So Pantone has spoken and we all will see whether or not “It’s not that easy being green.” Emerald, to be exact is the color for 2013. The color green is commonly associated with nature, springtime, freshness, hope and prosperity. Actually, if you think about it green can be a down right refreshing color to use in our interior spaces, especially in these cold winter months. To me, it conjures up thoughts of Spring and fresh cut grass. And since it is the color of the year, it won’t be too difficult to find. From fashion to décor, green will be everywhere.
So what are we to do to be on trend? Should I pull back out all the Christmas decorations I just barely put away? Must we trade our surroundings in for new ones resembling the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz? Well before we all throw our things on the green lawn for a garage sale, maybe we can bring in this color in small ways that invigorate rather than overtake our surroundings. I mean come on, you wouldn’t really go out looking like the green hornet dressed from head to toe in green. But, you would buy a belt or a pair of earrings to accent an outfit, (a la Beyonce at the inauguration) .
Not sure how to introduce such a bold color into your décor? Well try bringing it in accent pieces. If you do decide to bring in a new color in just accents, you can always control how much and where to use the color (or not). A color like this is just begging to be tried on a thrift store find. Think about color combinations that work so well with the color green. On Pantone’s website I noticed that they paired the emerald with teal or royal blue, which looked amazing. If you have a neutral room, this will add the color that pops. In fact, white is a great color to pair with this intense green. Try a set of green drinking glasses as an addition to your normal table setting. How about the easiest go to of all, a new pillow or pillow cover in green? Why not use a new lush green plant as a way to bring the color green? That’s easy and most of us don’t have enough living plants around us everyday. It truly is bringing the outdoors in.
Look how I took this bamboo tray, sitting in its natural state on my coffee table for the last year, and updated it to the 2013 standard with just a simple can of spray paint in the requsite emerald. Now look how good the tray looks redressed in green! I like simple projects that have fabulous results like this. The spray paint (Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch 2x Ultra Cover, Meadow Green) gives a really good sheen which almost has a super glossy lacquer finish to it. Of course now since I have the color I suspect a few other things (like some up cycled gifts) might be turning green too.
If bringing in a new color is that easy, next year I can just take the same items and simply repaint them in whatever color the royal color guard decides.
So lets do this; lets see how much green we can incorporate in our decor this year. Check back for new editions to our "Being Green" file.
So lets do this; lets see how much green we can incorporate in our decor this year. Check back for new editions to our "Being Green" file.
Sorry Kermit I think you got it wrong. Its not that hard being green. By the end of the year, I might even find it hard to give up the green.
