This Bold 1960s Color Is Making A Comeback In Our Idea House

Every year, we partner with Southern designers, architects, and builders to create our Idea House. This home is always a labor of love, designed to inspire our region and perhaps encourage Southerners to stray a little outside their design comfort zones.

That’s why for our 2025 Idea House, we decided to go bold with our paint choice in one of the most prominent rooms in the house. The living room’s walls show off vivid chartreuse paint, a hue that has woven in and out of popularity in both fashion and interior design ever since the Victorian era. It experienced a full-on revival in the 1960s and a small renaissance in the 2000s, but we believe it’s on its way back and with staying power this time.

Here’s more on this show-stopping color, plus some designer tips for incorporating it into your own home.

Chartreuse is Leading the Color Revival

Like every trend in history that has gone on for too long, the pendulum eventually swings the other way. According to designer Jenna Gross, millennial gray has actually paved the way for chartreuse to become a popular color again.

“After years dominated by beige, gray, and safe minimalism, people are craving color again,” she says. “Chartreuse stands out as a fearless, energetic alternative, and I am seeing a full embrace of its vibrancy. It’s clear that the era of playing it safe with color is over, and chartreuse is leading the charge.”

Designer Russell Goldman argues that chartreuse is actually a timeless color in some parts of the South. “In Palm Beach, chartreuse has never really gone out of style,” he says. “Here in Florida, bold colors feel native to the light and landscape—expressive rather than trendy. It’s a color that sparks curiosity and brings personality to a space without apology.”

Why We Picked Chartreuse by Sherwin-Williams

In our 2025 Idea House, we chose Chartreuse 0073 by Sherwin-Williams as the living room wall color, an approachable take on this bold hue that is a favorite among Southern designers. In fact, designers Nina Dekay Grauer and Eleanor Tate Trepte describe it as “a beautiful, more subdued chartreuse that we love.”

There’s another chartreuse by Sherwin-Williams that came up as a favorite among the designers we interviewed. Frolic 6703 is the go-to chartreuse that both Goldman and Gross often reach for, which is slightly darker and a bit more saturated than Chartreuse 0073. These colors are similar but read very differently on a large scale, so it’s worth painting a swatch of both.

Using Chartreuse as an Accent Color

If you’re not ready to apply chartreuse on a large scale, start by using it as an accent color. Designer Tate Trepte applies the trending ‘unexpected red theory’ to the color chartreuse. This theory states that a small pop of red can instantly make any space look more refined and well-designed.

“The vibrancy and energy that a bold, vivid chartreuse can bring to a space is similar to that of a beautiful, bold red,” says Tate Trepte. “Using it as an accent can add an element of energy and contrast to an otherwise neutral space.”

Goldman also thinks of chartreuse as a perfect accent hue for the color-cautious who want to make a brave design choice. “We recommend using it as a highlight—on the back of a bookcase, a sculptural lacquered side table, or as an upholstery accent,” he says. “It doesn’t need to dominate a space to leave an impression.”

Design Tip: Pair it With Teal

Chartruese has both cool and warm undertones, which makes it a surprisingly versatile color. If you aren’t sure of what color to pair it with, start with your favorite shade of blue.

“I love pairing chartreuse with blues, especially teal,” Gross says. “It plays beautifully against the yellow undertones and helps pull the cooler blue hues forward. The contrast creates a vibrant, modern palette that feels fresh without being overwhelming.”