Botanical Green, Meant to Be Seen
Learn how to cultivate this vibrant yet restful color in your home, using its hues to set the mood for any space
Now that we’ve done inky blues and charcoals, could deep shady green be set to take over as the new moody kid on the block? Shades of green are not only associated with vitality and freshness, but also harmony and relaxation. It’s a tonic of a color — both refreshing and soothing. Aside from the odd shot of jade green, today’s tones are firmly planted in the spectrum of what’s called “botanic greens.” Think sage, grass, leaf, forest, everglade, moss and olive.
Go groovy. Get a hippy groove on with muddy green walls for a 1970s-inspired home. Add dashes of mustard yellow and inky teal to keep the space looking sharp. Plenty of real greenery and floral prints hark back to the ’70s too.
Tone it down. Not many greens in nature are bright, sharp or clean. Most have a grayed or muddied quality, which makes them easy to use and be around. This grayish-green wall anchors the two beds.
Cultivate a theme. Set your greens around a theme — think of a colonial veranda, conservatory-style dining space or hunting lodge. Because botanic greens have links to nature, they go well with textural elements like raw concrete, distressed and aged wood, rattan furniture, and jute rugs.
Paint: Easy Rider (brick wall) and Inside Back (side wall), both Resene
Paint: Easy Rider (brick wall) and Inside Back (side wall), both Resene
Pick natural teammates. In a similar way, botanic greens go well with other natural tones, such as earthy brown, burnt orange or stone gray. Add relief with aged whites for a softer scheme or crisp whites for more pep.
Try tiny touches. If letting green flourish on your walls is too big a step up from neutrals, try it as an accent. A great way to do this is to paint a piece of furniture. Complete the look with dollops of white and doses of black for a fresh, summery feel.
For more formality, pair green with rich wood and classically patterned fabrics. The soft blue walls and white rug create a more urban scheme.
Eat your greens. These days, more sophisticated kitchens are bringing dusky green tones to the fore, after a run of shades like sage, apple and lime. Perhaps it’s all that kale we’ve been adding to our smoothies!
Here, the use of glass-fronted cabinets, glossy marble and clever lighting prevents the look from being too heavy in a small space.
Cooking With Color: When to Use Green in the Kitchen
Here, the use of glass-fronted cabinets, glossy marble and clever lighting prevents the look from being too heavy in a small space.
Cooking With Color: When to Use Green in the Kitchen
Green looks great in a related color scheme (with colors that sit near it on the color wheel). This dusty green is superb color-blocked with a delicious green-blue. Again, notice how plenty of white and stainless steel accents keep the scheme fresh and light.
Sleep peacefully. Save your soft sage and mossy greens for the bedroom, where you may want a more serene feel. There’s a reason why nervous performers wait backstage in a green room; the color soothes the nerves. So it makes sense that green works well for restful bedrooms too. This textured headboard lends a hazy, tropical feel to the scheme.
Grow your own. Add botanic greens, literally, with houseplants. Mix the scale, from the tropical jungle effect of the glorious split-leaf philodendron (Monstera deliciosa) to the tiniest succulents. Natural greenery provides a calm relief from gritty city living.
8 Houseplants You Can’t Kill
8 Houseplants You Can’t Kill
Even just one striking architectural plant, such as this mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata), can bring botanical vitality to a room. The green woven-effect wallpaper and indoor-outdoor wall sconces keep the nature-study theme going.
Tell us: How are you bringing green back into your home? Show off your green schemes by uploading photos in the Comments below.
More Houzz guides to designing with green
Houzz guides to houseplants
Tell us: How are you bringing green back into your home? Show off your green schemes by uploading photos in the Comments below.
More Houzz guides to designing with green
Houzz guides to houseplants