Green Living Room Ideas to Soothe the Soul

A lot has changed behind closed doors in the last couple of years. Switches that felt temporary have evolved to become permanent fixtures in our homes, from the need for multi-function rooms to home offices, a newfound appreciation for DIY to most notably: a yearning to bring the outdoors in. If you’re lacking a green thumb but still looking to create a restful space, introducing a touch of verdant to your home couldn’t be simpler with a few soothing green living room ideas, the interior trend that keeps on growing. Whether you want your front room to envelope you in tranquillity, are after an invigorating injection of lime or perhaps reaching for more mossy, earthy tones; there really is a shade to suit every home. Take a leaf out of our book…

Read More: Blue and grey living room ideas to create a calm, inviting space

Our living room, lounge or snug is a space where we want to feel calm, sheltered and nurtured. So how do we translate that into homeware? In order to create an at-home sanctuary beyond incorporating more house plants (although they are known to reduce stress and increase productivity so do take note) try decorating with softly-spoken green tones to gently transport you to the great outdoors. Our physical and mental wellbeing depends on us spending time in nature, so some of the key considerations here include maximising natural light, views of nature (be that the window or art) and opting for natural materials and fabrics like tactile throw cushions and swaddling blankets.

While Scandi neutrals make the ultimate palette for quiet reflection, particularly when mixed with sage; a restful choice for sunny, south- or west-facing rooms – soothing olive hues with their warming yellow undertones are set to be the green du jour in 2023. Find rhythm in the colours in your living room by picking a base shade and adding flashes of accent tones, following the 60/40 rule. Remember that colour is for everywhere, not just walls. Consider layering complementary shades of earthy greens within your textiles, painting woodwork or adding colourful home accessories that work to tie your room together.

You may have heard of sleep hygiene, aka the key to waking up happy, but what about a happy home health kick? If you’re looking for an antidote to rainy, cloudy days, try this: a minty fresh upgrade for your living room. Somewhere between yellow and green, chartreuse, lime, mint and seafoam are all shades that will quite literally breathe new energy into a home. Think of it as a green goddess smoothie for your interiors, adding zest especially when expressed in a playful hodge-podge of patterns and punchy geometrics.

Crisp and refreshing, mint green lies somewhere between the invigorating nature of lime but the fresh, calm side of sage. Making a grand statement, play on mint’s characteristically light nature with your accessories and ground the scheme with dark wooden flooring and furniture in more muted shades. To avoid looking too kitsch (or too Kermit), try colour pairings of beige and taupe, deep dark jewel tones or sunbaked coral and apricot for a peachy match. Wherever you use it, it is guaranteed to add some zing.

Read More: Everything to know about the colour drenching trend

Pairing the calming nature of blue with the serenity of green. Deep royal, jewel and teal greens will set the tone for a room that helps you to unwind. Mixing the colour of the sea and sky, if you’re lucky enough to have a room filled with natural light, a moody paint colour will provide a sense of contrast that complements that brightness, so look to illuminate your green tones with both natural and artificial light. A simple method to help you develop a colour palette is to pick varying shades of the same colour – for example, pistachio green with emerald green – and add in a pop of colour with a contrasting second tone like deep mustard or dusty pink for a curated sofascape.

Teal gives a luxurious retro feel to a space. Particularly great when used on wooden panelling or elegant wallpaper, a dark shade makes a statement so if you’re just looking to dip your toes, even a single piece of furniture can set the stage for the rest of the room. To bring instant life and optimism to a space, try pairing avocado green with velvety tones of chocolate brown for a 70’s revival that will look right at home amongst mid-century modern design. Good enough to eat!