Sage advice
The soft-toned green is having a moment as people crave serenity and relaxation
Go green. Get the green light. Or, if you're British, hope for the rub of the green. Whatever idiom you use, the colour is surging in popularity. Particularly, sage.
It's been a long build.
The hue named after the sage plant appeared on Pinterest's trend report for 2018. Then, paint company Behr named a soft yellow-green as its official colour of the year for 2020. Now in 2021, according to Google trend data, internet searches for sage green have hit a high.
“I think this colour is having a moment due to its soft and serene presence. With the chaos in the world today, I see more and more people craving a relaxing spa-like home environment,” interior designer Emma Beryl told Mydomaine.
“Using this shade in your space offers a chance for people to connect to nature in a subtle way. Sage green's muted, chalklike finish is subdued and relaxing but offers more interest and personality than a traditional neutral like a white or a grey.”
Here's some sage advice on how to incorporate the colour into your home:
1. Go monochromatic. Create a dynamic look by playing with shades of green in the same colour family. Erika Woelfel, vice-president of colour and creative services at Behr, told Better Homes & Gardens you can do this by starting with a light- to mid-tone sage, and then adding an accent colour that's a few shades darker. Creams and whites will balance things out.
2. Embrace contrast. For a more colourful palette, take a trip across the colour wheel for green's opposite: Red. “In terms of complementary colours, soft mauves and deep pinks can add depth to a sage palette,” said Woelfel.
3. Take it to the kitchen .“sage really pops alongside metallic touches that will enhance the warmth of the colour and give it shine, so I'd recommend going for a brass or gold finish for the brassware and cabinetry handles,” Melissa Klink, head of design for U.k.-based kitchen company Harvey Jones, told Livingetc. “Alternatively, matte black finishes give this colour an edgier, more contemporary twist.”
4. Incorporate natural materials. Since sage green is rooted in nature, the pairing makes sense. “Many hardwoods and natural stones also have natural green undertones and will work very well within a green palette,” Roger Higgins, of design firm R. Higgins Interiors, told Better Homes & Gardens. Think of wood floors, butcher block countertops and stone tile. Other complementary furnishings include sisal rugs, wooden beads and earthy bowls.