I Can’t Stop Thinking About the Striking Green Bookshelves in This Living Room Makeover

There’s something to be said about a striking green paint color. You know, one that truly stops you in your tracks. (For example, this studio apartment’s entire design was based around its unforgettable Kelly green paint.) 

Sure, there are lots of green built-in bookshelves on Instagram and Pinterest out there — I wrote about their mass appeal and staying power once — but those are often either muted and sage-y, or dark and forest-y. There’s something to be said about a truly vivid green paint that can make a set of built-ins go from good to great. I, for one, am in love with the green paint in this living room Before & After, one of my favorites from Apartment Therapy a few years back. 

Homeowner Lee Braden and her husband chose HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams’ Potter’s Shed for their DIY built-in bookshelf project, and the shade helps make the once-1990s-beige living room look unrecognizably luxe — like a library in their own home. 

Lee spent lots of time landing on the perfect green color. “I spent nine months mulling over color samples because I was obsessed with mimicking how an emerald stone reflects light — darker in the center and brighter towards the edges,” she told Apartment Therapy. (For more advice on picking paint colors based on lighting, check out this helpful article.)

Lee’s deliberation was worth it, as she wanted to choose the exact right shade. “I want people to feel as if they have stepped inside the jewel when they stand in the room,” she said.

A couple other details I love about these bookshelves? The Art Deco-style column caps that add a little more flair, the library ladder with cast iron rungs, and the four matching dimmable sconces between each column of shelves.

Every detail makes this living room feel a little more luxe, starting with the paint. The takeaway here? Don’t be afraid to go for bold when choosing a paint color — as with this living room makeover, it can dial up a space from good to great.

For the rest of the photos, and more info on this project, check out the full living room transformation here. For more color inspiration, check out these living room paint colors designers swear by.