Take inspiration from nature’s seasonal spectrum of earthy tones to create warm and welcoming spaces
COMFORTING COLOUR
Little Greene’s new Galette shade, part of its Sweet Treats collection of curated warm neutrals, is a mid-weight, orange-brown reminiscent of toffee apples and fallen leaves. Ideal for creating cocooning dining rooms and social spaces, ‘with its autumnal undertones, Galette provides the perfect backdrop to rustic natural finishes and stone or quarry-tiled floors. For a personalityfilled space, add a flash of bright yellow, like our Yellow Pink in a more contemporary scheme, or try a gentle neutral with a hint of yellow, such as Stock, for a more classical interior,’ suggests creative director Ruth Mottershead. Priced from £27.50 for 1ltr of Absolute Matt emulsion.
Nature’s dazzling colours are one of the joys of autumn and provide rich inspiration for creating cosy interiors. Trees glow with red, rust and golden tones that shine as bright as flickering flames in the low autumn sun, while the copper and chestnut hues of fallen leaves carpet the ground. The hedgerows are ripe with berries and rose hips in cerise, purple and orange, and the harvest brings rich pumpkin, plum and ruby apple tones to the kitchen table.
Offering myriad warm hues that sit harmoniously together, the autumn palette is loved by designers for its ability to create relaxed, grounding spaces with enduring appeal. ‘Walking through woodland is so inspirational, with leaves falling and crunching underfoot in rust, terracotta, and ochre. These colours give interiors a calmness and a feeling of serenity. They sit back in a room and don’t jump out at you,’ explains fabric designer Vanessa Arbuthnott. ‘Natural colours go beyond the neutral palette of off-whites and soft browns – autumn presents us with an array of glorious rusty reds, dusty pinks and ochre yellows that naturally pair well together,’ adds Sue Jones, creative director and co-founder of Oka.
As we become increasingly aware of the benefits that nature can have on wellbeing, industry experts have noticed a shift towards the use of earthy, nurturing tones in decorating. ‘We’ve seen that there is a greater desire to surround ourselves with comforting colours that are easy to scheme and provide tranquillity in our homes,’ says Ruth Mottershead, creative director at Little Greene. ‘This has been reflected in the increasing popularity of neutrals and earthier tones that have an inherent warmth.’
Cocooning and surprisingly versatile, browns, in particular, are growing in popularity, and are celebrated in Little Greene’s newly launched Sweet Treats collection. ‘Browns and honeyhued colours are re-taking their rightful place in our interiors. Shades of honey, caramel and chocolate will bring warmth and comfort into our homes, creating cosy enveloping spaces,’ says R
