It Actually Is Easy Being Green.
The color green has many positive aspects associated with it: nature, youth, safety, life, and hope being the most common. It is the most healing and soothing color for the eye to process, and has been proven to enhance vision, stability, and endurance in viewers.
Green often signifies cleanliness and healthy living, which is why packaging designers use green on environmental or health products. Green has an association with healing and has been proven to also help alleviate anxiety and depression, which is why hospitals often use the color.
Today, these healthful, restful connections make it an extremely popular and naturally beautiful color to use in interior design.
Fun Facts About Green.
- Green is the color used for night vision goggles because the human eye is most sensitive and able to distinguish the most shades in that color.
- You might not know that green is many people’s second most favorite color; blue being the first.
- Green was a sacred color to the Egyptians representing the hope and joy of spring. The floors of their temples were often made from green natural stone.
- Green has long been a symbol of fertility and was once the preferred color choice for wedding gowns in the 1400’s.
- Jade green—created by a chemical reaction—was considered so beautiful in China that only the eyes of royalty could behold it, and it was known as mi se, meaning “mysterious color.”
- The French “celadon” name was later given to this elegant color. The name is based on the literary character of a French shepherd who wore pale green ribbons.
So Many Greens. So Little Time.
Choosing which shade of green is right for you can be daunting to say the least. Because from emerald to olive to aqua, green comes in a huge range of jewel-like, leafy, or blue-infused shades. Each one also has its own distinct symbolism and associations.
Here are some examples: Inspired by the famous gemstone of the same name, emerald green is particularly recognized for deep color, rarity, and beauty. Hunter green has a rich, melancholic feel reminiscent of evergreen forests, while jungle green with its cooler blue undertone mimics the green tint of tropical plants. Both are now popular for modern kitchen designs.
Green can vary in shade (mixed with black) and tint (mixed with white). But there are also a broad range of green varieties that are mixed with other colors, such as yellow, blue, gray, and brown.
Yellow-greens like chartreuse (named after the French liquor which shares the distinctive color) or lime green have a lively, energetic feel and are often seen in children’s areas or work out rooms . Blue-greens such as aqua, sea green, and teal have a more subtle energy so those interior uses feel more calm and subtle, and are often used in bathrooms or meditation areas.
Gray greens like seafoam and sage are wintery and more somber than their yellow- and blue-green relations. A cozy library can benefit from the tone. Brown-greens like dark olive have a formal and dignified air, which explains why they are often selected for dining rooms and more elegant spaces.
Start With Your Style.
Let’s say you fell in love with a particular shade of green that first saw on a restaurant placemat. You can’t stop thinking about the shade, but will it work on your shower wall or your kitchen counter?
The good news is that green is a very versatile color. It can be cool or warm, energetic, or soothing, subtle or strong. So, the place to begin your decision making is to consider not just the room but the design style where you want your green to go.
Nature Inspired
A nature-inspired theme gives off a more earthy and muted vibe. To achieve this look, focus on natural textures and shades that you would find outdoors, such as beiges, browns, and greens. You could consider a hardwood brown floor with a jade green sofa and tan cushions, or think about emerald green natural stone walls with beige sofas, brown woven baskets and plenty of plants.
Modern Industrial
Imagine a dark gray credenza, metal tables and lusciously veined jade green marble walls. Green can bring a sense of peace and neutrality to an industrial-style space. Just remember to balance the hard surfaces with a soft textured sofa or textiles in contrasting colors.
Mid Century Modern
Here’s where chartreuse is reborn. This mischievous color harkens back to a carefree era. Use it on attention-grabbing kitchen cabinets paired with white engineered stone countertops and red dinettes with graphic patterned seats. Or for those less adventurous, think yellow-green tea kettles and towels!
Tropical
Jade green is often said to be the same color as deep tropical bodies of water, and as such, it is a color that appears throughout tropical-themed interior design. This is a unusual look that works especially well in dining spaces and living rooms. The tropical decor style is about making bold statements, so don’t be afraid to combine several shades of green over several surfaces, textures, and furniture pieces.
Botanical Bohemian
Botanical style interior decor themes center around flowers and foliage, which of course, have green features. Botanical Bohemian is a timeless design style that has gained a new popularity in the past decade.
If you want to create a quirkier bohemian style, try fuchsia next to green. Use this pinkish red color in small splashes against a strong green background, such as a green tile wall juxtaposed against small floral details or a leaf print wallpaper set behind a rose-colored chaise. Think roses and camellias against white marble for a feminine feel or wildflowers against ceramic tile to evoke a more free-spirited emotion.
Fresh Farmhouse
Green can have a very fresh, new-country appeal when paired with the right colors. This type of style works well in a kitchen, a casual dining room, or anywhere where you want the space to feel clean and crisp. Green/white/navy is a more sophisticated combination—achieving a refreshing and invigorating atmosphere while also lending an air of relaxation and comfort.
Color Suggestions to Use with Green
Salmon – goes swimmingly with green because the contrast makes both colors appear more vivid.
Millennial Pink – this dusky pink shade has become hugely popular because of its soft, subtle tone. In a bathroom, choose green subway tiles set against dusky pink walls and add in hanging chandelier. In a bedroom, achieve a more formal look by opting for green semi-precious stone fireplace surrounds and gold metal-framed chairs upholstered in velvet.
Navy — In a predominantly green room, choose navy accents to help ground the space and add a dark contrast, such as a navy rug or a navy sofa.
Brown — works well with green because these are two colors that are often seen side by side in nature. This is a relatively “safe” choice to pair with green. Brown sofas will always be in style, as will brown upholstered bed frames, and brown ottomans.
Biscuit Beige — Biscuit is a dark shade of beige that is a warm neutral. Like brown, it works particularly well with green because it is a naturally occurring color. Biscuit Beige can represent sandy beaches, mountains, or desert landscapes, which are popular themes in today’s design world.
Fuchsia – Fuchsia adds fun! Use it to add small colorful details to the weight and depth of a green background starting point. Warning: overdoing it with fuchsia and green can make for an over-stimulating and slightly dated room.
We’re Seeing Green at IRG.
IRG’s in-stock selection of natural and engineered surfacing materials offers you the perfect opportunity to see all the green choices you have (granites, marbles, onyx, quartzites and tiles) all in one place! Choose the location nearest you and let the IRG stone experts guide you through your decision-making process to find the perfect green shade for your life and your lifestyle. Call or come in today.