Verdant Vibes: The recent rise of green in modern interior design
Image: seanandersondesign.com
I’ve noticed lately that the greige palette traditionally offered by our Scandinavian friends is having a little overhaul. If like me you love the whole Nordic design movement, you’ll know that whilst there has always been appreciation for brighter colours, largely these design schemes are recognised for their more muted, neutral tones, bringing a sense of calm and serenity to our interiors. I’m not entirely sure where my fondness for Scandinavian design originates from, but my love for natural materials and a sheepskin and my unrelenting need to watch all Viking programmes, fact or fiction, would suggest I might have been a Norseman in my previous life, albeit not one of the pillaging variety (I hope).
Our grey kitchen Image: Julia Caira
A few years ago our interiors slowly started moving away from the greys that had dominated for so long, instead we started to embrace more grounding colours. According to many interior designers, grey was officially shown the backdoor in 2023. Honestly, this was slightly disappointing to hear, as not only is my house many shades, I happen to love grey, from the palest to the darkest tone. I always think you can’t go too off piste using it either, as it provides the perfect backdrop for layering up and usually sets off any colour scheme.
Post pandemic after spending most of our time stuck within the same four walls, talking to the same people day in day out, we could be forgiven for feeling our lives had all become a bit beige-y. When our freedoms returned it seemed there was strong emphasis on bringing a bit of our outdoors in. It seems too that as a result of an enforced lock-in there has been something of a paradigm shift, a softening of the edges and a conciliatory nod to nature in many of our monochrome designs.
Using our natural surroundings as inspo for this bedroom design by cocolapinedesign
There are noticeably many shades of green (including gray-green for all you grey devotees) weaving their way back in to our interior schemes and when we inject it, we create tranquility, balance and growth. Many of us are now choosing to move away from a strict monochrome palette with the main aim of injecting some personality and character into our homes. The use of natural elements such as greenery and earthy tones isn’t a new thing and has always played its part in what’s referred to as biophillic design, a fancy word for seeking to connect spaces with nature. More now than ever before are we embracing this, reminding ourselves the importance of feeling connected with what surrounds us.
Gray- green is having a moment paired with black and white for a sophisticated look
Image : Kate Guiness Design/ Francesca’s paints/ Gunter&co.
“Grey green is having a moment, a warmer colour than the greys we’ve been using over the last decade, it’s the perfect middle ground. ”
Sales of green fabrics and wallpapers have seen an upsurge in recent months and seem to be taking over from their grey and white counterparts and we are seeing more and more kitchen designers favouring green as an alternative cabinet colour. We cannot deny green is incredibly perennial and has seen off it’s competitors time and again, creating an air of longevity in the home. Green is versatile in interior design and it’s ability to complement and enhance other colours, means it remains a popular choice for walls, furniture, and accessories. With so much talk lately too around sustainability, green is also associated with environmental consciousness, reflecting the growing emphasis to look after our planet and use more eco friendly materials.
Dark tones create a dramatic backdrop for pale scandi furniture
Image: Neptune Paints Constable
With so many shades of green out there, a visit to B&Q’s paint mixing department can leave you feeling a little overwhelmed. I don’t know how many times I have gone in there, colour swatch firmly in hand and left with a completely different shade from the one I intended, helped along by the friendly paint mixing person, who always seems to have an opinion. If you are painting with green for the first time I would suggest on your first visit you leave only with tester pots. I say this with some authority and experience, as I once made the mistake of purchasing a 2.5 litre tin of grey paint without testing it, only to realise it was the wrong shade after it spilled all down the driveway.
Using sage green on kitchen cabinets is slowly replacing grey
Image: Rebecca Wakefield Treron by Farrow and Ball
With such versatility, green can work really well in any room of the house, so long as you remember to tailor the shade to the space. I tend to find that softer greens like olive or sage work well in spaces where you wish to reflect a sense of calm and serenity, whilst brighter, more vibrant greens such as forest green or jade are a perfect fit if you wish to exude energy and some vitality. If like me you don’t seek overstimulation with colour, you may find painting all the walls green a step too far, but that doesn’t mean you can’t introduce it in smaller ways through upholstery and accessories like cushions, throws and lamps. Adding a bit of green here and there to each room, will create continuity, calmness and connection throughout your home. Whilst we may never see the return of the advocado bathroom suite, the timelessness of green means it will remain a classic choice for many of us for years to come.
“A room should never allow the eye to settle in one place. it should smile at you and create fantasy. ”
Mixing dark wooden furniture with forest greens connects us to nature and our surroundings.
Image: The Anvil Hotel