Verdigris: the history of a remarkable green and how to use it

A beautiful Prussian blue-based green with an underlying earthy character, Verdigris is one of the most distinctive colours in the Edward Bulmer palette. Vivid and uplifting, yet remarkably versatile, it brings something special to both historic and contemporary interiors.

From grand country houses to colourful kitchens and intimate bedrooms, Verdigris has become a favourite among interior designers for its ability to work with an extraordinary range of colours, materials and decorative styles.

A green with a colourful history

The name Verdigris comes from the French vert-de-gris, historically associated with the green patina that forms on weathered copper. The distinctive blue-green appearance of aged copper has inspired artists and decorators for centuries.

Our Verdigris captures something of this character. Created using carefully selected pigments, including Prussian Blue, it is a clear, expressive green that responds beautifully to changing light.

As Edward Bulmer explains:

“A good few of our colours count as what I call ‘happy’ colours – we don’t chase tones that are ‘achingly cool’ or ‘aristocratic mud’ we just want you to feel good when you are with them.

‘Verdigris is one of those as it is bright and natural feeling – a bit of the grass and a bit of the sky – everything that is lovely about a summer’s day. Being a transition shade it is amazingly good at combining with all sorts of other colours and tones. Its blueness embraces orange and brown tones and its greeny feel works with reds, pinks and purples.”

Verdigris in the home

The versatility of Verdigris is perhaps best demonstrated by the interiors in which it has been used. Here are some of our favourite examples, from Edward’s own projects to the homes of leading designers.

A Regency-inspired bedroom at Court of Noke

In Edward’s own bedroom, Verdigris is paired with Sea Green on the trim, creating a tonal scheme around an extraordinary antique Chinoiserie wallpaper dating from around 1820, believed to have originally hung at Lambton Castle.

The Regency-inspired bed, designed by Edward as a wedding gift to his wife Emma, sits beautifully within the scheme. Together, the colours and furnishings demonstrate how a vivid green can feel entirely at home alongside historic decoration.

Discover more of Edward’s interiors in his book, The Colourful Past: Edward Bulmer and the English Country House.

A colourful retreat at No.1 Bruton

At No.1 Bruton, the boutique hotel in Somerset created by Claudia Waddams and Aled Reed, Verdigris brings colour to one of the bedrooms and its adjoining staircase.

Against the building’s historic beams, patterned wallpapers and richly layered furnishings, the green feels both striking and entirely natural.

As Claudia and Aled explain:

“We wanted a paint that was multi-faceted and felt unusual without being shouty; something mercurial and complex to suit the character of the building and the people who pass through the doors, ‘Verdigris’ is complicated in the best possibly way”

Verdigris at Chevening

At Chevening, the historic country house where Edward has undertaken restoration and decorative work, Verdigris has been used in a small space adjoining the dining room.

Previously decorated by John Fowler, the house provides a remarkable setting for the colour. Here, Verdigris reflects the greens of the garden beyond a large window, while patterned wallpaper adds another decorative layer.

It’s a lovely example of how a strong colour can bring life to a smaller space without overwhelming its architectural character.

A green kitchen at the home of Daisy Sims-Hilditch

Verdigris is equally effective on painted woodwork, as demonstrated in the kitchen of Daisy Sims-Hilditch.

Used on the cabinetry, its lively blue-green character brings colour to one of the busiest rooms in the home.

For anyone considering a more expressive alternative to traditional kitchen neutrals, Verdigris makes a compelling choice.

What colours go with Verdigris?

One of Verdigris’s great strengths is its versatility. Its combination of blue and green makes it a wonderful partner for both gentle neutrals and more contrasting shades.

For a softer scheme, pair Verdigris with Spanish White on the ceiling, or Whiting and Silver White on the woodwork.

For a tonal approach, consider Sea Green, as used in Edward’s bedroom, or explore a richer combination with Invisible Green.

For something more unexpected, our colour consultants recommend Saxony or Aquatic. Verdigris also works wonderfully with pinks, oranges and earthy browns, as Edward’s own colour advice suggests.

Natural materials such as oak, stone and linen complement the green, while brass and copper provide a pleasing connection to the colour’s historic origins.

Discover Verdigris

Whether used across the walls of a drawing room, on kitchen cabinetry or as part of a richly layered bedroom scheme, Verdigris offers an expressive approach to decorating with green.

Explore Verdigris and order a sample to see how it responds to the light in your own home.

For help creating a colour scheme around Verdigris, our Colour Consultants can advise on complementary shades, finishes and combinations.