What are "Go Away Green" and "Blending Blue"?

Have you come across Go Away Green or Blending Blue? These two unique paint shades, created by Disney for its theme parks, have gained significant attention online. The cleverly-named colors, Go Away Green (sometimes referred to as "no-see-um-green") and Blending Blue (also called “bye-bye blue”), are custom hues designed by Disney to help less attractive park elements, like construction barriers, utility buildings, or the mechanical features of Big Thunder Mountain, fade into the background or virtually disappear.

Based on the buzz surrounding these colors, it seems that many people wish for a paint shade that can make the less appealing parts of their surroundings vanish. It’s a tempting concept: If I painted my unsightly fence in just the right green, would it disappear from view? Experts say the answer is both yes and no.

“For park visitors seeking the thrill of the experience, their attention won’t be drawn to non-magical aspects like an administrative building, particularly if it's painted in shades of dark or light green that help it blend with the natural environment,” says Sue Wadden, Sherwin-Williams' director of color marketing. However, outside the Magic Kingdom, these colors may not be as effective, explains Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services at Behr Paint Company. “These colors don’t actually disappear. Instead, they blend into the surroundings—whether it's landscaping or the skyline—so the building or construction site doesn’t distract as much from the attraction,” she says. It’s more of an optical illusion than a magical transformation,” she adds.

How does Go Away Green paint work?

It’s partly psychological. As Wadden points out, “Since we were kids, we’ve learned that plants are green and the sky is blue, so seeing those colors brings those things to mind.” Additionally, green and blue are seen as recessive colors; they recede and can appear to be farther away in terms of depth, says Woelfel. When applied outdoors, greens are especially effective at blending into foliage, while soft blues can mimic the sky.

How can I use Go Away Green and Blending Blue in my home?

These colors are most effective outdoors, just like at Disney parks. For outdoor use, applying green to fences or exterior walls can help them blend into the background of existing natural green elements, says Woelfel. Wadden suggests, “If you have large equipment on your roof or side of your house, like an air conditioning unit you want to hide, a soft sky-blue is perfect for camouflaging it.”

Achieving the optical illusion indoors is more challenging. Light blues and soft greens can make smaller spaces feel more expansive by evoking nature. For example, painting a ceiling light blue can create the impression of a larger room, a suggestion made by both Wadden and Woelfel. Wadden also recommends enhancing the effect of houseplants by placing them in pots that match the surrounding green tones. Another way to bring nature indoors? Paint your window frames with Go Away Green so your gaze isn’t interrupted by the frame.

Where can I purchase Go Away Green and Blending Blue paint?

The original Go Away Green and Blending Blue aren’t available for sale. The paint brands we consulted don’t offer exact matches to the Disney shades, but they do carry similar neutral tones that tend to fade from view. Woelfel suggests Behr Paint’s Sage Brush S370-3, “a gentle olive green reminiscent of natural landscapes,” and Soft Cloud M520-1A, “a subdued blue with white undertones like a clear sky.” Wadden recommends Sherwin-Williams’s Houseplant SW 6727, a deep green that mirrors the color of plants found in nature, and Upward SW 6239, “a soft, light blue.”