BRING THE OUTSIDE IN WITH CALMING SHADES OF GREEN – PAIRED WITH LEAFY PLANTS AND PALE WOOD, IT WILL CREATE A SOOTHING SPACE THAT'S ROOTED IN NATURE

From house plants to leaf motifs, green is everywhere – and it’s showing no sign of wilting any time soon. ‘The trend for calming greens is driven by our emotional connection to nature,’ says Melanie Archer, Partner & Designer, Home Design Studio. ‘As times seem more complicated in the world, we’re finding green soothing, relaxing and restorative. It has a good connection with wellbeing and has a positive effect on our physical and mental health.’

It’s the botanical twist, one that’s perhaps best described as ‘living green’, which offers up the most exciting decor opportunities. We’re seeing green painted walls and furnishings amplified, thanks to the variety of shades provided by the accompanying leafy foliage. 

‘There’s a desire for all things green,’ explains Melanie. ‘Plants continue to be a popular addition to interiors, bringing the advantages of biophillic design into everyday spaces.’

‘Living with plants is beautiful and beneficial,’ says Judith de Graaff, author and founder of Urban Jungle Bloggers, an online global plant-loving community. ‘More and more of us are living in urban environments where we feel a certain disconnect with nature. The easiest way to overcome this is to introduce house plants, helping to create your own little urban jungle.’    

Green looks great paired with natural oak, creating a modern country look. Think spindle-backed chairs, chunky tables and interesting grain details. For Fionnuala Johnston, Partner & Senior Designer, Home Design Studio, it’s all about building up green in layers. ‘The modern way to use green is to layer multiple tones together, for instance, on a variety of textiles like linens and velvets,’ she suggests.

If you need an accent colour, try ochre, which lends a warm, golden hue, while white will lend a crispness, and draw attention to the room’s features. Colours opposite each other on the colourwheel always work, and for green it’s pink, so try on-trend blush for a gorgeous, softer partner.   

‘Green doesn’t need to dominate a room to make an impact,’ agrees Melanie. ‘Use statement pieces such as green dining chairs, a green sofa or armchair.’ Of course, there are so many shades of green to choose from. ‘Try picking a green to reflect how you want that space to feel,’ Melanie continues, ‘such as softer, dusky grey tones of eucalyptus and sage to create a restful, calm mood, or vibrant, brighter tones for a fresh, clean feel. If you want more of a luxe look, then pick rich, saturated jewel-like tones, and try using these greens on rich sumptuous velvets, combined with darker woods.’