Botanic Green, Meant to Be Seen
Learn how to cultivate this vibrant yet restful hue in your home, using its various shades to set the mood for any space
Green is flourishing once more. Not that it ever succumbed to serious drought, but with the surge in eco-consciousness, and garden-to-table living, it’s once again a colour that’s easy to dig into. And once you’ve used it, it will, well, grow on you.
Shades of green are also good for you, associated as it is with vitality and freshness, but also harmony and relaxation. It’s a tonic of a colour – both soothing and refreshing. 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 greens.
And now that we’ve done inky blues and charcoals, deep shady green is set to take over as the new moody kid on the block.
Shades of green are also good for you, associated as it is with vitality and freshness, but also harmony and relaxation. It’s a tonic of a colour – both soothing and refreshing. 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 greens.
And now that we’ve done inky blues and charcoals, deep shady green is set to take over as the new moody kid on the block.
Clean green
Green has always been a great colour for bathrooms, but more commonly in soft aqua-tinged or seafoam shades. Step it up with a new deep licorice green. This moody shade adds to the heritage feel and pops against the crisp white tiles.
Browse more green bathrooms
Green has always been a great colour for bathrooms, but more commonly in soft aqua-tinged or seafoam shades. Step it up with a new deep licorice green. This moody shade adds to the heritage feel and pops against the crisp white tiles.
Browse more green bathrooms
Easy to be around
Not many greens in nature are bright, sharp or clean. Most have a greyed-off or muddied quality, which makes them easy to use and be around. This greyish-green wall anchors both beds in the room, and plays up the symmetry.
Not many greens in nature are bright, sharp or clean. Most have a greyed-off or muddied quality, which makes them easy to use and be around. This greyish-green wall anchors both beds in the room, and plays up the symmetry.
Cultivate a theme
Set your greens around a theme – think of a colonial verandah, a conservatory-style dining space, or hunting-lodge look. Because botanic greens have links to nature, they go well with grunty, textural elements like raw concrete, distressed and aged timbers, rattan furniture and jute rugs.
Brick wall painted in ‘Easy Rider’, side wall in ‘Inside Back’: Resene.
Set your greens around a theme – think of a colonial verandah, a conservatory-style dining space, or hunting-lodge look. Because botanic greens have links to nature, they go well with grunty, textural elements like raw concrete, distressed and aged timbers, rattan furniture and jute rugs.
Brick wall painted in ‘Easy Rider’, side wall in ‘Inside Back’: Resene.
Good teammates
In a similar way, botanic greens go well with other natural tones such as earthy brown, burnt orange or stone grey – these tones are an integral part of nature so we have an easier acceptance of them than colours we would term as ‘unnatural’. Add relief with warm, aged whites for a softer, natural-looking scheme, or crisp white for a peppier feel.
In a similar way, botanic greens go well with other natural tones such as earthy brown, burnt orange or stone grey – these tones are an integral part of nature so we have an easier acceptance of them than colours we would term as ‘unnatural’. Add relief with warm, aged whites for a softer, natural-looking scheme, or crisp white for a peppier feel.
The jewel in the crown
For a zingier scheme, choose a sharper shade of green. Pair with rich jewel-coloured accessories like amethyst and sapphire just as nature would in a bright tropical garden.
See more green living spaces
For a zingier scheme, choose a sharper shade of green. Pair with rich jewel-coloured accessories like amethyst and sapphire just as nature would in a bright tropical garden.
See more green living spaces
’Ave an avo
Avocado – it’s back! Don’t cringe, we’re not suggesting you go hunt out avocado bathroom fittings or kitchen appliances. But as a paint choice, avocado is as yummy a colour as the fruit. It has a verdant, almost spicy quality, and looks fantastic with crisp white.
Avocado – it’s back! Don’t cringe, we’re not suggesting you go hunt out avocado bathroom fittings or kitchen appliances. But as a paint choice, avocado is as yummy a colour as the fruit. It has a verdant, almost spicy quality, and looks fantastic with crisp white.
Even used in a more full-on way, avocado green works – just punctuate it with some clean-coloured accents and texture, like this shaggy rug (yes, more seventies, but in a good way).
Tiny touches
If letting green flourish on your walls is too big a step up from neutrals, try it as an accent instead. A great way to do this is to paint up a piece of furniture. Complete the look with dollops of white and touches of black for a fresh, summery feel.
Happy house plants, happy people
If letting green flourish on your walls is too big a step up from neutrals, try it as an accent instead. A great way to do this is to paint up a piece of furniture. Complete the look with dollops of white and touches of black for a fresh, summery feel.
Happy house plants, happy people
For a more formal feel, pair green with rich timber and more 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 softer shades of sage, apple or lime. Perhaps it’s all that kale we’ve been adding to our smoothies.
Here, the use of plenty of glass-fronted cabinets, glossy marble and clever lighting prevents the look from being too heavy in a small space.
These days, more sophisticated kitchens are bringing dusky green tones to the fore, after a run of softer shades of sage, apple or lime. Perhaps it’s all that kale we’ve been adding to our smoothies.
Here, the use of plenty of glass-fronted cabinets, glossy marble and clever lighting prevents the look from being too heavy in a small space.
Green looks great in a related colour scheme (with colours that sit near it on the colour wheel). This dusty green is superb colour-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’ll want a more serene feel. There’s a reason why nervous performers wait backstage in a green room; the colour is soothing for the nerves. So it makes sense that green works well for restful bedrooms, too. The textured bedhead here adds a hazy, tropical feel to the scheme.
Save your soft sage and mossy greens for the bedroom, where you’ll want a more serene feel. There’s a reason why nervous performers wait backstage in a green room; the colour is soothing for the nerves. So it makes sense that green works well for restful bedrooms, too. The textured bedhead here adds a hazy, tropical feel to the scheme.
Grow your own
Add botanic greens, literally, by taking up the current trend in house plants. Mix the scale – from the tropical jungle effect of the glorious fruit salad plant (Monstera deliciosa) to the tiniest succulents. Natural greenery provides a calm relief from gritty city living.
Add botanic greens, literally, by taking up the current trend in house plants. Mix the scale – from the tropical jungle effect of the glorious fruit salad plant (Monstera deliciosa) to the tiniest succulents. Natural greenery provides a calm relief from gritty city living.
Even just one striking architectural plant like this mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) can add 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
See more great green schemes
TELL US
How are you bringing green back into your home? Show off your green schemes by uploading photos in the Comments below.
MORE
See more great green schemes
Get your hippy groove on with muddy green walls for a 1970s-inspired home. Add pops of sharp mustard-yellow and inky teal to keep the space from looking too dull. And remember, plenty of real greenery and floral prints hark back to the seventies, too.