In the lap of nature: A guide to using earth colours for homes

Earth colours are perfect for a minimal and realistic touch to your spaces.

Earthy colour palettes are becoming increasingly popular as the choice of palette for home interiors among contemporary homeowners. These shades of brown are a perfect mix of organic naturalism and modern minimalism. Not only are these shades soothing and versatile, they can be used in a plethora of combinations and ways. Wondering how? Here is a guide to using earth colours for your home interiors.

 

Top earth colours for home decor

Every colour Mother Nature adorns is beautiful in its own way. But is every natural colour suitable for your home interior? When it comes to earthy colours, you have an entire spectrum at your disposal, ranging from mellow sandy shades to dark woody ones. Which one should you choose? Well, here is a list of the most popular earth colours for your interiors:

Warm beige

Super classy and versatile, beige is a hue that goes well with most combinations and looks equally gorgeous on its own as well. It is best used as a base colour for walls, especially with furniture to match.

Terracotta

Deriving its name from an actual natural material, terracotta is the darkish hue of burnt clay. This reddish-brown shade goes well on wall accents. You can even incorporate this shade in the form of decorative pottery and upholstery.

Olive green

Olive green is a mellow shade of green, perfect for a soothing ambience. These are best used as wall colours and upholstery. Another unique way of incorporating this hue in your interiors is in the form of indoor plants.

Earthy browns

Dark shades of brown derived from nature such as cocoa and tan are well-suited for furniture, wooden flooring, cabinets and shelves, or even smaller wooden decorative pieces.

Sandy tones

Lighter shades of natural browns go exceptionally well in combination with the darker shades in the form of wall accents.

Rustic orange

This warm hue is perfect for a touch of vigour and vibrancy to your interiors. It is best used in a pop form, incorporated through textile crafts, rugs, upholstery or smaller decorative items.

See also: Top sea green colour combinations

 

How to use earth colours for your interiors?

With the wide variety of earth colours available at your fingertips, you need to make a careful choice regarding how to use them. Wondering where to get started? Read on for some inspiration.

Base and depth

Choosing the right base colour for your room is important as it sets the tone for the aesthetic. You can go for mellow, neutral shades like beige, tan or an earthy grey. Further, you can add depth to the base with darker shades from the same colour palette. You can use this technique for your walls and furniture.

Accents and textures

For accents, you can try out the richer and darker hues such as terracotta, deep greens and rusty oranges. Pair it with matching upholstery and artwork. Along with natural colours, you can even go for natural textures in the furniture, flooring and decor for a more realistic look.

Dash of green

A natural look isn’t complete without some green, is it? So make sure to pair your earthy browns with complementing shades of greens in the form of indoor plants and hanging planters.

Lighting

Earthy tones are best paired with warm and mellow lighting for a cosy ambience. However, there is nothing better than natural sunlight to enhance the beauty of your earth colour-themed interior space. So make sure that the room receives ample sunlight as well!

Balancing with neutrals

While designing your space with an earthy colour palette, it is extremely important to maintain the proper balance between light and dark shades. This is done to avoid making the ambience too heavy or light.

Source: Pinterest

 

Earthy combinations for your home

Earthy hues do not occur in nature in isolation, do they? So there’s no reason to not apply the same logic while decorating your interior space! Earthy colours are best used in combination. Here are some of the most popular combinations for you to try out:

Beige and terracotta

Mellow beige paired with rich terracotta creates a warm and inviting ambience. Beige is best used as a base colour for terracotta decorative items such as cushion and rugs, or even real terracotta pottery.

Olive green and cream

Yet another rich-mellow combination, olive green and cream is a match made in heaven! Perfect for a classy aesthetic, olive green walls and furniture go exceptionally well with cream-coloured drapes and upholstery.

Source: Pinterest

Earthy browns and rustic orange

Natural shades of brown with pops of rustic orange is perfect for a lively and vibrant ambience. Use the browns in furniture and complement with a dash of rustic orange here and there in the form of accents, upholstery and decor pieces.

Source: Pinterest

Sandy tones and soft blue

Add a beachy vibe to your space by pairing light, sandy hues with soft blues. Sandy tones are a perfect base shade for walls and furniture, coupled with blues in the form of decor items and textiles.

Source: Pinterest

Terracotta and deep green

Use this combination for the perfect forest-like ambience. Terracotta accents on walls pair beautifully with deep green drapes and upholstery.

Source: Pinterest

Warm grey and mustard yellow

A combination of grey and yellow will surely add a lively, energetic vibe to your space. Use the grey as a base colour for furniture and walls and pair it with yellow cushions, vases and rugs.

See also: Top smoke-grey colour combinations for your home that you must try

 

FAQs

What colours fall under earthy shades?

Earthy shades include the colours inspired by nature, mainly those which are close to brownish hues.

What are some popular non-brown earth colours?

Apart from pure browns, earth colours also include shades of green and grey.

What lighting works best with an earthy aesthetic?

An earthy aesthetic goes best with warm, mellow lighting that enhances the natural hues.

Can I incorporate bright, contrasting colours with earthy tones?

Bright colours can be incorporated into an earthy aesthetic as long as they are balanced out by neutral shades.

How can I ensure that the room does not become too dark or heavy with an earth colour?

Instead of going for all dark earthy tones, it is recommended to use them in combination with lighter, neutral shades to maintain a balance.

Which is the best earth colour for base?

Beige is the most popular earth colour used for base.

What are some earth colour combinations I can use?

Beige and terracotta, olive green and cream, and sandy and soft blue are some popular earthy combinations you can use.

(Featured image source: Pinterest)

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at [email protected]

 

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