EXPERT GUIDE

FIND THE BEST TONE OF GREEN

‘With the enduring focus on staying home, we find ourselves craving colours that make us feel closer to the natural world,’ muses Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene. ‘Neither too warm nor too cool, green is a hugely versatile shade that is fast becoming a new neutral.’ Ruth gives us her top tips for welcoming it into your home…

1 The trick to successfully combining green with neutrals is to select shades that contain subtle, yet similar undertones of green. This will ensure you create a tonal and harmonious scheme.

2 Olive green is ideal for east-facing rooms – the cool light picks up both the blue and yellow undertones that make the colour read so beautifully. South-facing rooms receive much warmer light, so be mindful that rich greens may be too intense in these spaces.

3 Expand the possibilities – use paint to highlight architectural features, such as ceiling roses and cornices, or add colour above or below a dado rail. Painting the ceiling in a soothing green hue is a brilliant way to create a serene atmosphere, as well as drawing the eye upwards and giving the illusion of additional height.

4 Greens and neutrals work so well because we’re used to seeing this combination in nature – so play to this relationship by using in spaces that look out onto a garden. It’ll extend the feeling of nature into your room for a calming, yet airy feel.