Decorating
Colour: 10 Reasons to Work Woodland Tones into Your Home
From a sunny springtime orchard to a brooding winter fir plantation, there are lots of colours to inspire you down in the woods
Think of woodland and the classic British deciduous forest perhaps springs to mind, with its oak, beech and ash trees. The predominant colours are lush green and soft brown, which may not sound like the most exciting palette for your home. But look a little closer, step into a range of woodlands and visit throughout the year and you’ll find a wealth of colour and tone waiting for you beneath the branches.
From a dark fir plantation with its inky tones, to a springtime orchard bursting with blossom, there are moody shades and happy colours – and everything in-between – amid the trees. So come on down to the woods today and get ready to feel inspired.
From a dark fir plantation with its inky tones, to a springtime orchard bursting with blossom, there are moody shades and happy colours – and everything in-between – amid the trees. So come on down to the woods today and get ready to feel inspired.
Take a tropical turn
Extend the woodland theme to include the rainforest of the world’s tropical regions. Think dense, deep greens and spiky shapes and try intensifying the look with lots of houseplants.
Extend the woodland theme to include the rainforest of the world’s tropical regions. Think dense, deep greens and spiky shapes and try intensifying the look with lots of houseplants.
Visit a winter fir forest
There are three key colours in a winter fir forest: the white of the snow, the dark brown of the tree trunks and branches and the deep green of the needles. This combination looks bold and original and is easy to re-create: use white as the backdrop, add plenty of rich dark wood and dot in some green as an accent.
There are three key colours in a winter fir forest: the white of the snow, the dark brown of the tree trunks and branches and the deep green of the needles. This combination looks bold and original and is easy to re-create: use white as the backdrop, add plenty of rich dark wood and dot in some green as an accent.
Spread some autumnal tones
Deciduous woodlands glow in autumn with a range of rich, reddish tones, from crimson to mellow rust. Work these into your scheme and add plenty of soft green, too, to balance the hotter shades.
Discover 10 reasons why you should go green in the bedroom
Deciduous woodlands glow in autumn with a range of rich, reddish tones, from crimson to mellow rust. Work these into your scheme and add plenty of soft green, too, to balance the hotter shades.
Discover 10 reasons why you should go green in the bedroom
Celebrate spring’s new leaves
The early leaves that burst out in spring on trees such as beech, ash and oak are much brighter in colour than the mature leaves at the end of the summer. Channel this youthful vibrancy with a splash of vivid green in your home. Great matched with white, as in this kitchen, it brings a shot of springtime zest to your rooms all year round.
The early leaves that burst out in spring on trees such as beech, ash and oak are much brighter in colour than the mature leaves at the end of the summer. Channel this youthful vibrancy with a splash of vivid green in your home. Great matched with white, as in this kitchen, it brings a shot of springtime zest to your rooms all year round.
Enjoy an orchard in blossom
Borrow the soft pinks, whites and fresh greens of a springtime apple or cherry orchard and use them to give your home a light, fresh, optimistic feel. Stick to the three colours to avoid overload, especially if you’re mixing patterns.
Borrow the soft pinks, whites and fresh greens of a springtime apple or cherry orchard and use them to give your home a light, fresh, optimistic feel. Stick to the three colours to avoid overload, especially if you’re mixing patterns.
Create a bluebell wood
The colours of a bluebell wood are sharp and clean. The flowers have a purplish tone and their tendency to grow in huge carpets creates washes of colour. Add to this the vibrant green of new leaves bursting out on the trees above and you have a strong and joyful combination.
The colours of a bluebell wood are sharp and clean. The flowers have a purplish tone and their tendency to grow in huge carpets creates washes of colour. Add to this the vibrant green of new leaves bursting out on the trees above and you have a strong and joyful combination.
Venture into the woods
Using a wallpaper printed with leaves or trees is a simple but effective fast-track to a woodland look. It’s particularly effective in a very small space, such as a cloakroom, creating the sense of a glade. Here, it’s teamed with plain white so nothing fights with the complex pattern.
Using a wallpaper printed with leaves or trees is a simple but effective fast-track to a woodland look. It’s particularly effective in a very small space, such as a cloakroom, creating the sense of a glade. Here, it’s teamed with plain white so nothing fights with the complex pattern.
Go completely green
Work the woodland in full leaf look with an abundance of green. These mosaic tiles almost look like abstract versions of individual leaves, crowding together in a summer canopy.
Take a look at 10 gorgeous green front doors
Work the woodland in full leaf look with an abundance of green. These mosaic tiles almost look like abstract versions of individual leaves, crowding together in a summer canopy.
Take a look at 10 gorgeous green front doors
Explore a dark plantation
Densely planted, pine plantations can be very atmospheric, with their regimented rows of trees and thick foliage filtering the light from above. Take this as inspiration for a scheme that uses plenty of brown and black layered with muted and deep green tones. Luxe fabrics, such as velvet, will add to the rich mood.
TELL US…
Have you used woodland tones in your home? We’d love to see photos in the Comments below.
Densely planted, pine plantations can be very atmospheric, with their regimented rows of trees and thick foliage filtering the light from above. Take this as inspiration for a scheme that uses plenty of brown and black layered with muted and deep green tones. Luxe fabrics, such as velvet, will add to the rich mood.
TELL US…
Have you used woodland tones in your home? We’d love to see photos in the Comments below.
Many deciduous woodlands contain a pond or stream with mossy banks and tree roots leading down to it. Capture this woody scene with rich green that tips towards the brown. Add lots of dark wood and even a touch of blue or grey, to mimic the water.