COLOUR THEORY
Soothing, bold and rich, we reveal the psychology behind our love affair with this sumptuous shade, and share how it can boost your well-being at home
A deep dive into forest green and how it can enhance your home
Picture the scene: you’re strolling through a forest, green leaves swaying above your head, tall trees stretching as far as the eye can see, a tranquil silence broken only by bird song. Sounds relaxing? Forests are inherently calming spaces. The Japanese practice of forest bathing is an increasingly popular mindful activity that involves simply being in a forest and noticing the elements in aid of relaxation. Several studies* have proven that even just looking at a picture of a forest can make us feel less stressed. It’s human nature: ‘Taking things back to our primitive roots, green forest equals food, which equals survival,’ says Karen Haller, global authority in the field of behavioural colour and design psychology and author of The Little Book of Colour (karenhaller.co.uk). It’s no wonder that we’re so drawn to this particular shade. Our instincts tell us that forest green is good.
And this is supported scientifically, too. ‘Green falls in the middle of the visible colour spectrum, meaning our eyes require little to no adjustment to be able to see it,’ says Karen. When faced with green, our eyes don’t have to work hard, so our response is calm. When incorporating forest green into our decorating scheme, then, we should use it in rooms where we want to relax and unwind. ‘Forest green works really well in bedrooms because its darkness absorbs light to blur hard edges,’ says Rob Abrahams, co-founder and CEO at COAT Paints (coatpaints.com).
‘It doesn’t stimulate the eyes and therefore creates a cosy feeling,’
How we use forest green paint can have an impact, too. ‘Forest green is a really intense, enveloping shade, and I love to see it on all four walls to get that full forest vibe,’ says Sophie Robinson, interior designer and colour expert (sophierobinson.co.uk). ‘If you go all out with forest green, rather than use a few hints of the shade here and there, it can be really dramatic. Painting all your living room walls will create a cocooning feel that’s rich yet peaceful.’
As with all colours, the position of your room in relation to the sun must be kept in mind to achieve the desired effect. ‘North-facing rooms tend to be colder and calmer in colour, so you need to balance this out with earthy greens with a yellow undertone,’ says Natasha Bradley, colour and interiors expert at Lick (lickhome.com). ‘South-facing rooms are much brighter, so a green with grey undertones will balance out the sunlight for a harmonious space.’
So, at both a primitive and scientific level, forest green promotes a feeling of calm, and how you use the shade can maximise this soothing effect. But colour is just the beginning – a house plant boom and penchant for letting in natural light is all evidence of our desire to tune in to the ebb and flow of nature; to use our homes as a space to escape, slow down and relax.