Kendal Green
What Kendal Green Actually Looks Like
Kendal Green lands somewhere between a forest green and a muted hunter green. It is deep and rich without any brightness or jewel-tone intensity, and at LRV 16.3 it reflects very little light, so it reads as a full, enveloping color rather than a quiet background note. On a large wall it can feel almost blackened in certain moments, which is part of its appeal.
The quality of the light in the room shifts its character noticeably. In strong natural light, particularly direct sun, Kendal Green reads more clearly and confidently green with a bit more life in the tone. In dim artificial light or a north-facing room, the gray and olive undertones come forward and the color deepens into something closer to a shadowy, moody green that holds real atmospheric weight. Both readings are intentional-feeling rather than accidental, which is why this color works as well in a formal dining room as it does on a pair of kitchen cabinets.
Kendal Green Undertones
The dominant undertone conversation around Kendal Green centers on gray and olive, and both are genuinely present. The gray component is what keeps it from reading warm or earthy in an obvious way, while the olive element is what separates it from a clean, cool forest green. Together they produce a muted, organic quality that makes the color feel grounded rather than saturated.
Some reviewers read the olive more strongly than the gray, especially in spaces with warm artificial lighting or rooms filled with wood tones. In those conditions, Kendal Green can lean noticeably earthy and herb-like. Others, particularly those working in cooler or north-facing rooms, find the gray undertone dominant and describe the color as a sophisticated, almost greige-adjacent deep green. Both camps are right about what they are seeing: the undertone balance genuinely shifts with context. What is consistent across sources is that this is not a bright, clean, or cool green. There is no blue pulling it toward teal, no yellow pushing it toward lime. The muting agents, gray and olive, work together to keep it in firmly organic territory.
Where Kendal Green Works Best
Because of its LRV of 16.3, Kendal Green will darken any room it goes into, and that is a feature rather than a flaw when you deploy it intentionally. Studies, home offices, and libraries are natural fits. The depth creates a focused, contained atmosphere that is genuinely conducive to reading and concentrated work. Dining rooms are another strong application: the enveloping quality makes meals feel more intimate and the color holds up well under warm candlelight or pendant lighting.
On cabinets, Kendal Green is a confident choice for kitchens or bathroom vanities where you want color that reads as deliberate rather than trendy. It pairs naturally with warm wood hardware, unlacquered brass, and aged bronze without any styling gymnastics. As a front door color, it reads from the street as a classic, slightly historic deep green with enough gray to feel sophisticated rather than sporty. It works on traditional craftsman and colonial architecture, and also reads cleanly on more contemporary facades with black or white trim.
In terms of orientation, south and west-facing rooms give you the most flexibility because ample light moderates the depth. In a north or east-facing space, Kendal Green will go darker than your paint sample suggests, so testing a large swatch in the actual room across different times of day is not optional, it is necessary. Accent walls are a lower-commitment entry point that still delivers the full dramatic effect.
Where to put Kendal Green
Kendal Green reads rich and deliberate on lower cabinets, especially paired with Shell White (SW 8917) uppers and warm brass hardware. The low LRV 16.3 gives cabinets real presence without looking painted-over or chalky. Keep countertops in warm stone or wood tones to pull the earthy undertone forward rather than letting the gray cool the whole space down.
An all-over application in a dining room is where this color earns its reputation. At LRV 16.3 it creates a cozy, contained atmosphere that warm candlelight or pendant lighting makes even more inviting. White trim and ceiling keep the space from feeling closed-in, and natural linen or warm-toned upholstery on chairs prevents the green from going cold.
The depth and muted quality of Kendal Green are well-suited to a focused work space. It does not distract, it grounds. Warm wood shelving and a cream or warm neutral rug balance the LRV 16.3 without undermining the atmosphere.
Kendal Green reads as a confident, heritage-adjacent green from the street, holding its character in both direct sun and overcast light. It suits white, cream, or black trim equally well, and the gray undertone keeps it from competing with brick, stone, or natural wood siding. No other color changes needed on the rest of the exterior.
On a freestanding or built-in vanity, Kendal Green functions like a piece of furniture rather than a surface color. Pair it with unlacquered brass or aged bronze fixtures and a white or marble countertop. In a small bathroom, limit it to the vanity only since a full-room application at LRV 16.3 will read very dark without strong natural light.
What to Pair With Kendal Green
Kendal Green's coordinating palette leans into contrast and warmth rather than trying to soften or neutralize the depth. Shell White (SW 8917) is the sharpest pairing: that bright, clean white pulls out the richness of the green and gives trim, ceilings, and cabinetry interiors a crisp, high-contrast boundary that makes both colors look more intentional. If you want the palette to feel warmer and slightly more layered, a creamy warm white works alongside it without the same graphic snap.
For color accents rather than neutrals, Green Trance (SW 6462) and La Luna Amarilla (SW 9016) extend the palette in different directions. Green Trance is lighter and slightly more muted, useful for a secondary surface or an adjacent room where you want tonal connection without repeating the full depth of Kendal Green. La Luna Amarilla brings a warm yellow that plays directly off the olive undertone in Kendal Green, keeping the whole palette feeling organic and earthy. Natural wood tones, warm linens, aged brass, and terra cotta all work with this base palette.
Also coordinates with Green Trance, La Luna Amarilla.
Kendal Green vs similar colors
All comparisons are matched against Kendal Green at LRV 16.3.
Colors that clash with Kendal Green
Placing Kendal Green next to a cool blue-gray in an open-plan space lets the gray undertone in the green read cold and slightly muddy rather than earthy.
A stark cool or bluish white trim will pull the gray undertone in Kendal Green forward and make the combination feel slightly harsh rather than crisp.
Cool metallic finishes fight the earthy, organic quality that makes Kendal Green interesting and push the gray undertone in an unflattering direction.
Common questions
Kendal Green is a deep, muted green that sits between a forest green and a hunter green. It carries gray and olive undertones that strip away any brightness or warmth, giving it an earthy, organic character. It reads as dramatic and enveloping rather than soft or sage-like.
The LRV is 16.3. That is low, meaning the color reflects very little light and will make a space feel darker and more intimate. Always test a large swatch in your actual room across morning and evening light before committing, especially in north or east-facing spaces.
The Sherwin-Williams color code is SW 6467. The hex value is #547867 and the RGB is 84, 120, 103.
No. Sage greens typically have higher LRV values and a softer, lighter quality. Kendal Green at LRV 16.3 is significantly deeper and darker than the sage category. It shares some of the muted, gray-olive character of sage but delivers far more visual weight and drama.
Warm whites and creams are the most reliable pairings because they contrast the depth without cooling the tone. Shell White (SW 8917) works particularly well for trim and ceilings. Warm wood tones, natural linens, aged brass, and terra cotta all complement the earthy undertone. For color, a warm yellow accent plays off the olive component and keeps the palette feeling organic.
Yes to all three. On a front door it reads as a heritage-influenced deep green that holds up well in both sun and shade. On kitchen or bathroom cabinets it functions as a confident color statement that pairs naturally with warm metals and wood. For full exterior application it works best with white, cream, or black trim on traditional or craftsman-style homes.
Benjamin Moore Hunter Green (2041-10) is frequently cited as a comparable deep green in the same range. That said, the Benjamin Moore version tends to read slightly warmer and less gray than Kendal Green, so hold physical swatches of both in your actual space before deciding.