Timson Green
What Timson Green Actually Looks Like
Timson Green is a dark, earthy olive with a distinctly aged, flat character. It sits somewhere between a mossy forest green and a muddy khaki, reading as a serious, grounded color rather than a bright or clean one. Because its LRV is low, it absorbs a fair amount of light and makes a space feel enclosed and intimate. In bright south-facing rooms it shows its olive warmth more clearly. In low or north-facing light it can read almost brownish-black, pulling heavily toward the darker end of its range.
Timson Green Undertones
The color carries yellow-green undertones that give it an olive, almost camouflage quality. There is a muted, dusty quality to those undertones, so it never tips into a sharp or acidic green. Instead it stays earthy and restrained, closer to dried herbs or lichen than to anything bright or botanical.
Where Timson Green Works Best
This color comes from the Colonial Williamsburg collection, which means it was developed to reflect historically documented interior and exterior colors from 18th-century Virginia. That context shapes how it is best used. It suits period-style homes, craftsman interiors, traditional library or study spaces, and exterior trim or siding on homes with natural wood, brick, or stone. It is not a color that tries to feel modern or minimalist. It belongs somewhere with wood floors, aged brass, linen, and dark timber.
Where to put Timson Green
This is where Timson Green is most at home. The low LRV and earthy tone create exactly the kind of cocooning, focused atmosphere a reading room or home office benefits from. Pair with warm incandescent or amber lighting and dark wood shelving to keep it from feeling cold.
A dark olive on dining room walls works well by candlelight or warm lamp light, where the color deepens richly. Keep the ceiling lighter, in a warm white or cream, so the space does not feel like a cave during daytime meals.
As an exterior color on a period or craftsman home, Timson Green reads as a serious, historically grounded choice. It works especially well against natural stone foundations, brick, and unpainted wood accents. Avoid pairing it with stark white trim, which can feel jarring. A warm cream or bone white trim softens the contrast appropriately.
A small entryway painted in Timson Green makes an immediate, grounded impression. Because entry halls often rely on artificial light, test a large sample first. In low light the color can go very dark and flat, which may be exactly the mood you want, or may feel oppressive depending on the space.
What to Pair With Timson Green
No specific Benjamin Moore coordinating colors are assigned to Timson Green in our database. As a general pairing guide, the color works well alongside warm off-whites, deep burgundies or oxblood reds, aged gold or brass hardware, natural linen, and dark walnut or mahogany wood tones. Keep companion colors in the warm or earthy family to support the olive base.
Colors that clash with Timson Green
Timson Green has warm yellow-green undertones. Placed next to cool blue-grays in an adjacent room or on trim, those undertones can look sallow and muddy rather than earthy and intentional.
A clean, high-contrast bright white trim reads as too modern and clinical against this historically muted color. It flattens the color's warmth and makes the combination feel unresolved.
Cool gray floors pull the olive undertones in Timson Green toward a murky, unflattering middle ground where neither the floor nor the wall reads clearly.
Common questions
The LRV is 16.52, which is quite low. In practical terms that means the color absorbs significantly more light than it reflects. Rooms will feel smaller and moodier. Adequate lighting matters a lot with this color, and it is genuinely not the right choice for already dark rooms where you want to maximize brightness.
Yes. Benjamin Moore offers it in both interior and exterior formulations, which makes it versatile for period restorations where you want to carry a consistent color from outside in.
For walls in a study or dining room, an eggshell or matte finish suits the color's historical character best. A flat finish gives the most period-accurate look but is harder to clean. Avoid high-gloss on walls, which can make a dark, warm color feel harsh under direct light.
It can work, but go in with clear eyes. In low-light rooms Timson Green will read very dark, sometimes nearly black-green. If you want the olive quality to show, you need either good natural light or warm artificial lighting. In a truly dim room, consider using it as an accent wall only rather than all four walls.