or another olive green accessory – when the space is neutral (dominant black, white, and grey).
In this example, the environment is almost completely white – so the emphasis is on the canvas.
In my opinion, white, beige, and yellow furniture fit the best.
If you use any other color that immediately catches the eye, the olive green might not be dominant enough.
Use neutral and pastel in the color palette.
Pick light olive tones to avoid the element looking heavy – dark olive on the wall might create an uneasy feeling.
Keep the light-colored objects higher above the ground.
Black and white decoration offers a variety of shapes in the field of view and lets the olive green canvas take over.
You can make interesting corners by combining accessories that vary in character.
For example, the large black and white canvas and the plant make a good combination of texture, color, and shadow – this creates a pleasant dynamic.
By placing the canvas directly above the bed, you are making a distinctive visual unit.
This design considers a minimalist approach: the furniture form is simple, there aren’t many accessories, and the color palette is neutral, with one color (optional) and olive green.
To make the green warmer, paint the wall on which the accessory is placed a light brown color, such as the one in the image.
The balance in the room is better when the color is similar to the flooring.
Use a diffused ceiling light and task lighting on your work desk or nightstand.
Since the room is neutral, you can use neutral or warm white light.
For a gentle look, use long, transparent white curtains.
How to Copy This Design:
Find a large accessory in olive green and a place where it can be fully visible.
If using a canvas, I suggest putting it up above the bed.
It makes a strong impression and is immediately appealing.
Paint your bedroom in a light color, and feel free to gently accentuate the wall behind the canvas.
The rest of the accessories can be neutral.
Combine the details – as has been done with the striped canvas in the back and the house plant.
This corner enhances the character of the room.
Furnishings can be light wood, and so can the floor – this works especially well with the light brown wall.
Use a simple lamp for general lighting on the ceiling.
A task light for the workstation should be treated like the rest of the furnishing, in terms of color and material.
You can use neutral or warm white light sources.
Here are 8 ways to decorate the wall opposite your bed.
5: Place Olive Green Furniture to Create Balance
Olive green hex value: #808000
Olivine hex value: #9AB973
Dark olive hex value: #556B2F
Light brown hex value #BEA89D
This design focuses on color tones and furnishing pieces.
Objects of the same color tend to group together in our minds.
So we can make visually pleasing compositions by using olive green furniture.
I would advise using variations of olive green because it makes a dynamic environment.
The floor is subtle, with light green patterns.
Keep in mind the various tones of olive green, and how they’re distributed through the space.
Dark olive is suitable for the carpet, credenza, and details.
Olive green works well for the chair and the bed because it links the floor and the wall.
Olivine is great for shelves because it’s the lightest of the tones in this combination.
In this example, the furniture pieces on opposite sides of the room are similar in size.
When thinking of balance, choose different proportions of elements.
I prefer placing them asymmetrically if they are similar in size – like the olivine-colored shelf above the bed and the credenza on the opposite wall.
The rug greatly influences the proportion of the room.
It corresponds to all other furnishing pieces and is often the first thing we see upon entering.
In this example, it connects the two sides of the room.
I like to add a personalized corner in every bedroom I design with my clients.
This could be a working or reading area – or simply a bench above the radiator – where you can sit and enjoy a book in natural light.
The cushions are a dark olive color in this example.
The floor is textured vinyl in white and green.
When designing with olive green, you can use almost any flooring option.
It works well with the texture of the carpet, which makes it look warmer.
The lighting is a general diffused ceiling light and a task light for reading.
You can use neutral or warm light sources.
How to Copy This Design:
Get a variety of olive green furniture pieces.
Place them in different parts of the room and connect them with an olive green rug.
Keep in mind that the darker elements look heavier.
Dark and drab olive should be closer to the ground – like the rug and cushions in this example.
Olive green and olivine colors go higher above the ground, and on larger pieces, like the shelf and credenza.
Pastel brown walls and curtains create contrast while looking gentle.
Let in plenty of sunlight by using transparent white curtains – this is essential for the reading corner at the far end of the room.
Use a variety of lighting – from general, to task and ambient.
The general light on the ceiling should be diffused.
You can use neutral or white light sources.
Here are 12 ways to make your bedroom look indie.
6: Highlight Linear Olive Green Elements to Create Structure
Olive green hex value: #808000
Light brown hex code #D4C3AC
Even the most essential elements of your home can become part of the design.
Have you thought about painting your visible heating system, or placing electrical cords in colorful cases?
Most of the heating bodies can be painted as well.
With copper, metal, and iron pipes, you should first remove the surface debris.
Apply primer, and then use sandpaper to make them smooth.
Consult the workers in your local paint store on the type of paint that suits your needs.
To add more elements to the design, place electrical cables in PVC tubes.
They are usually rectangular and come in white.
You can paint them the olive green tone that you like the most.
In addition to painting the installation system, you can do the same with the window profiles.
Use a café curtain, covering only the bottom part of the window.
It reveals the olive green window frame and serves as a visual pause between the window and the radiator.
Paint the walls beige or pastel pink, so that the linear elements stand out.
In my opinion, some of the furnishing pieces should also have linear character, such as the bed frame and bookshelf in the image.
The coat rack goes well with the flower motif in the picture, curtain, and bedding ensemble.
The image of the light blue sky above the bed brings more nature motifs.
The floor and credenza lean toward the yellow palette.
The credenza and the ceiling light are designed in the same manner.
Accessories, such as candles and decorative tins, evoke a slightly rural and warm feeling.
In this design, I have used warm white light for the ceiling, as well as task lighting beside the bed.
How to Copy This Design:
Prepare and paint your heating pipes, and place electrical cords in PVC cases.
If you’d like, you can paint the heating body as well.
You should consult your local paint store on the type of paint that you need.
There are special, heat-resistant paints that you can get.
In my opinion, painting window frames will nicely contribute to the design – it adds more linear elements and color.
Paint only the interior sides if you already have glass installed.
Use patterns with similar motifs on some of the accessories, such as bedding, curtains, and pictures – a floral design is shown as an option in the image.
A decorative bed frame is a nice and simple addition – it is treated linearly, as is the wooden coat rack.
Use floorboards and furniture that lean toward the yellow palette.
You can combine some details, such as the credenza handles and ceiling light.
Consider using multiple storage units, and customize the handles.
Use neutral or warm white light and multiple light sources.
You can add a switch next to your bed to control the general light.
You can connect it to a task light for reading if you prefer.
Here are 7 tips for designing a minimalist bedroom with little money.
7: Place an Olive Green Ceiling Detail to Create Ambience
Olive green hex value: #808000
Light brown hex value #DDCCB2
Placing lights in architectural elements is extremely popular in bedroom design.
It usually includes the installation of downlights in the ceiling.
What I’ve noticed, in practice, is that it is often combined with decorated furniture.
This combination usually turns out kitsch.
You can use an integrated ceiling light with style and give your room character.
However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
Firstly, I would advise using downlights instead of linear lights (LED track lights and fluorescent tubing).
Linear lights in the ceiling make the ambiance too artificial.
You should install downlights with wider cone angles because a narrow-angle, bright light resembles a spotlight – which is not comfortable in a bedroom.
A great type of downlight is called “trim less” (“plaster-in”) – it’s seamless and minimal.
Secondly, you can create your lighting layout and focus on the portion of the room that you use.
In this example, there is light above the reading area, bookshelf, and above the bed.
Thirdly, use one general area light to mitigate the downlights.
Downlights are primarily atmospheric, while general or floor lights enable us to adapt to certain situations.
A floor lamp is close to the armchair and is easily regulated if needed.
The table in the back of the room is a simple glass table.
The wooden shelves add warmth and a variety of textures.
The accessories in this example are black and white, with all the color weight on the floor and the ceiling.
I like to use a light-colored, low-saturated floor.
The most common yellow laminate tends to make the room too colorful.
If you’d like to add a color from the warm palette, I would suggest adding pastel pink, leaning toward grey.
Pastel grey/pink adds a counterweight to the olive green ceiling.
How to Copy This Design:
Construct an olive green plaster structure at the rim of your ceiling.
Install several downlights above interesting furniture pieces or accessories.
Create a layout, so that the lights are not randomly positioned.
These lights usually come with a dimmer – this allows you to control the light intensity and avoid unpleasant light.
This is primarily atmospheric lighting.
You should install a general ceiling light or task light.
The task light can be a floor or table lamp.
Use light-colored, low-saturated flooring, and light earth-colored walls.
The furniture is wooden, or black and white.
Glass furniture – such as the table in this example – blends in nicely.
The accessories are in neutral colors.
Consider using details, such as beautiful storage boxes, to raise the ambiance quality.
Create a counterweight to the ceiling, by using a warm-colored carpet.
Paint the ceiling a very light yellow, close to white.
The green ceiling will reflect some light.
Check out these 10 small bedroom ceiling design ideas.
Conclusion: Consider the Color Palette to Avoid Gloom
Olive green can bring a refreshing taste to your bedroom.
However, you should pay attention to the color palette to avoid a gloomy look.
Earthy colors go well with olive green.
I would advise using pastel colors for large areas, and higher saturated colors for detail.
Pastel pink is another color that makes a nice combination with olive green.
Using wooden floors and furniture works well since all the variations of olive green have a natural feel.
Depending on the color palette, you can use neutral, or warm white lights.
The look will be chic and relaxing with any of them.
I generally prefer warm lights in bedrooms.
Keep in mind the arrangement of the furniture and accessories.
Avoid great contrast and use various tones of olive green.
When you create an environment with these few basic principles, every tone of this color will give your bedroom a soothing and comfortable look.
Up next: check out these 11 white bedroom ideas with color to inspire you.
Image Attribution and Licensing
Main image: ‘Plants in olive bedroom’ by bialasiewicz – (used with permission and commercially licensed through Envato Elements).
All other images custom made for Bedroom Style Reviews – copyright LiveWell Media LTD (all rights reserved).
Dan is the founder and head content creator at Bedroom Style Reviews.
He has been working as a professional online product reviewer since 2015 and was inspired to start this website when he ended up sleeping on a memory foam mattress that was too soft and gave him backache.
Through in-depth research and analysis, Dan’s goal with this website is to help others avoid such pitfalls by creating the best online resource for helping you find your ideal mattress, bedding, and bedroom furniture.
Dan is a qualified NVQ Level 2 Fitness Instructor with 6 years’ experience helping clients improve their health through diet, exercise, and proper sleep hygiene.
He also holds several college and university-level qualifications in health sciences, psychology, mathematics, art, and digital media creation – which helps him to publish well researched and informative product reviews as well as articles on sleep, health, wellbeing, and home decor.
Dan also has direct personal experience with insomnia, anxiety, misophonia (hypersensitivity to sounds), and pain from both acute and long-standing sporting injuries – he enjoys writing insightful articles around these subjects to help fellow sufferers of such conditions.
Learn more about Dan here.