Lime Rickey
What Lime Rickey Actually Looks Like
Lime Rickey is a mid-tone chartreuse green with noticeable yellow saturation. Think of the color of a not-quite-ripe pear or a bright olive. It reads lively and organic, the kind of color that instantly brings a room to life without tipping into neon territory. In person, the yellow comes through more than you might expect from the swatch, especially in warm afternoon light. Under cool LED lighting, the green side takes over and the color settles down a bit. With an LRV of 45, it sits right in the middle of the light-dark spectrum, bright enough to energize a wall but saturated enough to feel intentional.
Lime Rickey Undertones
The primary undertones are green and olive. That olive quality is what keeps Lime Rickey from reading like a simple lime green. You will notice a golden warmth underneath, almost like dried grass in late summer. Some designers lean toward calling it chartreuse because of the strong yellow push, while others categorize it more as an earthy olive-gold. Both readings are fair. In north-facing rooms, the green dominates and the color can feel a touch cooler and more herbal. In south-facing rooms flooded with warm light, the gold comes forward and the wall can almost glow. If you are sensitive to yellow, test a large sample first, because this color can surprise you.
Where Lime Rickey Works Best
Lime Rickey is an interior color that works best when you give it a specific job. It is strong enough to anchor an accent wall but too saturated for most people to wrap an entire room in. In a living room, try it on a single focal wall behind a sofa or bookcase. In a bedroom, it pairs well with natural wood furniture and linen textures when used on a headboard wall. Bathrooms are another sweet spot, especially powder rooms where a bold choice feels deliberate and fun. It also works beautifully on built-in shelving or the interior of a bookcase if you want a pop of color without committing to a whole wall.
Where to put Lime Rickey
Use Lime Rickey on a single accent wall, ideally the one your eye lands on when you walk in. Pair it with a warm white on the remaining walls and natural wood or woven textures in the furniture. The color plays well with mid-century modern pieces and brass hardware. Avoid pairing it with other bold colors on nearby walls or it starts to feel chaotic.
This is not a color most people want on every wall in a bedroom. Instead, paint the wall behind the bed and keep the rest in a warm neutral. Lime Rickey next to linen bedding and warm-toned wood creates a calming but energized feel. It is surprisingly restful in low evening light, when the olive undertone takes over and the color deepens.
In a powder room or half bath, go ahead and wrap all the walls in Lime Rickey. Small rooms handle saturated color well, and the green-gold tone feels lively against white porcelain fixtures. Brass or unlacquered brass faucets look fantastic here. Avoid chrome if possible, as it can make the color feel colder than intended.
This is Lime Rickey's natural habitat. One wall in a dining area, a home office nook, or a hallway alcove is all you need. It draws the eye without overwhelming the space. Keep adjacent surfaces in Origami White or a similarly quiet neutral so the green-gold gets the spotlight.
What to Pair With Lime Rickey
Lime Rickey's high saturation means it needs calm, grounding partners. Roman Column is a warm, creamy neutral that tones down the chartreuse energy without competing with it. Origami White is a clean, soft white that gives Lime Rickey breathing room on trim, ceilings, and molding. Together, this trio keeps the vibe fresh and balanced.
Lime Rickey vs similar colors
All comparisons are matched against Lime Rickey at LRV 45.0.
Colors that clash with Lime Rickey
Pairing Lime Rickey with a blue-toned cool gray on trim or wainscoting creates an uncomfortable contrast. The cool gray fights the warm olive undertone and makes both colors look off.
A stark, high-LRV bright white ceiling above Lime Rickey walls creates a jarring line where the two meet. The jump in saturation is too abrupt.
Red or magenta decor accents next to Lime Rickey create a Christmas-tree or tropical clash that most people do not intend. The complementary color tension is just too strong.
Common questions
Lime Rickey has an LRV of 45, placing it right at the midpoint of the light reflectance scale. It will not darken a room, but it will not brighten it the way a light neutral would either.
Lime Rickey reads warm overall, thanks to its strong yellow content and olive undertone. In cool north-facing light, the green side becomes more prominent and the color can feel slightly cooler, but the dominant impression is warm.
A warm white like Origami White (SW 7636) is the safest and most reliable trim partner. It provides clean contrast without introducing a cool cast that fights the olive-green base.
You can, but it works best in small rooms like a powder room or a home office. In larger spaces, four walls of this saturation level can feel intense. Most people prefer it as an accent wall paired with warm neutrals on the other three walls.
Both. It is a true chartreuse, meaning green and yellow are roughly equal partners. The balance shifts depending on your light source. Warm incandescent light pushes the yellow forward, while cool daylight emphasizes the green.