Every fall the big paint companies announce their colors of the year, and I always look forward to it. This year two of the biggest names landed on the same idea: green. Benjamin Moore chose Webster Green, a rich, classic green, and Sherwin-Williams chose Celery, a soft, fresh yellow-green. With a last name like mine, you can imagine I was happy to hear it.
Green is a natural fit for Santa Barbara. Look out almost any window here and you'll see oaks, olive trees, citrus, chaparral and gardens that stay green most of the year. Bringing that color inside is one of the easiest ways to connect a home to its setting.
The quick answer: Green works beautifully in Santa Barbara homes because it echoes the landscape right outside. Webster Green suits dining rooms, libraries, cabinetry and front doors, especially in Spanish Revival and traditional homes. Celery brightens bedrooms, kitchens and beach houses. Whichever you choose, test it on your own walls first, because our coastal light changes everything.
What are the 2027 colors of the year?
Benjamin Moore's 2027 Color of the Year is Webster Green HC-130, and Sherwin-Williams chose Celery SW 6421. Both are greens, but they could hardly be more different.
Webster Green: rich, classic and grounded. Best for dining rooms, libraries, cabinetry and front doors. Pairs with warm white, brass, terracotta and natural wood.
Celery: soft, light and fresh, with a gentle yellow warmth. Best for bedrooms, kitchens, breakfast rooms and guest rooms. Pairs with crisp white, wicker, linen and soft blue.
Benjamin Moore describes Webster Green as a color with "reassuring stability with optimistic energy," and it comes from their Historical collection, so it feels at home in older houses. Celery is lighter and more relaxed, a gentle wash of color rather than a statement.
Why does green work so well in Santa Barbara homes?
Green brings the outdoors in, and in Santa Barbara the outdoors is a big part of how we live. Courtyards, loggias, patios and garden views are everywhere, and a green room makes that connection feel seamless.
Green also pairs naturally with the classic elements of our architecture. Think about a Spanish Revival home on the Riviera or in Montecito: white stucco, red tile roofs, wrought iron, Saltillo floors and arched doorways. Green alongside terracotta and cream is a Mediterranean combination that has worked for centuries, and it never looks forced.
Where should I use Webster Green?
Photo: Benjamin Moore
Use Webster Green where you want a room to feel rich and enveloping, or where you want one strong, timeless accent. My favorite places for it:
Dining rooms and libraries. Green makes a room feel warm and intimate by candlelight, perfect for entertaining.
Kitchen islands and cabinetry. A green island with brass hardware and a light countertop is classic without feeling old-fashioned.
Powder rooms. Small rooms are the perfect place to be bold. Try it on the walls, trim and ceiling for a fully wrapped look.
Front doors and shutters. On a white stucco Spanish Revival home, a green door is hard to beat.
Pair it with warm white trim (Benjamin Moore suggests White Down OC-131 in their 2027 palette), unlacquered brass, walnut or oak, and terracotta. In a north-facing room it will read darker, so plan your lighting accordingly.
Where should I use Celery?
Photo: Sherwin-Williams
Use Celery where you want light, freshness and a calm, happy feeling. It shines in:
Bedrooms and guest rooms, where it feels restful without being dull.
Kitchens and breakfast nooks, especially with white cabinetry and natural wood.
Beach homes in Carpinteria, on the Mesa or anywhere near the water, paired with crisp white, linen and woven textures.
Sherwin-Williams pairs it with clean whites like White Flour SW 7102 for a relaxed look, or a mid-tone blue like Georgian Bay SW 6509 for a coastal feel. One caution: Celery's yellow undertone can lean too yellow under warm afternoon sun or warm light bulbs, so test it carefully.
How does Santa Barbara's light change green paint?
Our light can change a green more than almost any other color, so always test before you commit. Bright coastal sun can wash pale greens out, while marine-layer mornings make greens look cooler and grayer. Inland, in Ojai or the Santa Ynez Valley, the warmer light pushes greens toward yellow.
Here's how I test with clients:
Paint large sample boards, at least two feet square.
Place them on at least two walls, including one that gets the least light.
Look at them in the morning, at midday, in the evening and at night with your own lamps on.
Live with them for a few days before deciding.
It's the same lesson I shared in my post on the most common mistake homeowners make when choosing paint colors: the color on the chip is rarely the color on your wall.
Not ready to paint a whole room?
You can try green in small, easy ways first. A front door, a powder room or a kitchen island is a low-risk start. Or bring it in through fabrics: a velvet chair, pillows, a throw or lampshades. And of course, plants count.
Green is also a lovely partner for the holidays. Webster Green with brass, candlelight and fresh evergreen garland is about as cozy as a room can get.
From the studio
If you asked me to pick, I'd choose Webster Green, and I'd put it in a dining room. Picture the walls and trim wrapped in green, a warm wood table, brass candlesticks and a low centerpiece of whatever's blooming in the garden. By candlelight it glows, and it's the kind of room where dinner turns into a long evening with friends. Celery is lovely too, but I'd save it for a sunny guest room.
I'm Kevin Green, a Santa Barbara interior designer with more than 20 years of experience, and color is one of my favorite parts of any project. The right color makes a room feel the way you want it to feel. That's what design is really about: how a space looks, feels and functions for the way you live.
Frequently asked questions
Will green paint look dated in a few years?
Classic greens like Webster Green have been used in traditional homes for generations, so they tend to age well. Lighter, trendier shades like Celery are more of the moment, so use them where they're easy to repaint, like a bedroom or a kitchen wall.
What colors go with green in a Spanish-style home?
Terracotta, cream, warm white, natural wood, brass and black wrought iron all work beautifully with green. Those are the same elements already found in many Spanish Revival homes around Santa Barbara and Montecito, which is why the combination feels so natural.
Can I use dark green in a small room?
Yes. Green can make a small room like a powder room, study or reading nook feel cozy and intentional rather than cramped. Painting the walls, trim and ceiling the same color makes the effect even stronger.
Do you offer color consultations in Santa Barbara?
Yes. I offer color consultations in person throughout Santa Barbara, Montecito, Hope Ranch, Goleta and Carpinteria, and virtually anywhere. You can learn more on my Services page.
Ready to try a little green?
If you're in Santa Barbara, Montecito or anywhere on the Central Coast and want help finding the right green for your home, or any color at all, I'd love to help. Book a free 15-minute consultation and let's talk about how you want your space to look, feel and function.