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Nature’s Neutral: Green Takes the Lead

A blue-green wood frame with rich brown rub-through is both youthfully fresh and serene. Classic print pillows in blue and green like this ikat, take this sleek chair in whatever direction pleases you. Photo: Sam Moore Furniture.

Spring comes early this year with “Greenery,” a fresh and zesty yellow-green that Pantone has chosen as 2017 Color of the Year.

Selected in recognition of our fast-growing awareness of nature’s essential value in our lives, Greenery invites consumers to “take a deep breath, oxygenate and reinvigorate.”

To which we would add, “Decorate!”

Greenery can evoke a tropical ocean or an English garden, depending on what other colors are in the scheme, but the feeling is always crisp and nature-loving. Photos: Sam Moore Furniture.

Greenery, Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2017, is youthful, versatile and a reflection of our growing appreciation for the natural world. Photo: Pantone.com

Greenery can add a pop of zest within the room, regardless of the overall color scheme, as seen with the green painting in this room using black and white in the furnishings and soft rose walls. Photo: Cynthia Rowley for Hooker Furniture.

In view of science that shows a host of mental ills are eased by the great outdoors, Leatrice Eiseman of Pantone says, “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.” 

Here, Greenery plays well with bright coral-red, kumquat, lime, poppy and Jacobean. Fabric: Sam Moore Furniture

Verdigris blue-green, such as the finish on this Sanctuary Box-on-Stand, is way to bring spring green indoors. Keep things cool with accents like this pale blue throw–or add a print pillow with warm and cool hues for extra comfort and dash. Photo: Hooker Furniture

The craving for nature is reflected by “the proliferation of all things expressive of Greenery in daily lives through urban planning, architecture, lifestyle and design choices globally,” Pantone’s Eiseman said.  “A constant on the periphery, Greenery is now being pulled to the forefront — it is an omnipresent hue around the world.”

Warm gray/taupe is always elegant. Paired with ice blue and spring green, it’s surprising and chic. Photo: Sam Moore Furniture.

The Twirl Sofa in a spring green leather energizes a room in a way that’s sophisticated as well as fresh. Photo: Bradington-Young Furniture.

The beautiful thing about green is that its neutral but lively. A simple switch of pillows creates a whole new look. Pillows: Overstock.com

From a design perspective, green is nature’s neutral, so even a lively shade like “Greenery” works and plays well with others. Sandi Teague, vice president of upholstery at Hooker Furniture, says, “Greenery blends beautifully with many hues. It pairs well with multiple shades of blue, from aqua to turquoise to navy. It also looks great with warm gray hues for a more neutral approach.”

Blue and white may be the world’s most popular color scheme, and when the blue is brilliant aqua, warmed with a touch of spring green, the feeling is irresistible. Photo: Sam Moore Furniture.

The Sheridan Chest pairs an upbeat green finish over highly-figured sycamore veneers and interlocking hardware for an inspired design. Photo: Cynthia Rowley for Hooker Furniture.

The message for 2017 is clear and clean: It’s all about the green — and whatever you pair with it. Heart-lifting as an accent, calming as a neutral, the message of green is what we need now and for the future.

{ 6 comments… add one }

  • Jessica January 14, 2017, 4:14 pm

    I love the green accents that have become a trend. I recently had my living room furnished by Furnishr and the design that I chose had this green accent in the pillows. It makes my home feel more natural and peaceful. You should check out some of their designs at http://www.furnishr.com

    • Kim January 17, 2017, 11:35 am

      Thank you for your feedback, Jessica, about how Greenery in your pillows adds a natural and peaceful component to your room! Thank you for sharing and for following the Hooker Furniture blog. All best wishes.

  • Ashley January 19, 2017, 10:36 pm

    Love this post! I’m so happy green is in now because it’s my favorite color and my living room and bedrooms walls are green! I use Furnishr.com to decorate because their service is amazing, they even clean up!

  • Lisa January 30, 2017, 3:18 pm

    Nature is so relaxing and refreshing! Adding green to your living space with little accent furniture and pillows makes for such a relaxing atmosphere and I am so exciting that this color scheme is in right now! Thank you for sharing this post!

    • Kim D. Shaver January 31, 2017, 7:13 am

      Lisa, we agree that nature is the best inspiration one could possibly have for home decor, and it is certainly relaxing and refreshing. Thank you for your input and readership!

  • The Design Folio April 12, 2017, 1:03 pm

    The green chest in the last picture is simply beautiful with that unique handle design and metal(?) legs.

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