Continuing our series celebrating the evolution of colour and pattern, we explore how trends and historical influences have shaped British interiors, this time focusing on grounding green
FEATURE EMMA J PAGE
Evocative of new beginnings, fertility and rebirth, green has enduring appeal due to its inherent association with the natural world. First used by the ancient Egyptians, who created pigmented tones from minerals such as malachite and verdigris, the hue later became popular in fashion and fabrics, as well as being a symbol of life in medieval art. By the Victorian era, the popularity of green had reached its peak, prized for its intensity and light-fastness. However, a major drawback at that time was the use of toxic arsenic and lead in its production. These days, green has returned to its associations with nature, latterly representing environment and sustainability, as well as energy and serenity. Beloved by William Morris during the Arts and Crafts movement, this is a tone that is decorative and restorative in equal measure.
Back to nature
Unsurprisingly, green works particularly well in rooms that give on to the garden. “The colour amplifies what is on the other side of the window or door and brings the outside in,” says interior designer Joanna Plant. “I particularly like silvery, sage tones that hover between green and grey as they can be used together in varying shades.”
Ideal for living areas, kitchens and bedrooms, greens, from soft olive to dramatic emerald, can be considered a new neutral. “I’ve been using them for a number of years because I love the feeling they evoke,” says interior designer Cynthia Ferguson. “I sit firmly in two camps when it comes to the shade of green I select: spring-like or moody. If I’m trying to bring brightness and a fresh feeling to a room, I opt for an energizing, spring green. When working on period properties, I prefer to move to darker, moodier tones to evoke cosiness and sophistication.”
Choosing a shade that suits a scheme and its orientation is key; deep greens do not reflect light well, so unless the aim is to create a cosseting feel in a darker space, reserve moodier tones for rooms that receive plenty of daylight. “Natural light always determines the shade and opacity that looks b
