We share a universal desire to connect with all that’s green. We strive to be surrounded by fresh air, clear running water and lush botanicals. It’s no surprise that the riot of colours and intricate patterns in our natural environment are found in all the decorative arts. Bringing the outdoors in has always been a source of pleasure.
In The Colourist, The Art of Colourful Living, artist, colour and paint expert and author Annie Sloan offers helpful tips on how to decorate with bold botanicals. Here are Sloan’s guidelines for getting the most from nature’s paint box.
Green botanical prints, patterns and plants always sit well in a scheme with pink colours. Red (and by extension pink) and green are complementary colours. Use similar depths of colour for optimum results — emerald green alongside fuchsia or pale turquoise green with pastel pink.
You can use several different botanical patterns or colours in the same scheme as long as there are plain elements separating theme. Choose prints with varying scales so the patterns don’t compete with each other.
Go bold, make a statement with exuberant print wallpaper on a wall or a carpet of florals covering the floor. For maximum impact, keep the rest of the room neutral. In the photo above, the same elegant palm-patterned wallpaper has been used in adjacent rooms but in contrasting colourways. The breezy Palm Leaves Icons wallpaper is from Cole & Son.
Experiment with large-scale wallpaper and fabric in a small room such as a cloakroom or guest bathroom, or cover a bed or the headboard.
Put up a shelf and line it with a few sculptural houseplants. Don’t shy away from artificial plants. You might not have the time or available light to care for live greenery, but today’s quality faux plants look and feel surprisingly real. For an ultra-cool look, seek out botanical fabrics, wallpapers and accessories with dark backgrounds that make the tropical leaf patterns pop.
Bold botanicals always look fabulous when used with touches of metallic finishes. Gold and brass work well with green. A few elements with these finishes can give a room a glamorous feel.
Think of gold trim on chair and sofa edges and legs. Whether plain or carved, the details come alive with metallic paint or leaf. Metallic details on a bookshelf or chandelier add sparkle and luster.
The Colourist overflows with a wondrous variety of inspiring homes, artists and designers, places to visit and inspiring ideas rooted in Sloan’s love for creativity and colour. Sloan sets the mood with one of her favourite colour combinations: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Antibes Green, Scandinavian Pink and Antoinette.
Six step-by-step projects are included with tips on how best to use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, Chalk Paint Waxes and brushes.
Written by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Email decorating questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. Follow Debbie at instagram.com/debbie_travis, facebook.com/thedebbietravis, debbietravis.com.
