According to interior designer John Saladino, “In choosing colors…follow nature’s lead.” And what could be more lush and soothing, yet vibrant in color than green, in all its exquisite variations. Mother nature has gifted us with with a cornucopia of green shades from apple to pistachio, shamrock to olive and all the minty fresh colors in between.
And don’t forget the many moods of green. It can take center stage, showing off its splashy concoction of blues and yellows on the color wheel or it can become a restful neutral, looking as natural as a green field against a blue sky or a stem and leaves taking supporting roles next to the star-studded flower petals.
Below are just a few of the thousands of interpretations interior designers have made of their room settings, inspired by the year’s must-have shades of green. Note the creative combinations of furnishings featuring the finishing touch of coordinating green rugs to complete the look.
1. Make a Room Pop with Green Rugs Containing Emerald Green
1. Tobi Fairley shows greens can be used to create a high drama living room. By choosing vibrant shades of greens you can make them pop if you place them against large expanses of white in the sofa, cabinets and the white and green rug.The cream walls and golden ray mirror adds warmth and energy. Image courtesy Traditional Home Magazine.
No discussion about expressions of nature in décor can be had without emerald, Pantone’s 2013 Color of the Year. Shown here in designer Tobi Fairley’s own home, emerald green shines like the jewel it is, in the prints on the shabby chic and classic wingback chairs and other bright pops of green around the room. Echoed in the white and green rug is a subtle yet traditional emerald print exploded for a modern twist against a clean, white ground.
2. Design A Classically Elegant Room with Blue Green Rug
2. Architectural Digest features forest green in this elegant, traditional dining room accented with a passionate sapphire in the upholstered chairs. The checkerboard green rug underneath adds depth and movement while the dramatic velvet drapes frame the stately scene. Image courtesy Architectural Digest.
3. Design a Homage to Peace and Love with Chartreuse Green Rug
3. Nothing harkens back to the psychedelic Sixties like this acid green Manhattan living space by designers Anthony Baratta and William Diamond. From the walls to the dyed-to-match upholstery to the groovy swirls of teal, lime and chartreuse underfoot, this vibe speaks of a natural green gone wild! Image courtesy House Beautiful
4. Design Chic Haven with Fern Green Rug
4. Calming green mixed with white by designer Allison Paladino makes this ocean front Palm Beach great room a peaceful retreat. The grounding piece of the room? An oversized lush botanical print white and green rug. Image courtesy House Beautiful
5. Design a Show-stopping Room with Teal Green Rug
5. Designer Jean-Louis Deniot starts with a base of emerald and orangey copper and adds interest with rich teal green in this Bridgehampton New York, bedroom. The surprising mix of colors keeps the eye moving, but the real focal point is the dramatic copper and teal green rug. Image courtesy House Beautiful.
Here is a selection of green rugs that make it easy to design chic rooms with an invigorating energy:
Bombay CG Needlepoint Rug. Rug Design © Asmara, Inc.
The Ferncroft Needlepoint Rug was used in the Palm Beach room in image 4 above. The Ferncroft green rug features four varieties of ferns, each of a different shape, different size and with different shades of green. The warm yellow and beiges in the border and leaf veins balance the cool greens. Rug Design © Asmara, Inc.
The Como G Savonnerie Oriental rug is inspired by a 17th century Italian damask fabric and it is woven with hundreds of subtle shades which makes it a neutral canvas on which you can use almost any color. This makes it easy to update the decor in the future by merely re-painting the walls and changing the fabrics to focus on different shades of green and different styles using the same rug.
The Bamboo Needlepoint Rug contains both blue-greens and yellow-greens balanced by a warm yellow. You can easily bring in vibrant colors such as fuchsia and orange into the room with this green rug.