I am a very monochromatic person, not just in my decor, but even in most of my wardrobe, where shades of grey and brown predominate. This said, I admire people who branch out into a more colourful palette in their environment, as a much bolder choice. Browns and greys are "safe" colours, especially if these reflect the natural colour of the material, such as wood, stone, metal or clay. However, while these may have a very calming effect for most of us, some people feel that such spaces are boring or even oppressive.
My monochromatic world, even through to the throw and cushions
When designing for other people, I will often branch out into the world of colour, sometimes even quite vibrant, if the mood of the space demands. Working with a broad range of colours is quite difficult, and needs plenty of planning to get a good balance. But what if one is looking for some middle-ground between the "boring" of greys and browns and the hectic (sometimes even chaotic) effect of a very multi-coloured palette.
One colour that most people find both calming and invigorating at the same time is green - the designer's equivalent of tea! This may be partly through association with the predominant colour in nature, or it could be because we have evolved to perceive green tones with more discernment than any other colour. Whatever the reason, green as a decor idea seldom goes wrong, and most importantly, we can add and adapt our spaces incrementally, without having to take colour swatches with us every time we go shopping for furniture or decor, since any shade or tone of green will usually harmonise with any other green.
Pot plants echo the green of the painting
The range of shades of green that "go" together is limitless, from a pure mid-green - vibrant and lively - through to muted olive greens that almost tend to khaki browns (they share a base of yellow and black, rather than the more pure yellow and blue mix). Greens in nature also blend to almost pure grey in eucalyptus leaves, and through to deep purples in some tropical plants. Even though these adaptations in the natural world are largely climatically driven, we are so accustomed to seeing them juxtaposed in gardens and parks, that it looks completely natural and harmonious.
Also, because nature is so abundant with other colours against this largely green background for flowers, birds and insects, we can use this in design to combine colours that would ordinarily clash, if placed against white or any other background colour.
If you are thinking of sprucing up your spaces, there are two obvious options: if you own your place, you may want to repaint some or all of the walls. If you are renting, you may not be permitted to paint he walls, or may need to repaint to white before you leave. In this case, you may want to introduce the green incrementally, in small decor items, when re-upholstering furniture, or buying new curtains, and the most obvious, through the introduction of indoor vegetation. An inexpensive alternative to new furniture or re-upholstering is to use throws - here you can try out a couple of different shades and tones of green and move them around to get the most pleasing effect. This then can form the backdrop to your other colours in the room, while enhancing the textures and the sense of comfort.
As you build up your collection of green items, you can start to look at varying the tones, textures and designs. Play off large areas of "flat" colour (walls, large furniture items) with more patterned fabrics or wallpapers, but I would do this incrementally until the liveliness of the space feels just right for your taste and the function of the room.
As a post-script, I would love to know how red-green colourblind people experience spaces where green predominates - both in nature and in our artificial world. Since I was a small child, I would ponder the thought that other people might see and experience colour differently from myself - is my red the same as yours, or is your red experienced as my blue - which throws into question the whole profession of design!
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