It’s a trend that has been steadily gaining traction in recent years, but the idea of “bringing the outdoors in” is going to be bigger than ever in coming months.
Pantone has announced that Greenery is its Colour of the Year for 2017, suggesting that “nature’s neutral”, as the company calls it, is set to become a major feature in our interiors in the next 12 months.
“The more submerged people are in modern life, the greater their innate craving to immerse themselves in the physical beauty and inherent unity of the natural world,” Pantone claims. “This shift is reflected by the proliferation of all things expressive of Greenery in daily lives, through urban planning, architecture, lifestyle and design choices globally. A constant on the periphery, Greenery is now being pulled to the forefront – it is an omnipresent hue around the world.”
Those living in the UAE’s high-rise tower blocks may well feel the need to reconnect with nature. An obvious first step is to introduce accents in nature-inspired hues such as Greenery, although this zesty, yellow-green shade is quite a bold choice, so if it’s too intense for your liking, add deeper, darker shades of green into the mix.
You can easily use Greenery as an accent, because it combines nicely with a wide range of other shades, from metallics and pastels to bright, blocky hues. For a more nature-inspired look, try mixing Greenery with softer neutrals, including washed-out greys and off-whites, or with deep-plum shades and bronze tones.
Pattern, materials and texture are another easy way to create a more natural look in your home, from wooden and leather accents to materials such as seagrass.
Floral and botanical patterns are also set to be big again this year. A word of caution, however: if you want to incorporate florals into your home, steer clear of that chintzy, 1970s vibe by keeping motifs oversized and abstract.
But before you rush out and buy a new bright-green sofa to try to capitalise on the nature-inspired trend, consider that one of the easiest and cheapest natural elements to bring into your home, and one that may not be top-of-mind, is sunlight. A touch of natural light will transform any space and work wonders for your general well-being. So think about how you can maximise the amount of sunlight coming into your home – starting with your choice of curtains and blinds. Avoid heavy, light-blocking window treatments in your living spaces, instead opting for more sheer and translucent solutions.
Other design tricks, such as strategically placed mirrors that bounce light around your space, will also help, as will lighter-coloured walls and ceilings. Repainting your walls should be high on your to-do list if you are looking to give your home a refresh for the new year.
The best way to bring nature into your home is to actually bring in some real, live greenery. Plants look great, purify the air, regulate humidity, reduce carbon dioxide and increase oxygen levels. Studies have also shown that they will even help to reduce stress levels.
Create a visual statement with larger plants in interesting pots, or gather smaller varieties together in attractive groupings. The trick to creating an effective grouping is to stick to an odd number of plants, and to create variety in terms of height and texture, so mix plants with hard and soft, rounded and spiky, large and small leaves. Species that we would recommend include aloe vera, Ficus robusta (rubber plant), Crassula ovata (money plant), Spathiphyllum (peace lily) and Ficus benjamina (weeping fig). They will go a long way towards helping you to green your home and start the year on-trend.
Selina Denman is the editor of Home&Garden
sdenman@thenational.ae