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Decorating with Green

Green: One of the Safest Colors in Home Decor

From , former About.com Guide

Green Furniture Image

Green Mirror and Chest of Drawers at Toronto Store Boo Boo and Lefty

Lauren Flanagan
There are few colors as fresh and rejuvenating as green. Green is the color of rebirth, renewal, and growth. It's soothing, energetic and peaceful. For all these reasons and more, decorating with green remains popular with designers, decorators and homeowners.

Green comes in a wide variety of shades and tones from watery hues to bright limes to deep emeralds. What's great is that because green is essentially a neutral, every shade and tone works with just about every other color. This is one of the many reasons why decorating with green is such a breeze.

Green Color Combinations

Green works with almost every other color in existence. Here are a few examples:
  • Green and White: Fresh, light and easy on the eyes. Be sure to incorporate a lot of patterns to keep this color scheme fun and vibrant.
  • Green and Brown: Grounding and reminiscent of nature. Pairing different shades of green with brown is warm and tends to create a cozy atmosphere.
  • Green and Pink: One of the most classic color combinations. Keep your greens soft if you're pairing them with pink. Add gold accents to give it a glam look.
  • Green and Red: It's not just for Christmas anymore. Look at the color wheel and you'll see that this is a great combo. Just avoid adding too many sparkly accents or it might look like Christmas all year round.
  • Green and Black: Hip and bold. Deep greens paired with black hints at luxury and sophistication.
  • Green and Yellow: Youthful and vibrant. Lemon and lime have always worked well together. Just be sure to add some white to break it up.
  • Green and Blue: If they're good enough for nature they're certainly good enough for home décor. Blue and green work together well in both deep and soft tones alike.

Decorating with Green

Green can be used anywhere.
  • If you want to cover a large expanse of space consider a green area rug or green walls.
  • Green furniture always looks good. Consider a green and white trellis fabric on chairs or a painted green chest of drawers.
  • If you're not sure where or how to use it, try incorporating some green accessories. A few well-placed vases, throw pillows or even lamps and mirrors can give your home the burst of freshness it needs.
  • When in doubt, some plants and green flowers can give you that little touch of green you need. Just be wary of using too many plants. While a few are desirable, don't overdo it and make your home feel like it's being overtaken.

The main thing to remember about green is that it's versatile. If you're wondering if it will work in your space and with your existing furnishings, the answer is probably yes.

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