Chic Lime
What Chic Lime Actually Looks Like
Chic Lime is a bold, light-medium yellow-green that reads unmistakably lime on most walls. It sits in that charged zone between yellow and green, landing closer to a freshly cut lime than to either a soft sage or a pure chartreuse. It is lively and assertive, not a color that quietly blends in.
Chic Lime Undertones
The dominant pull is toward yellow-green. In bright natural light the color pops with a citrusy warmth. In lower light or north-facing rooms it can shift slightly cooler and more olive, losing some of its brightness without going muddy. Artificial warm light will push it back toward yellow.
Where Chic Lime Works Best
Chic Lime is best used as an accent or in spaces where you want real personality, a powder room, a laundry room, a home office, or a single focal wall. It takes commitment. Using it on all four walls of a large room will feel intense for most people, so consider the scale of the space before going all in.
Where to put Chic Lime
A small powder room is one of the best places to try Chic Lime. The high energy of the color works in a compact space where you want a moment of impact, and visitors are not in the room long enough for it to feel overwhelming.
If you work better with stimulation around you, Chic Lime on one accent wall behind a monitor setup can keep the room energized without boxing you in. Keep the remaining walls a neutral white or light gray to give your eyes somewhere to rest.
Utility rooms are low-stakes testing grounds for bold color choices. Chic Lime makes a laundry room feel cheerful and bright, and the practical nature of the space means the boldness reads as fun rather than overdone.
In a kitchen with white cabinetry and stainless or black hardware, a single Chic Lime wall adds a fresh, garden-inspired energy. Keep countertops and upper cabinets neutral so the color does not compete with everything else in the room.
What to Pair With Chic Lime
No coordinating colors are listed in our database for this color at this time. As a general guide, Chic Lime pairs well with crisp whites, warm off-whites, deep forest greens, charcoal grays, and rich navy blues. Natural wood tones and black metal hardware read sharp against it.
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Colors that clash with Chic Lime
If Chic Lime is used in one room that opens directly into a cool blue-gray space, the two colors will fight each other at the threshold. The yellow-green warmth and the cool gray undertones pull in opposite directions.
Strong orange or red tones in furniture, rugs, or artwork will clash with the yellow-green of Chic Lime, creating a visually busy and unsettled feeling.
Pairing Chic Lime walls with a warm creamy beige trim can make both colors look slightly off. The contrast feels muddy rather than clean.
Common questions
The LRV is 65.34, which puts it solidly in the light range. It will not darken a room, but its brightness comes more from the intensity of the yellow-green hue than from being a true pale pastel.
Benjamin Moore lists Chic Lime as an interior color only, so you would need to find a comparable exterior-rated color if you want a similar look outside.
An eggshell finish is a practical choice for most rooms, giving just enough sheen to make the color feel alive without highlighting wall imperfections. Matte works well in low-traffic spaces. Avoid flat in kitchens or bathrooms where washability matters.
Yes. Under warm incandescent or warm LED light, the yellow in the color will strengthen and the lime will shift a bit more golden. Under cool or daylight-balanced bulbs it will hold closer to a true yellow-green. Test a large sample in your specific lighting before committing.