Okay, so after testing Overtly Olive vs Treron, I need to tell you what I found!
Is Farrow & Ball’s Treron (£60) really worth double the price of Dulux’s Overtly Olive (£25)? I bought both tins, painted them side-by-side on the same wall, tested them with all four neutrals from my previous comparison, and lived with them for over a week.
Remember when I tested Gentle Fawn and discovered it’s basically a £35 cheaper version of Elephant’s Breath? (Read that comparison here if you missed it!) Well… I HAD to do the same with these olive greens!
Spoiler alert: The Overtly Olive vs Treron results surprised me! Let me show you what I found…
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All paints, supplies & home decor from this comparison are in my Amazon Storefront!
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QUICK COMPARISON
| Paint | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Overtly Olive (Dulux) | £25 | Fresh, bright spaces |
| Teron (Farrow & Ball) | £60 | Sophisticated feature walls |
Overtly Olive: Yellow-green undertones, warm
Treron: Grey-green undertones, cool
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THE BIG QUESTION: WHAT’S THE ACTUAL DIFFERENCE?
Here’s what I found after painting them side-by-side:
Overtly Olive (Dulux, £25):
- Firstly, it’s a lighter and brighter olive green
- Secondly, it has warm yellow-green undertones
- As a result, it creates a fresh, botanical vibe (think sage green but deeper)
- And it is easier to live with and less dramatic overall
- Finally, you can find it everywhere (B&Q, Homebase, Wickes)
Treron (Farrow & Ball, £60):
- In contrast, this is a deeper, richer olive green
- It features cool grey-green undertones
- It creates a sophisticated, moody feel
- Indeed, it’s more dramatic and works as a proper statement color
- However, you’ll need to visit F&B stores, John Lewis, or shop online
Side-by-side, yes, you can definitely see the difference. Specifically, Treron is noticeably deeper with that classic Farrow & Ball complexity.
But here’s the interesting part: in separate rooms, I couldn’t tell which was the “expensive” one!
My honest verdict: They’re about 85% similar.
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HOW LIGHTING CHANGES EVERYTHING
This is SO important – paint looks completely different at different times of day!
I photographed both paints in morning, afternoon, and evening light because this matters way more than people realize. Your gorgeous daytime olive green can look totally different when you’re relaxing in the evening!
What I noticed in evening light:
Overtly Olive in the evening:
- Gets warmer and more golden
- Really cozy and inviting
- Still bright enough to not feel heavy
- Perfect “curl up with a book” vibe
Treron in the evening:
- Becomes properly moody and dramatic
- Grey undertones come out more
- Creates that luxury hotel feel
- Honestly stunning but quite dark
This is why testing paint at different times of day is SO important! What you see in the shop or in morning light can be completely different by evening.
If you’re someone who mainly uses your living room in the evenings (like me!), you need to see how your paint looks with lamps on, curtains drawn, and that cozy evening atmosphere.
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PAIRING OLIVE GREEN WITH NEUTRALS
I tested BOTH olive greens with all four neutrals from my previous comparison. Here are the winning combinations…
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1. OVERTLY OLIVE + EGYPTIAN COTTON: THE FRESH FAVORITE
Total cost: £50
This is my absolute favorite combo!
Why it works: The warm olive green pairs beautifully with Egyptian Cotton’s soft white. It’s fresh, botanical, and never feels heavy or dark.
Where to use it:
- Olive on: Feature wall, kitchen cabinets
- Egyptian Cotton on: Other walls, ceiling, trim
Best for: Living rooms, kitchens, sunrooms – anywhere you want that fresh, plant-filled vibe without overwhelming the space.
Overtly Olive on the feature wall with Egyptian Cotton on surrounding walls – fresh and botanical!
• • •
2. TRERON + ELEPHANT’S BREATH: THE LUXURY COMBO
Total cost: £120
If you’re going luxury, go ALL IN with this pairing!
Why it works: Both Farrow & Ball paints have that complex, layered quality. The deep olive with the warm greige creates a seriously sophisticated space.
Where to use it:
- Treron on: Feature wall, bedroom, dining room
- Elephant’s Breath on: Other walls, hallway
Best for: Master bedrooms, dining rooms, or anywhere you want that high-end, moody, designer feel.
The catch: This combo costs £120 for paint alone! But if budget allows? It’s stunning.
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3. OVERTLY OLIVE + GENTLE FAWN: BEST VALUE EARTHY COMBO
Total cost: £50
This is the “designer look for budget price” option!
Why it works: Both have warm undertones that create a cohesive, earthy palette. It’s basically giving you 90% of the Treron + Elephant’s Breath vibe for £70 LESS!
Where to use it:
- Olive on: Bedroom feature wall, alcove
- Gentle Fawn on: Main walls, adjacent rooms
Best for: Bedrooms, cozy living rooms, anyone who loves earthy, natural tones but has a budget!
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4. TRERON + GENTLE FAWN: THE SMART SPLURGE
Total cost: £85
Want luxury olive but budget-conscious about the neutral? This is your combo!
Why it works: You get that gorgeous Farrow & Ball depth on your feature wall, but save £35 on the neutral that covers more space.
Where to use it:
- Treron on: Feature wall (smaller area)
- Gentle Fawn on: Remaining walls (larger area)
Best for: People who want premium olive green but can’t justify £120 total.
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WHAT DIDN’T WORK
Being honest here – not every combo was a winner!
Overtly Olive + Elephant’s Breath: This felt… backwards? Splurging on the neutral but saving on the feature color doesn’t make sense to me. If you’re using Elephant’s Breath, pair it with Teron for the full luxury effect!
Ivory Matt with either olive: Too much warmth competing. Ivory Matt is lovely but it’s too yellow-cream next to olive green. They fight for attention rather than complementing each other.
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THE PRICE BREAKDOWN
Let’s talk actual numbers because this matters!
Paint One Feature Wall + Three Other Walls:
BUDGET OPTION (Overtly Olive + Egyptian Cotton):
- Overtly Olive for feature wall: ~£12
- Egyptian Cotton for other walls: ~£13
- Total: £25
LUXURY OPTION (Treron + Elephant’s Breath):
- Treron for feature wall: ~£30
- Elephant’s Breath for other walls: ~£30
- Total: £60
You save £35 per room with the budget option!
Paint three rooms? That’s £105 in savings!
That’s a nice weekend away, new furniture, or just… you know, money in your pocket for other home projects!
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WHEN TO SPLURGE ON TRERON
You should buy Farrow & Ball Teron if:
- £60 genuinely doesn’t stretch your budget
- Painting ONE feature wall (cost difference is manageable)
- The deeper color matters to you and you can see the difference
- Extra depth and complexity appeal to your design taste
- A luxury master bedroom or high-end space is what you’re creating
- Farrow & Ball quality is important to you
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WHEN TO SAVE WITH OVERTLY OLIVE
You should buy Dulux Overtly Olive if:
- Multiple rooms are in your plans (costs add up fast!)
- Budget matters to your overall project
- Fresh, bright olive suits your style better (not moody deep olive)
- The £35 difference doesn’t feel worth it to you
- Savings could go toward furniture, accessories, or other decor
- The lighter, warmer tone is more your style anyway
My take: For 95% of people, Overtly Olive is the smarter choice!
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HOW TO STYLE OLIVE GREEN + NEUTRALS
Once you’ve got your paint combo sorted, here’s how to complete the look:
Accent Colors That Work:
- White (crisp contrast)
- Natural wood (warm, earthy)
- Mustard yellow (if you’re using Overtly Olive – adds warmth!)
- Terracotta (earthy, botanical vibe)
- Black (sophisticated, grounding)
Textures to Add:
- Jute rugs and baskets (natural, organic)
- Linen curtains and cushions (soft, neutral)
- Brass or gold hardware (warm metals work beautifully!)
- Rattan furniture (brings in natural element)
- Lots of plants! (obvious but important – olive green LOVES greenery!)
What to Avoid:
- Cool greys (they clash with warm olive)
- Silver hardware (better with cool-toned rooms)
- Too much pattern (let the paint be the star)
• • •
MY FINAL VERDICT
After living with both paints for over a week, here’s my honest take:
- Best Overall Combination: Overtly Olive + Egyptian Cotton (£50) Fresh, versatile, budget-friendly, and works in almost any room!
- Best Luxury Combination: Treron + Elephant’s Breath (£120) If money’s no object and you want that designer feel, this is stunning!
- Best Value: Overtly Olive + Gentle Fawn (£50) Gets you 90% of the luxury look for less than half the price!
The big question: Is Treron worth £35 more than Overtly Olive?
Honestly? Only if you specifically want that deeper, moodier, more sophisticated olive AND you can easily afford it.
For most people decorating their homes, Overtly Olive gives you a gorgeous olive green that works beautifully with neutral pairings for half the price.
I chose Overtly Olive with Egyptian Cotton for my living room and I absolutely love it! The fresh, botanical vibe is exactly what I wanted, and I saved £35 that went towards new cushions and plants instead!
But if you’re doing a luxury master bedroom or you just LOVE that Farrow & Ball depth? Treron is beautiful and worth it for you.
There’s no wrong answer – just what works for your space, style, and budget!
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SHOP ALL THE PAINTS & SUPPLIES
Ready to Start Painting?
Browse my complete curated collection of paints, supplies, and home decor!
Visit My Amazon Storefront →✓ Overtly Olive & Teron | ✓ All neutrals | ✓ Quality supplies | ✓ Complete kits
MORE PAINT COMPARISONS
Want more paint help? Check out these posts:
- 4 Neutral Paints Tested: Egyptian Cotton, Ivory Matt, Gentle Fawn & Elephant’s Breath
- How to Test Paint Properly (So You Don’t Waste Money!)
- Best Budget Alternatives to Farrow & Ball Paint
Have you tried Overtly Olive or Teron? Which neutral did you pair it with? Let me know in the comments!
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PIN THIS POST for when you’re ready to paint! 📌
