Welcome to the great indoors.
By Alexis Jonnson, Good Housekeeping
The digital-laden world we live in is making us crave more...well, good ol' nature. Even if you’re surrounded by high-rises and loud city noises, it's still possible to create a home that welcomes in aspects of the outdoors for a more peaceful living space. We spoke with two designers to get their tips on bringing the outside in — from finding the perfect shade of ocean to adding texture in all the right places. The results are in: nature wins!
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Color Block With Earth, Sea, and Sky Hues
The art of color blocking, or pairing together different colors, is one of fashion's favorite ways to create a visually bold look, and it's no different when styling a home. Layering a light and dark color will give the room automatic depth, and it's easy to do with a neutral like ivory and a rich, complex color inspired by nature. That way, you can incorporate a beautiful new shade without having to go all in.
[post_ads]"Create hierarchy in your kitchen by choosing a darker color for the base of a kitchen island, which will have a grounding effect," says Jenny Guggenheim of Guggenheim Architecture + Design Studio. "We brought in deep blue-green tones from our client's garden to tie together her indoor and outdoor spaces."
Take it from Guggenheim, who delightfully proves how a porcelain-white kitchen can benefit from a touch of nature-inspired color. To get the look yourself, choose an all-in-one paint and primer, like BEHR MARQUEE® Interior, to ensure that a clean, bright white can be applied with thorough coverage in a single coat. For the secondary color, a blue-green hue like Meteorological, N430-6 is guaranteed to bring a beautiful oceanic tone that compliments the white.
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Freshen Up With Plants and Art
Filling your interior space with beautiful plants that thrive in indoor conditions is the most literal way to bring in nature, but what if your potted plant gardening skills aren’t in tip-top shape? Don't fret! The sun-loving fiddle leaf fig tree — a popular choice for its dramatic, glossy leaves — only needs water when its soil is dry to the touch. And there’s a wide range of greens that are hardy enough to stand up to any black thumb: ponytail palms, snake plants, and ferns are some of our low-maintenance favorites. Succulents and cacti flourish with very little water, but these desert plants do need lots of light!
Plants are a no-brainer, but in this living room I also incorporated art — specifically nature prints from photographers that remind you of the outdoors," says Amber Lewis of Amber Interior Design. "All the pieces inside the house are neutral, earth tones. You get to soak up everything about the outdoors, but from the inside. It truly is an oasis!"
To get the look, keep the walls of your interior space bright, begin with an inviting white that allows maximum light in the room. We like BEHR MARQUEE® Interior in Cameo White, MQ3-32, which has a creaminess that's perfect for a living room (read: not the super stark white you see in art galleries).
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Add Texture With Organic Materials
If you're going for impact, take notes from one of nature’s wisest species — trees! Guggenheim transformed a kitchen and dining space into a modern take on tree bark.
"Using highly textured bronze ceramic wall tiles, we were able to create a full-height feature reminiscent of the heritage tree bark that line the streets of this classic Portland neighborhood,” says Guggenheim of this breakfast nook. The charcoal grey wall is contrasted with creamy white paint and indigo fabrics for an all-around calming, zen-like corner. If you’re not ready to tile your entire kitchen, get painting in this winning color combination: a deep charcoal (try: Iron Mountain, N520-5), a pure indigo (we suggest: Constellation Blue, T18-18) and a crisp white like Polar Bear, 75. Stick to BEHR MARQUEE® Interior paint, which offers excellent coverage, meaning it’s perfect for hiding those ancient grease stains.
See more at: Good Housekeeping
