When thinking about color for a room, mint green is rarely a first choice. Right or wrong, it can conjure up images that are more institutional than cozy.
But how about this stylish kid's room we spotted over at Tara Pearce? All of the walls are painted a cool mint green, but there's nothing institutional about it. Instead, it works great with the warm wood floors. This lovely room has won us over and shown us that mint green can be charming in the home. You can find more fantastic photos of this little boy's room over at Tara Pearce.
(Image: Tara Pearce via Decor8)
Things Fall Apart: Living Alone in a Space After a Breakup
Juan's Garage Turned Modern Guest House
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Commercial Flour Sa...
10 Picnic-Ready Salads to Eat Outside
Recipe: Thai Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry
Now I feel self conscience. I never knew people thought mint green was institutional. I always thought of white, cream, and beige as institutional. I painted our powder room and the kid's bathroom mint green because I wanted some color but didn't want the hassle of painting (or repainting if I hated the color on the walls) a room with vaulted ceilings. Green felt gender neutral and went with the warm color of the cabinets and floors. Bright green felt like Miami or Hawaii (especially in small areas like a bathroom) and Hunter or Evergreen were too dark. Maybe I need to reconsider my choice.
I've seen this debated on AT before, and I LOVE mint green. Both of our bathrooms are painted almost the exact shade of the above picture and with white towels and shower curtain it feels very clean and bright. I know a lot of people get a hospital or dentist office vibe from mint green, but to me it feels vintage and classic.
I never would have made that association if I hadn't seen the title of this post first. Now, that's all I can see with the air vents near the ceiling and the industrial style light fixture. Poor kid lives in an institution… I seriously love the color, though, especially as a gender neutral choice for a nursery. But now it's ruined for me. ;)
Side note: isn't light green chosen for hospitals, dentist offices, musicians' "green room" back stage, etc. because it's considered a calming color? Sounds like a perfect reason to put it in a home, especially a child's room or a bathroom.
It can be, but I think it has more to do with context than with mint green alone.
I've never associated mint green with the "institutional" vibe either, maybe that's not really the norm anymore? That said, I love the color regardless.
Funny, I used to think of grey as "institutional," and now I can't get enough of it.
I have been institutionalized twice and the walls were not meant green, they were a dark golden yellow color. It was horrible! It was meant to being cheer to the other E.D. patients but it really just pissed me off. Mint green is my favorite with aqua being a close second, tan and chocolate brown are up there too. When I see mint, it makes me feel beautiful and I find it fresh, warm and comforting. So I say bring on the mint because mmmmmmm it's delicious.
I have been institutionalized twice and the walls were not mint green, they were a dark golden yellow color. It was horrible! It was meant to being cheer to the other E.D. patients but it really just pissed me off. Mint green is my favorite with aqua being a close second, tan and chocolate brown are up there too. When I see mint, it makes me feel beautiful and I find it fresh, warm and comforting. So I say bring on the mint because mmmmmmm it's delicious.