Bringing the colours of nature indoors often has a restorative effect on our well-being. Surrounding ourselves with a natural palette can create a calm and peaceful feeling in our homes so it’s no surprise that greens and other earthy tones have rocketed in popularity in recent years.
Whether you want to completely redecorate or simply add a few russet, tan or leafy green accents, these colours combine with virtually any interior style for a beautifully down-to-earth aesthetic.
How do you decorate with earthy tones?
An earth-tone palette is a versatile choice for interiors but it’s easy to get bogged down with muddy colours. The trick is to maintain visual interest by layering shades, utilising natural elements such as light, plants, oak furniture and, where appropriate, injections of colour.
Earthy wall colours
New neutrals
Burleigh bedside table | @cottagerenovationcwmrhys
While grey has had a stronghold on decor trends for the last decade, beige and taupe shades are now becoming much more prevalent, creating a warmer and cosier look that works well with earthy colours. Here are some of our favourite neutrals and colour combinations:
- Cooler beiges often incorporate subtle touches of grey
- Clean whites balanced out by warm browns or deep oceanic hues
- Ultra-rich greens, such as forest shades and emeralds, contrasted with charcoal
- Mushroom shades and smokey hues
Sunset shades
Parquet king-size bed | Parquet 2-drawer bedside table | @dzinia_design
If you’d love to add a few touches of bolder colour to your interiors, then look no further than a picture perfect sunset. You want your room to be warm and engaging without overwhelming the senses, so we recommend the following sun-soaked shades for a contemporary take on pastels:
- Fruity peaches and tangerines for a friendly feel, dipping into pumpkin colours for a bit of depth
- Pops of cream and blush prevent a washed-out look
- Ochres and rusts are the ideal companion to rustic oak furniture
- Lovely lilacs are perfect if you want just a hint of pastel tones
Bright and saturated earthy colours
French Farmhouse 2-drawer bedside table | @jo_at_the_cottage
If you’re looking to energise your home, bring in bold saturated colours that give your room a vibrant aesthetic. Selecting shades with warm undertones means they mix and match well together and shine when they’re stand-alone, such as against neutral walls or grey sofas. Here are the colours we’re drawn to:
- Daring reds, particularly when paired with brown leather sofas
- Tans, terracottas and mustards – the classic earthy look
- Burnt oranges contrasted with onyx or velvety blues
- Industrial metals such as brass accenting or shots of gold
Natural touches
Parquet bedside tables | @home_at_hawthorn
Leafy houseplants are known for their restorative and air-cleaning properties and marry with just about every interior style. Consider accessories in textures that can be utilised in any interior scheme, no matter your taste. These organic colours will make you fall in love with earth-tone decor:
- Stone, wood, sand or shell tones are the go-to
- Colours that balance warm and homely while keeping light and bright, such as honey hues or crisp whites
- Taupes, mossy greens and chocolate browns will enrich your interiors
- Think cottagecore, but without the frills
Earth-tone decor
There’s an earthy design scheme fit for every room of your home…
Earthy colours for the living room
If you like the idea of keeping your walls neutral, opt for a statement piece of art that brings in earthy tones. The green, mustard and brown tones of our Hope wall art can add an instant injection of cheerful colour to otherwise muted schemes.
Earthy colours for the dining room
Parquet large sideboard | @atnumberfourteen_
While many of us don’t have separate dining rooms these days, a nice way to create a cohesive living/dining space is to use the same colour or complementing palettes in neighbouring rooms. This rich green tone looks beautiful on the wall of the period property, with crisp white woodwork and oak furniture providing a pleasing contrast.
Earthy colours for the home office
Brooklyn desk | @topologyinteriors
When you think of earth tones, you might not always think of industrial furniture, but it’s all about the colours you draw from. Our Brooklyn range features plain natural oak fronts with a textural grain pattern. Paired with the silvery metal frame, you have a neutral palette at your base which you can incorporate stone-hued matte accents and those all-important luscious houseplants for an earth-toned home office.
Earthy colours for the bedroom
Parquet bedside table | @home_of_roberts
Bedrooms are the primary relaxation spot in your home, so you need to be careful about overdoing it with your colour scheme. Balance a feature wall or half wall in a Tuscan-inspired statement yellow like flax or mustard, with plenty of off-whites and greys to help create that calming feel. Go deeper into this design scheme with richly glazed pieces from our popular Parquet range.
You should now be armed with the know-how to transform your home into an earthy coloured haven! We’d love to see what you come up with. Make sure to tag us on Instagram using #OakFurnitureland.
