Is Green the new Black?
As renovators and custom builders, we see a lot of design trends come and go. Like some of the ones we’re hoping stick around - Zellige tile, dark exteriors, coffee bars, two-toned kitchen cabinets and powder rooms that pack a punch - we’re happy to be seeing green selections in our design packages for 2024.
It’s an Emotional Thing…
Green in your home can be calming because of it’s connection to nature, and is often associated with feelings of harmony and even security. So it makes sense that designers choose this colour to make a statement. Homeowners want to feel all of those things in their home!
While the colour choice can help soothe your nerves, it also represents growth and life. In this case, it can promote feelings of optimism and hopefulness. Have you ever heard of a “green room”? In theatre or film, the performers wait and prepare in the green room before their appearance - originally painted green to help calm nerves.
More History on the Colour Green
During early modern Europe, green was the color commonly associated with wealth, merchants, and bankers, while red was reserved for the nobility. For this reason, the costume of the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci and the benches in the British House of Commons are green while those in the House of Lords are red. In some historic religions, it represents the lush vegetation of Paradise.
In Ancient Egypt, green was the symbol of regeneration and rebirth, and of the crops made possible by the annual flooding of the Nile. Eqyptions have been using green paint and fabric dyes dating back to around 2500 BC, almost 5000 years ago. The colour green has been seen to be one of the most prevelant colours used in the ancient Eqyptian tomb murals. However, in European paintings and fashion, the colour doesn’t make a more prominent appearance until the 15th century. The Greeks also used green in their art and architecture, and it was a popular color for pottery and other decorative objects. In modern history, one of the most famous uses of the colour in interior design is the Green Room at the White House. This room is used as a waiting room for guests of the President, and is decorated in shades of green and gold (designed this way in the 19th century).
Our use in Interiors Today
With increased screen time, more time spent at work, and technology all around us - there has been a significant uptick in making efforts to connect with nature in our spare time. To get back to our roots. Whether you go for cold punges and forest bath, or just try to get out for a nature walk on the weekends - there is no doubt we naturally crave… the natural.
Without sticking a tree in the middle of your home, which is doable and can look amazing, introducing green into your design choices can help evoke the same emotions that your trips to the wilderness do. As earlier mentioned, it can make you feel calm, but refreshed - like a walk under the enormous moss-covered maples and through the lush ferns in Kinnikinnick Park. There are both bold and more subtle ways to bring the outdoors in - if an Emerald green backsplash isn’t for you that’s ok (but how amazing is the Ames Amazonia tile in Jade seen below?!).
We selected three very different styles of tile that could be used in a variety of ways from Ames Tile seen here. We start off with the Soho Nouveau, seen here in a more subtle hue called “Soft Sage”. The unique scallop shape, texture, combined with the colour makes this one of our favourite new bathroom or powder room options.
The Amazonia tile is more bold - and can be used anywhere in your home from kitchen backsplashes to shower walls. This Zellige tile trend originated in Morocco and has been increasingly popular over the past few years.
One of the newest series from Ames is the Cera line of porcelain tiles seen above. We love the deep sea green hue of the Verde Foresta, but the line also offers a lighter, more neutral option the “Verde Candito”. The entire Cera line offers a unique velvety finish, if the high-gloss Zellige or Glazed Soho isn’t your style, but you’re looking for something more daring than a traditional flat subway tile.
Two-toned kitchens are gaining popularity as homeowners look for ways to add personal touches to their space. Popular combinations include green and white, grey and white, or you can add in warm wood tones and dark counters like seen here. This is a great way to have some fun with your design choices, without the colour taking over the space completely. By including the darker colour on the lower cabinets or island, and white uppers or open shelving for example - you can still have a bright space that feels larger and open without sacrificing colour completely. In a large open space, you may feel like you have a bit more freedom to add colour for your uppers with a contrasting natural wood tone on the lowers. Your designer will help you get this just right, we highly recommend bringing in a professional when it comes to designing your kitchen!
We never thought we’d say this… but wall paper is back. And it’s here to stay.
Commonly seen in the powder room, wall paper and wall coverings are incredibly versatile and definitely make bringing the outdoors in a little easier. We recommend staying open minded to the use of wallpaper in your next renovation or home project!
When it comes to paint colours - take a look at Benjamin Moore’s list of most popular green shades. We like the Guilford and Louisburg green combinations seen above, but Hollingsworth Green (HC-141) would make for a beautiful living space or primary bedroom feature wall.
Of course, adding touches of green via artwork and home accents is a low-commitment way of bringing nature’s calming effects into your space, without big renovation price-tags.
