The calendar may have turned to the crisp days of mid-fall, but America's favorite TV personality, Martha Stewart, is still inspiring our most elegant home choices with an unexpectedly sophisticated color. This time, it's Martha Stewart's entryway color idea that embodies a design trend predicted to be a significant color story throughout 2025 and 2026. The shade in question is a serene, muted gray-green color.
This color trend is experiencing an undeniable resurgence because the cool minimalism of stark gray and white is definitively being replaced by warmer, more inviting neutrals. Timeless, elegant, and deeply calming, the serene gray-green palette resonates with the modern desire for tranquil, restorative spaces and the rise of biophilic design – and it can make your entryway more inviting.
An amalgamation of gray, green, and often subtle blue or brown undertones, this hue possesses a moody sophistication that adds remarkable depth. It is perfect for entrances and landings, seamlessly setting a refined tone, and it works beautifully as a subtle background for showcasing fine art or natural wood accents.
Color remains a powerful medium, and this nuanced shade is an easy way to make any threshold instantly more inviting. Classic, soothing, and synonymous with nature, pale green maintains a sense of peace, acting as an effective, biophilic bridge between the outdoors and the interior. When seen in enclosed rooms, on wallpapers or furnishings, the color brings relief and reassurance and elegantly reminds us of the living world beyond our four walls.
The power of this new neutral lies in its carefully balanced complexity. As Deborah Bass, director at Base Interior, explains: 'Decorating with neutrals, similar to one in Martha Stewart's home, while avoiding a minimal or stark atmosphere is a delicate balancing act between the natural light, artificial lighting and the other textures and tones used throughout. Sampling on site, in various lights including artificial lighting, and at different times of day cannot be underestimated.'
This pale green color scheme has enormous scope as a mindful décor mainstay. Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at Little Greene, notes the fundamental shift in how designers are approaching base colors:
‘We are noticing a change to the use of softer hues, such as gray-green, being used all over as a base color, just how neutrals have been used traditionally. These are very calming, positive shades with a timeless quality that are muted but not enough that they fade into the background, so they work beautifully as a foil for similar earthy tones and richer colors, which can give a more dynamic effect.’
Creating an elegant and tranquil home begins at the front door, and this quiet luxury color scheme is all about embracing and maximizing that potential. A final piece of advice: To ensure the color maintains its complexity and avoids appearing flat, integrate multiple textures – think matte paint alongside luxurious velvet, textured linen, or aged brass hardware – to give the subtle hue the dimension it deserves.
Shop the Gray-Green Edit
Decorating with gray-green is a wonderful way to invite calm, peace, and tranquility into your home. As this hue has become the quintessential 'new neutral' favored by designers, there is now an abundance of wonderfully elegant and sophisticated designs to choose from, ensuring your space feels both contemporary and timeless.
This gray-green crackle-glaze ceramic vase blends vintage charm with modern sophistication. Handcrafted with artisanal detail, it’s watertight for fresh flowers and features anti-slip pads for stability, making it a stylish and functional accent that complements the calming gray-green trend.
Add a warm, seasonal touch with the 11-inch Large Pumpkin Figurine from Hyde and EEK! Boutique™. Its dark two-tone finish makes it perfect for contemporary indoor fall or Halloween displays, solo or paired with other decor.
The gray-green Cylinder Match Holder combines minimalist design with everyday functionality. Hand-poured in Nashville, TN, it comes with 45 rainbow-tipped safety matches and a built-in striker. This refillable concrete holder adds style and spark to any shelf, gift, or ritual, with each handmade piece featuring unique color and texture variations.
