Benjamin Moore Tarrytown Green HC-134: A Timeless & Versatile Green Paint Color Guide

Choosing the perfect paint color for your home can feel like navigating an endless sea of options. With countless shades available, pinpointing one that truly resonates with your style and vision is a significant challenge. However, some colors stand out, offering a unique blend of elegance and adaptability. Benjamin Moore’s Tarrytown Green HC-134 is one such shade, a classic hue renowned for striking a harmonious balance between being distinctly bold and beautifully subtle.

This comprehensive guide will delve into what makes Tarrytown Green HC-134 so special, exploring its core characteristics, how it transforms in varying lighting conditions, and which colors, materials, and finishes complement it best. We’ll also compare it to similar popular greens, helping you understand its distinct personality.

By the end of this exploration, you’ll gain a deep appreciation for why interior designers frequently recommend this particular shade to homeowners seeking a green that feels both remarkably fresh and wonderfully classic. If you’re ready to discover if this enduring color is the ideal choice for your next home project, read on.

The Enduring Appeal of Tarrytown Green HC-134

Tarrytown Green Color HC-134 is a rich, captivating mid-tone green that possesses subtle, yet distinct, blue undertones. Its Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is 9.71. The LRV indicates how much light a color reflects; with an LRV of 9.71, Tarrytown Green is on the darker side of the spectrum, meaning it absorbs a significant amount of light, creating a sense of depth and coziness rather than brightness.

This exquisite paint color firmly sits on the cooler end of the green spectrum, evoking the tranquil beauty of a deep pine forest, but with a refined, slightly muted quality. This muting effect makes it significantly more versatile than many brighter, more vibrant greens, allowing it to adapt effortlessly to various design styles while still possessing enough depth and character to make a sophisticated statement.

As part of Benjamin Moore’s revered Historic Collection, Tarrytown Green carries a timeless quality, offering a thoughtful balance that prevents it from feeling either too dark or too light. This inherent equilibrium makes it an excellent choice for a wide range of applications, serving beautifully as an impactful accent color to highlight architectural features or as a primary wall color to envelop a room in elegant comfort, depending entirely on your design aspirations.

Transforming Spaces: Tarrytown Green in Different Rooms

The remarkable versatility of this deep green shade allows it to integrate seamlessly into numerous spaces throughout the home, imbuing each with its unique charm. Here’s a closer look at where Tarrytown Green truly comes alive:

Living Room: Creating a Cozy Retreat

In living rooms, Tarrytown Green excels at crafting a warm, inviting atmosphere that feels simultaneously classic and refreshingly current. Consider painting all four walls to achieve a deeply cozy, library-like ambiance, where the rich green backdrop allows your furniture, artwork, and cherished decor items to truly pop and command attention. This shade pairs exceptionally well with plush cream or off-white upholstery, natural wood tones (from light oak to rich walnut), and gleaming brass accents, which add a touch of sophisticated warmth.

For those preferring a more restrained approach, Tarrytown Green can be strategically applied to built-in shelving units, enhancing their depth and providing a curated feel. Alternatively, using it as an accent wall behind a fireplace or a console table can introduce significant visual interest and architectural definition without overwhelming the space, especially in smaller living areas.

Kitchen Cabinets: A Sophisticated Alternative

Kitchen cabinets adorned in Tarrytown Green offer a welcome and stylish departure from the ubiquitous white and grey palettes, without venturing into overly bold or trendy territory. This elegant shade pairs exquisitely with a variety of countertops, particularly those crafted from marble or quartz, especially if they feature subtle warm undertones that can be picked up by the green.

Tarrytown Green holds its own beautifully against the sleekness of stainless steel appliances, creating a dynamic contrast and adding significant visual interest to the heart of your home. For a balanced and contemporary kitchen design that promises enduring appeal, consider pairing lower cabinets in Tarrytown Green with upper cabinets painted in a crisp, light neutral like Benjamin Moore’s Simply White or Cloud White. This approach creates a sense of airiness while grounding the space with a rich, natural hue that won’t feel dated for years to come.

Bathroom Walls or Vanity: Spa-Like Serenity

Bathrooms can be transformed into serene, spa-like sanctuaries with Tarrytown Green gracing the walls. This effect is particularly pronounced when the green is harmoniously paired with classic white porcelain fixtures and an array of natural materials such as warm woods, textured stone, or woven baskets. The color truly excels in bathrooms with limited natural light, where its depth can create an intimate, luxurious ambiance without making the space feel confined. Instead, it adds a sense of richness and enclosure.

For those desiring a more understated touch, painting just the bathroom vanity in Tarrytown Green while keeping the surrounding walls in a lighter neutral can create a striking focal point. This anchors the room beautifully, adding a custom, bespoke feel that elevates the entire design without committing to a full green immersion.

Bedroom Accent Walls: A Calming Backdrop

When utilized as a bedroom accent wall, Tarrytown Green effortlessly creates a calming and sophisticated focal point, often positioned behind the bed. The color’s slightly muted quality, combined with its cool undertones, makes it exceptionally well-suited for sleep spaces, fostering an environment that feels both wonderfully cozy and profoundly restful. Its natural depth promotes tranquility, ideal for unwinding after a long day.

To cultivate a truly serene retreat, pair Tarrytown Green with soft whites, natural linen textiles, and minimal, organic patterns. The color’s cool characteristics harmonize beautifully with both crisp white bedding and warmer, creamy neutrals in window treatments and decorative pillows, offering flexible styling options for a personalized and peaceful bedroom.

Exterior Siding or Front Door: Welcoming Curb Appeal

On home exteriors, Tarrytown Green makes a subtle yet impactful statement, seamlessly connecting with the natural landscape elements while significantly enhancing curb appeal. As a siding color, it pairs beautifully with clean white trim, natural stone accents, and dark roofing, creating a sophisticated and grounded aesthetic that feels deeply rooted in its surroundings, whether rural or suburban.

For a charming and distinctive entrance, Tarrytown Green as a front door color offers a refreshing alternative to traditional black or navy, while still maintaining a classic and refined sensibility. The shade looks particularly striking against homes with brick facades or light-colored siding, creating a warm, inviting welcome that exudes character and timeless style. It’s a choice that speaks of understated elegance and a connection to nature.

Curating Your Space: Tarrytown Green Furniture & Decor Pairings

The secret to allowing Tarrytown Green to truly flourish in your space lies in selecting the right complementary decor. These carefully considered pairings will highlight the color’s innate beauty, helping you craft balanced, cohesive, and visually appealing rooms.

Complementary Neutrals: Softening the Palette

Tarrytown Green forms an exquisite partnership with a range of soft whites, creating a clean, crisp contrast that avoids any harshness. For a bright yet gentle effect, consider Benjamin Moore’s Simply White (OC-117) or Chantilly Lace (OC-65) to make the green appear more vibrant. If you desire a warmer, softer overall effect, hues like Swiss Coffee (OC-45) or Ivory White (925) can soften the green’s cool undertones, adding a welcoming glow.

For introducing depth and grounding the space, darker neutrals serve as excellent accents. Think of sophisticated shades like Benjamin Moore’s Chelsea Gray (HC-168) or Kendall Charcoal (HC-166) in textiles, rugs, or furniture pieces. These deeper tones create a rich interplay that enhances the green’s complexity.

Harmonizing Wood Tones and Finishes

Wood tones play a crucial role in shaping the overall feel of a room painted with Tarrytown Green. Medium oak and rich walnut furniture or flooring provide a beautifully balanced contrast, evoking a sense of classic sophistication that feels both traditional and fresh. These woods introduce a grounding warmth that complements the green’s cooler aspects.

For a more contemporary or Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic, lighter woods such as maple, ash, or natural birch create a brighter contrast that injects airiness and modernity into the space. Even pine, with its characteristic yellow undertones, can work surprisingly well, especially when the wood has aged to a lovely honeyed tone, adding rustic charm that feels authentic and inviting.

Elegant Metallic Accents: Adding Sparkle and Warmth

Metallic accents are a fantastic way to introduce texture, luxury, and visual interest into a Tarrytown Green scheme. Brass and gold tones are particularly effective, as their inherent warmth beautifully contrasts with this cool green. Whether polished, brushed, or aged, these metals can lend a sense of tradition or a fresh, modern edge depending on their finish and application, from light fixtures to decorative objects.

For a crisper, more modern approach, matte black hardware and fixtures offer a striking contrast that feels sleek and architectural. Alternatively, brushed nickel or chrome provides a quieter, more subdued contrast, ensuring the metals enhance rather than compete with the primary paint color. Don’t shy away from mixed metals; combining brass light fixtures with black cabinet hardware, for example, can create a thoughtfully curated and dynamic feel in any room.

Ideal White Trims to Consider

The choice of white trim can significantly influence how Tarrytown Green is perceived in a space. Benjamin Moore’s Simply White (OC-117) is a perennial favorite, offering a clean, bright contrast that makes the green appear more vibrant and saturated. It’s a versatile white that works almost anywhere.

For a softer, slightly more yielding edge, Cloud White (OC-130) provides a beautiful solution with its subtle warmth and creamy undertones. It’s a very popular choice for a more traditional or classic look. For historical accuracy and a truly seamless pairing with traditional colors, consider White Dove (OC-17) or China White (OC-141), both of which possess gentle creamy undertones that harmonize naturally with the depth of Tarrytown Green, preventing a stark contrast.

When selecting ceiling whites, reliable options like Decorator’s White (OC-149) or White Diamond (OC-61) work exceptionally well overhead, providing a clean, bright plane that lifts the eye and complements the rich green walls below.

Tarrytown Green vs. Similar Green Paint Colors

While Benjamin Moore Tarrytown Green HC-134 possesses a distinctive character all its own, understanding how it compares to other popular green options can further clarify its unique attributes and help you make an informed decision.

Benjamin Moore Hunter Green (2041-10)

Benjamin Moore’s Hunter Green (2041-10) is notably darker and generally features more pronounced blue undertones than Tarrytown Green. It creates a more dramatic, formal, and deeply saturated atmosphere, reminiscent of a classic, rich forest. Its deeper saturation means it absorbs more light, making spaces feel exceptionally intimate and cozy, sometimes bordering on moody.

Where Tarrytown Green manages to maintain a certain lightness and versatility even in its depth, Hunter Green leans into a more profound, almost commanding presence. Choose Hunter Green when you desire a powerful, enveloping color for a library, a formal dining room, or a dramatic accent. Tarrytown Green is the preferred option when you need greater versatility across different lighting conditions and want a sophisticated green that adds character without completely dominating the space.

Benjamin Moore Essex Green (HC-188)

Benjamin Moore’s Essex Green (HC-188) shares a number of foundational qualities with Tarrytown Green but notably leans slightly more towards the olive end of the spectrum due to its subtle yellow undertones. This subtle difference gives Essex Green a distinctly warmer overall appearance compared to the cooler, bluer-leaning Tarrytown Green.

Essex Green feels more inherently connected to natural earth tones, making it an excellent partner for materials like terracotta, rich browns, and antique gold accents. It evokes a slightly more vintage or traditional English country aesthetic. Opt for Tarrytown Green when your design scheme requires a color that will harmoniously interact with both warm and cool accents, offering a bit more flexibility.

Essex Green is particularly striking in spaces like formal dining rooms, studies, or dens where its warmth can truly shine. Tarrytown Green, by contrast, offers broader flexibility and approachability across nearly every room in the home, adapting to various moods from serene to sophisticated.

Benjamin Moore Salamander (2050-10)

Benjamin Moore’s Salamander (2050-10) stands out as the boldest and most dramatic of these green options. It possesses a deeper intensity and a slightly higher concentration of black in its formulation compared to Tarrytown Green, giving it an almost black-green appearance in certain lights. Salamander is a statement color, exuding undeniable drama and depth.

You would typically choose Salamander for impactful accent walls, a grand front door, or in spaces where you intentionally desire a very strong, dramatic effect and can balance its intensity with lighter elements. Select Tarrytown Green when your objective is for the room to feel balanced, inviting, and sophisticated, rather than overtly dramatic. While Salamander pairs beautifully with polished gold and brass for a luxurious feel, it can sometimes feel overwhelming in smaller spaces due to its profound depth.

Tarrytown Green, on the other hand, maintains a welcoming and approachable quality across a wide range of room sizes and interior styles, making it a more versatile foundational color while still offering significant visual interest.

Mastering Tarrytown Green: Practical Painting Tips

Achieving the best possible results with Tarrytown Green requires careful attention to a few key practical details. These expert tips will help ensure your painting project is a resounding success, showcasing the color beautifully in your home.

1. Choose the Right Sheen: For living areas, bedrooms, and hallways, an eggshell finish is highly recommended. It provides a subtle, soft sheen that helps to conceal minor wall imperfections while allowing the true, rich depth of Tarrytown Green to come through beautifully. In moisture-prone areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, opt for a pearl or satin finish. These sheens offer superior durability and moisture resistance, protecting your walls without creating an excessive shine that could alter the perceived color of the green.
2. Consider Lighting Conditions: Tarrytown Green, with its lower LRV and cool undertones, will naturally appear darker and more saturated in north-facing rooms or spaces with limited natural light. In brighter, south-facing rooms or those with ample light, it will reveal more of its subtle blue undertones and appear somewhat lighter. Always consider the primary direction of natural light in your room when planning your color scheme and testing samples.
3. Always Use a Tinted Primer: To ensure you achieve full, even coverage and the truest color representation of Tarrytown Green with fewer coats, it is absolutely essential to use a tinted primer. Request a light to medium grey primer. This helps to neutralize any existing wall color and provides a consistent base for the rich green to adhere to, preventing patchiness and enhancing the final depth of the color.
4. Apply Multiple Coats: For consistent color depth, optimal coverage, and to avoid any patchy or uneven results, plan to apply at least two coats of Tarrytown Green. In some cases, a third coat may be necessary, especially if you are painting over a much lighter or darker previous color. Always allow ample drying time—typically 4-6 hours—between applications, as recommended by the paint manufacturer, before applying subsequent coats.
5. Test Samples Extensively: Before committing to painting an entire room, it is crucial to test large paint samples directly on your walls. Paint generous swatches (at least 2’x2’) on different walls in the room. Observe these samples throughout the day and evening under various lighting conditions—natural light, artificial light, and even candlelight. This crucial step allows you to see how Tarrytown Green truly interacts with your specific environment, ensuring you love the color in your unique space.

Final Thoughts: Embracing the Enduring Charm of Tarrytown Green

Benjamin Moore Tarrytown Green HC-134 is truly a standout shade that masterfully bridges the gap between a bold, character-filled color and practical, everyday livability. Its balanced intensity and cool blue undertones make it an incredibly smart and sophisticated choice for anyone looking to venture beyond conventional neutrals without committing to an overly extreme or trendy hue.

The beauty of Tarrytown Green lies in its dynamic nature—the way it subtly interacts with your room’s unique lighting and existing furnishings can be truly surprising and delightful, revealing different facets of its character throughout the day. It has an inherent ability to create diverse moods, from serene and calm to rich and inviting, all depending on the light it receives.

If you are drawn to colors that possess a nuanced complexity, subtly shifting and evolving with the changing light, and desire a shade that feels both grounded and elegant, then Tarrytown Green HC-134 undoubtedly deserves your full attention. Its timeless appeal ensures it will remain a cherished element of your home’s design for years to come.

Before making your final decision, remember the golden rule of paint selection: always test a large sample on your walls. This allows you to experience how Tarrytown Green looks and feels in your specific space, under your unique lighting conditions, ensuring complete satisfaction. Ready to explore even more inspiring options? Dive into our other comprehensive color guides to discover the perfect shade for every corner of your home.