From neutral and understated to bright and bold, these ideas will make your feel confident about using a green colour palette in your home
Move over Millennial pink, there’s a new colour in town. As people seek a stronger connection to nature, green is taking over as the new it shade. If you’re not a fan of green the thought of using it in your home can be a bit polarising. Kermit green is often the first thing that comes to mind but the reality is there is a wide swathe of shades that will convince you to rethink using this colour palette.
Check out the five key ways you can incorporate shades of green into your home and have a scroll through the gallery below for some real-life inspiration.
1. Tiles
Green tiles are having a moment in the spotlight and we’re here for it. Kitchen splashbacks are our favourite area to tile right now. With options ranging from small-scale and matte to subway-style and glossy, green tiles bring an artisanal feel to any space.
2. Paint
Paint seems an obvious way to use green but it’s how and where you use it that counts. Kitchen cabinets, feature walls and even painted floors in soft shades can bring a sense of harmony and nature into your interior.
3. Décor
From small accent pieces like vases, glasses and pots to larger items like couches, occasional chairs and art, the options are endless for green-hued décor choices. We love softer, moodier greens like moss, olive and sage or emerald for a rich, luxurious feel.
4. Outside
The exterior of your home is a great space to go bold and brave with green. A zingy, lime green door is a fun way to add some energy to your entryway. Or, colour blocking in a range of green shades, like this bach, is a playful look that’s reminiscent of retro style. A green painted or clad exterior can also look incredible in a setting surrounded by nature.
5. Flooring
If you’re looking to make a statement, a floor painted a soft green matched with crisp white walls (like our pin shown above) is an interesting way to use the colour. Softer olive shades with warm earthy tones are a contemporary choice for carpet. Otherwise, for something less temporary, we’re seeing a resurgence in block colour rugs with ’70s style greens.
Scroll to see 52 shades of real-life inspiration.
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Earthy greens, white and wood unify the kitchen and outdoor room, while cane chairs and a rustic table contrast satisfyingly with the sleek cabinetry and steel.
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The home was built with as many economical materials as possible, such as the Strandboard that lines the floor and some of the walls. Co-owner Nikki Wilson, an interior designer, splurged on quality fittings and materials where possible, such as the tapware and glass mosaic tiles in the kitchen. She designed the rimu table, which was made by One Dog Furniture. The lightning bolt neon artwork is by Simon Morrison-Deaker.
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Hayley had the vanities custom-coloured in soft shades (Resene Karen Walker ‘Blanched Pink’ and ‘Half Washed Green’) as she wanted the rooms to feel timeless rather than gleamingly modern.
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Lance and Nicola Herbst, of Herbst Architects, created this ingenious privacy screen for a Waimauku ensuite.
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Irish terrier Gus at the bottom of the Tasmanian oak stairs, which feature jarrah-edge detailing and are supported by hoop-pine shelving.
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A Danish mid-century brass pendant hangs in the stairwell. The artwork in the landing is by Philip Trustrum.
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The green wall provides a great background for the ever-evolving gallery of artwork.
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Alice and Caleb have created a cosy seating area in the spacious farmhouse-style kitchen. With ceilings up to 3.3 metres high, this was Alice’s chance to install stunning, large-scale pendants. The pair in the hall, from Mr Ralph, draw attention to the arches and decorative plasterwork without being overpowering.
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The study space at the top of the stairs is ideal for homework.
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Andrew has combined mid-century and Scandinavian furniture, giving the living spaces character and warmth.
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Richard and Walt play chess on the built-in sofa. The chairs are by Vono. The ‘Sparky’ wood burner is by Wagener. The wall lights are LED filament bulbs in a standard electrical fitting on a custom metal plate.
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The hallmarks of the original Kiwi bach are evident in the ply walls, exposed shelving, stainless steel benchtop and irregular colours.
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The light feature in the dining room is from eBay – it’s one fitting draped on different levels. It has a remote so not all of the bulbs have to be on at the same time.
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Living room after.
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Nick Cowdy makes coffee in the kitchen. He commissioned ‘Paper cuts’ by Ed Bats for the green wall.
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The vases on the built-in shelving unit are from the ‘Vaso Di Culo’ collection by Piet Parra.
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Rob enjoys a quiet reading spot on the sofa in the living area. The door behind him is painted Resene ‘Tom Thumb’. The original rimu floorboards work in with the okoume plywood walls. Timber from the old weatherboards has been re-purposed as architraving. The window seat and joinery are by Parsonson Architects, with squabs by Thonet. Parsonson sourced the chair and sofa by Børge Mogensen from The Vintage Shop in Auckland.
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Parsonson says he has a natural affinity for 50s modernism, relating the colour palette to the playful tones of older baches.
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Brick screens punctuate the solid walls, providing privacy, security and ventilation.
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The bespoke dining table and chairs are by Ben Glass. ‘Bubble’ pendants by George Nelson for Herman Miller hang above ‘Outline’ chairs and ‘The Knack’ sofa is by Simon James from Simon James Design. A ‘Helix’ coffee table by David Moreland sits on a rug from Designer Rugs. The sideboard is by Clausen & Son.
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The media room sits adjacent to the kitchen. Both rooms have acoustic timber ceilings that counter the effects of the concrete floor and extensive glazing.
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“Timber and the other relatively neutral tones can quite easily cope with bright carpet,” says Amanda, of the colour choice for the bedrooms and stairwell.
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The ‘Holmes’ dining table is by IRFD and the ‘Oxygen’ chairs by Issa Furniture are from Inhabit Designstore.
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The zingy green garage door throws light on an otherwise ordinary space and provides a strong contrast to the exterior shade of Resene ‘Stack’.
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Forest green is the perfect shade for this restored mid-century gem in Christchurch.
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Three small windows formerly provided glimpses of the sea. Now, with its 35-square-metre extension and decking, the house opens itself up to the coast. The exterior paint colours are Resene ‘Parsonson Kaitoke Green’ (left) and Resene ‘Sushi’.
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The risers on the stairs that lead to the upper level are painted in Resene ‘Parsonson Red Haring’, a custom shade.
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The Resene palette of the Te Horo beach house is a playful response to colours in the landscape, covenants, and early New Zealand baches.
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Julie believes the house colour, Resene ‘Parsley’, accentuates the clean lines of the art deco detailing.
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Julie once painted the walls of an Irish garden centre where she was working, in a vibrant green, so she was determined to recreate the effect.
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Sitting on the sand dunes, this angular new build encapsulates the spirit of the much-loved mid-20th-century batten-and-fibrolite bach
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Article photography by: Helen Bankers and Sam Hartnett.
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