Colour crush: green interior inspiration

I’m obsessed with the colour green at the moment – everything from pale pistachio, mint pastels and soft sage tones to rich olive hues, murky moss greens and dark forest greens. I can’t seem to get enough of this most calming of colours – I recently bought two different green jumpers for myself, and green cushions for my home, I’m thinking of green bridesmaid dresses for my wedding this year, and I’m even considering a dark green wall for my bedroom makeover – I know, I’m cheating on grey with green!

But I think I’m not the only one. One of my most popular posts ever is from 2016 (see it here) when I posed the question of whether green really was the new grey. It takes time for a trend to build momentum and translate into our homes, but I think 2019 really is the year for all things green.

In terms of colour psychology, green is associated with nature, renewal and energy – bringing to mind bucolic landscapes, lush fields, rich forests, pleasant scenery and a sense of escapism. The colour green is known for its calming qualities; being at the centre of the colour spectrum, it has a sense of balance, harmony and tranquility. Just think how restorative a walk through the forest can be, or how refreshed you can feel after a day outdoors in the garden or at the park. It might explain why actors go into a ‘green room’ before they perform to help them relax. Studies have shown that hospital patients recover quicker with a green view over a view of a brick wall or building. Green is a colour with deep connections to our wellbeing.

Especially today, when our world can feel a little chaotic – whether it’s politics, our increasingly urbanised spaces or being overwhelmed by technology – green takes us back to basics, back to nature. It symbolises fresh beginnings, good health and growth. We know that green is good for us – that plants help purify the air, that we should put down the laptop and go outside more, and that we should be eating our greens and getting our five a day. So it makes sense that we might want to bottle a little of that feel good feeling and bring the outside into our homes. The colour green can help create a feeling of sanctuary in a home, whether it’s with the addition of a few fresh plants or a lick of green paint.

I first started seeing a lot more green in the interiors world at last year’s Milan Furniture Fair. The real turning point of the trend for me was seeing Ilse Crawford’s collaboration with Swedish design brand Kasthall. Drawing inspiration from textures and colours of the Swedish landscape, Crawford designed a collection of green rugs called Grönska. The five rugs – two tufted and three woven – use different weaving and tufting techniques to reflect how nature changes throughout seasons.

Says Crawford: ‘In all our work these days, we see a cultural shift towards greener architecture and interiors. We live most of our lives indoors, so a physical connection to nature inside is important. The colour green brings a sense of life to our interiors, has a positive impact on our health and in the right shades is perceived as neutral.’

After that, I then started seeing green everywhere – dark green velvet sofas, olive coloured armchairs, richly veined green marble tables, green linen bedding. But now I think it’s the time of the green painted wall. That might have something to do with Farrow & Ball adding two new greens to its palette of 132 colours when it released nine new hues for 2019.

‘Treron’ is a murky, muted green, named after a species of pigeon that can mainly be found in Asia and Africa. It works well with grey and neutral tones. ‘Bancha’, meanwhile, is a bit punchier – ‘a mid-century modern green’ that is a darker version of Farrow & Ball’s archive colour Olive. Named after Japanese tea leaves, it can be combined with soft pinks and browns to create a space that feels calm and serene. Prices start at £46.50 for 2.5L estate emulsion.

Last year, Little Greene also released a capsule collection of 31 greens, drawn together as part of an extensive paint research project with the National Trust. The new Green Colourcard draws inspiration from historic houses and gardens across England, Wales and Northern Ireland – everything from Beatrix Potter’s Cumbrian farmhouse t0 George Bernard Shaw’s revolving writing hut. My favourites are ‘Ambleside‘ (taken from Potter’s bedroom), ‘Aquamarine‘ (a cool blue-green) and ‘Invisible Green‘ (used by landscape gardener Humphry Repton to make fencing blend with vegetation). With every can of paint sold, Little Greene makes a contribution to the National Trust’s conservation work. Prices start at £45.00 for 2.5L absolute matt emulsion.

So whether you want to embrace the trend by painting your walls and embracing something a little bolder than traditional grey, or wish to make a few seasonal updates with a hint of green, I’ve rounded up a collection of green interior inspiration. There’s six of my favourite shades of green (watch this space to see which one I choose from my bedroom), and a few beautiful green objects that would give any room a little lift.

1. Treron by Farrow & Ball
2. Bancha by Farrow & Ball
3. Ambleside by Little Greene
4. Ho Ho Green by Little Greene
5. Brompton Road by Mylands
6. Myrtle Green by Mylands
7. Zangra Porcelain wall lamp, £42, Smallable 
8. Rise by Leise Dich Abrahamsen, 49 euros, The Poster Club
9. Bloomingville Joelle Sandstone mug, £10, Smallable
10. Ceramic and cork vase, £12, Smallable
11. &tradition Loafer chair, £2,099, Monologue
12. Herman 2 seater sofa in woodland green, £449, Made
13. Ferm Living hexagon metal jar, £32, Smallable
14. String pocket shelf in green, £126, Nest.co.uk
15. Knox Green rug, £139, Woven
16. Vitra toolbox, £26, Smallable
17. Linen-blend blanket, £34.99, H&M Home
18. Vetro table lamp in peacock green, £49, Made
19. Large glass vase, £24.99, H&M Home
20. Vifa willow green Helsinki loudspeaker, £378, Opumo
21. Washed linen duvet cover in dusky green, £79.99, H&M Home
22. Muuto Cover chair upholstered, £435, Nunido
23. Jardin du Luxembourg candle, £32, Smallable
24. Muuto grain pendant, £99, Nunido
25. Forestrywool pop up green blanket, £115, Opumo
26. Northern Buddy table lamp, £199, Heal’s
27. Terracotta flower pot, £25, Arket
28. Ferm Living handwoven woollen rug, £534, Smallable
29. Ferm Living plant box, £179, Nest.co.uk
30. Linen cushion in moss green, 49 euros, By Mölle

So how could you apply the green trend at home?

The easiest way to add a pop of green is with plants – a large fiddle leaf fig in a corner of the living room, moisture-loving ferns in the bathroom, air purifying aloe vera in the bedroom. I love buying huge bunches of foliage and eucalyptus at my local florist; you get so much more for your money than individual flower stems.

I’ve been adding elements of green to my home with accessories – to test the waters so to speak, before making a commitment to colour on the walls. A few new cushions (a gift from By Mölle) in green linen uplift the sofa and  balance with the grey tones of my living room. I’m still in love with my Muuto 70/70 table that I bought when we first moved to this house. I was a bit hesitant over the colour at first, but I’m glad I went for it and have no regrets. It’s good to not have everything grey or monochrome! We need a new rug for our living room (after our dog threw up on the old one) and I’m determined it will be dark green.

I think green is an easy, accessible colour if you’re not quite sure about colour or how to use it. It goes well with neutrals and white, and isn’t too in your face or shouty like brighter tones such as red, orange or yellow. In fact, I think green goes with almost everything, especially rich textures and natural materials. Green looks beautiful paired with warm-toned or aged dark wood, cork panelled walls and terracotta hues. Cooler green tones suit more contemporary properties, while darker, moodier greens fit well in period properties.

If you want to go further than an accessory here or there, then you’ll need to get the paint brushes out. Go bold with green on the walls and take it up onto ceiling (a la Farrow & Ball above) to give a seamless effect and make the space feel bigger than it actually is. Or if you’ve got period features paint the walls a soft neutral and the ceiling green, including the cornicing to create a real impact and draw attention to the traditional detailing (that’s one for the brave!). If in doubt, paint skirting boards the same colour as the walls to give the illusion of height. Or you could play safe and paint a smaller element of a room to create a focal point; the back of a door for instance. I’m going to be giving the back of my front door a lick of green paint – see I am obsessed!

What’s your take on green, can you see it in your home?

Fancy some more green interior inspiration? Have a peek at my Pinterest board: