April 2005

The past teaches us about the future, so we’ve delved into the ELLE Decoration archive to find wisdoms that can be applied today…

Many of the trends we are seeing in decorating today stem from a desire to seek a moment’s calm amid the strife of life in 2023. It’s comforting, then, to know (perhaps) that this pursuit of serenity in the home is by no means a new endeavour. Our stresses may be different, even more acute – battering us seemingly on all fronts, from our pockets to our collective social and environmental consciences – but the response we have to them as humans has not changed. We look to nature. Back in 2005, stylist Finola Inger and photographer Adrian Briscoe embarked on an exploration of the soothing qualities of green. It is, we argued then, ‘the perfect antidote to today’s stressful times. The colour can be synonymous with fertility and growth, but also peace and hope. The perfect shades to promote regeneration, new starts and optimism.’

I think we can all agree that if there’s something we need as we doggedly plough on with 2023, it’s optimism. That’s why we were not surprised to discover, amid this season’s freshest fabric and wallpaper launches, a wealth of verdant options – some featuring delicate blossoms, others whole panoramas of glorious flora and fauna. For some of our favourites, look to the greenery-filled edit in our ‘Decorate yourself happy’ special (p77). Much like back in 2005, the key to the look is to allow yourself total creative freedom. ‘Green never looks out of place,’ was our advice. ‘Because it sits at the centre of the colour spectrum, it has a natural harmony with every other shade.’ Experiment. Be happy.