Farrow & Ball does not publish LRV; this value is estimated from the color’s hex using standard relative-luminance calculation. The matte estate finish typically reads lower.
Churlish Green sits in a fascinating spot between sage and ochre. It reads as a muted, sun-bleached green with enough yellow to keep it from ever feeling cold. Think dried meadow grass in late summer, or the inside of an old linen cupboard that has yellowed gracefully over decades.
In person it looks greener than it does on screen. The pigment balance tips toward a soft olive in lower light, then shifts warmer and more golden when sunlight hits it directly. It is not a bold color, but it is not a neutral either. It has real presence on a wall without dominating a room.
Because it is a medium-depth color, it reads darker in north-facing rooms and lighter and more buttery in south-facing ones. Flat finishes like Estate Emulsion push the green forward. A slight sheen will emphasize the golden warmth instead.
The dominant undertone is yellow, specifically a warm golden yellow that keeps Churlish Green firmly on the warm side of the sage family. There is no blue or gray lurking here. Where many greens can turn unexpectedly cool under artificial light, this one stays reliably warm.
In bright afternoon sun, the yellow undertone really steps forward and the color can read almost like a dusty mustard. In overcast or evening light, the green reasserts itself and you get more of a classic sage character. This push and pull between green and gold is part of what makes the color interesting to live with.
If you are comparing it to a true sage, Churlish Green will always look warmer and more alive. The golden base also means it plays well with wood tones and earthy materials rather than fighting them.
This is a natural fit for light, airy rooms where you want warmth without heaviness. Living rooms and bedrooms are the obvious winners. It gives a collected, slightly heritage feel without the formality of a true historic green. In a living room with good natural light, it creates a relaxed backdrop that makes wood furniture, linen, and leather look effortless.
It also works surprisingly well as a whole-house neutral if you are the kind of person who finds beige boring but is not ready for a strong color commitment. The green keeps it interesting, the gold keeps it friendly. Hallways, landings, and connecting spaces all benefit from its easy warmth.
Bathrooms and studies are worth considering too. In a smaller bathroom it adds personality without closing the space in, especially if you pair it with a clean white on trim and ceiling. In a study, it creates a calm, focused mood that is neither too stimulating nor too sleepy.
Churlish Green gives a living room warmth and character without overwhelming it. Use it on all four walls with Slipper Satin on the trim, and let natural materials like wood, rattan, and linen do the rest. South-facing rooms will feel golden and relaxed. North-facing rooms will lean more toward soft sage, which is equally appealing.
In a bedroom, the muted quality of Churlish Green is a real asset. It is calm enough for sleep but has enough personality to keep the room from feeling bland. Pair it with warm white bedding and natural wood furniture. Estate Emulsion's flat finish is ideal here, softening the walls and letting the green come forward quietly.
A study painted in Churlish Green feels grounded and focused. The warmth keeps the room from going sterile, and the green undertone provides just enough visual interest to make long hours at a desk more pleasant. Dark wood shelving and brass desk lamps are natural partners.
In a bathroom, Churlish Green brings an earthy spa quality. Use Modern Emulsion or a mid-sheen finish for moisture resistance. Keep the ceiling and trim in Wevet or Slipper Satin to maintain lightness, and lean into natural stone or warm-toned tiles to complete the palette.
Churlish Green's warm golden character means it wants company that echoes its warmth rather than fighting it. Farrow & Ball's own scheme points you in the right direction. Wevet (No. 273) on the ceiling gives you a whisper of warmth overhead without any stark white contrast. For trim, Slipper Satin (No. 2004) is a reliable choice, a creamy off-white that ties in with the golden undertone beautifully.
Shaded White (No. 201) is the accent worth exploring. It is a softer, paler companion that can work on upper walls in a two-tone scheme or on built-in cabinetry. Together these three coordinating colors create a layered, tonal palette that feels considered but never forced.
A cool blue-gray on woodwork or wainscoting will fight the golden warmth of Churlish Green, making both colors look muddy and confused.
Saturated cool reds clash hard with the olive-gold base of Churlish Green, creating a jarring, almost Christmassy contrast that neither color benefits from.
A stark, high-reflectance pure white overhead makes Churlish Green look dirtier and yellower than it really is. The contrast is too sharp.
Churlish Green has a yellow, warm, golden undertone. It is a green that leans heavily toward gold rather than blue or gray. In bright light the yellow pushes forward. In low light the sage green becomes more apparent.
It is firmly warm. There is no cool blue or gray undertone in this color at all. The golden yellow base keeps it on the warm side of the green family in every lighting condition.
Farrow & Ball recommends Wevet (No. 273) as a complementary white, Slipper Satin (No. 2004) for trim, and Shaded White (No. 201) as an accent. All three share warm undertones that complement the golden sage character of Churlish Green.
Estate Emulsion is the most popular choice for walls. Its chalky, flat finish softens the color and lets the green undertone come forward. For high-traffic areas or bathrooms, Modern Emulsion offers a slight sheen and better durability. Use Estate Eggshell on trim for a compatible low-luster look.
The hex code is #C7BF89, the RGB values are 199, 191, 137, and the LRV is 51.2. That mid-range LRV means it reflects about half the light that hits it, so it reads as a true medium-depth color, neither dark nor particularly light.
Yes, but expect it to lean more green and muted in a north-facing room. The golden warmth will be less pronounced than in a south-facing space. If you want maximum warmth, consider adding warm-toned lighting and pairing with cream or golden accessories to coax out the yellow.
