Colour Inspiration from Nature

As we move into one of our favourite seasons, it seemed timely to share some wise words from editor extraordinaire, Kerryn Harper-Cuss, many of you will know Kerryn from her time at the helm of The English Home magazine, but she is also a champion of colour, design with purpose and craftsmanship. Kerryn loves to use our natural plant based paints in her own home and like us when she is choosing colours for s scheme she turns unequivocally to nature. Here, Kerryn shares her thoughts on why nature is the most assured and accomplished colourist.

Choosing a new colour scheme can be daunting, even for those who adore colour. Neutralists can wobble over the subtlest of tonal undercurrents whilst colour lovers can find it hard to decisively settle on a focussed selection of hues from the infinite range of possibilities. And where to start is almost always the biggest challenge.

Some home decorators might start a scheme anchored around a favourite fabric swatch or a key piece of upholstery or expensive curtaining that must be retained. Others might look first to historical precedent. But many find themselves scrolling through images on social media and falling in love with a plethora of schemes each week yet still not gleaning that essential confidence to commit. The answer for the perfect palette could be just outside your window, or on your weekend walk. 

Nature is the most assured and accomplished colourist, mixing and matching hues in ways that have been an endless source of inspiration for artists throughout history. Her masterful combinations never cease to surprise and uplift with unexpected and even sensational juxtapositions. How many times have you decried the vibrancy of an oil-painted sunset or sniffed at a photograph that looked too filtered, only to watch the horizon aflame with striations of amber and magenta and realised that reality is often bolder still.

Picture the magical glow of golden leaves against storm cloud grey or the shock of Colman-mustard-coloured lichen against speckled granite and you have the inspiration for a scheme in saffron and dove. Imagine bluebells trembling gently against the verdant backdrop of woodland and you’ll see the adage “Blue and green should never be seen” immediately discredited. Cut open a passionfruit or a watermelon to reveal their internal high-contrast colour combinations and you’ll discover delicious yet perfectly balanced flavours for room design.

Nuanced palettes are, of course, also richly available to the discerning eye. Consider the tender fading of pink to cream in apple blossom, the ombre of blues and purples in each hydrangea head, the incremental shift from hot coral to delicate blush inside a conch shell and the diversity of greys in pigeon feathers that shimmer in the light. In every instance nature’s presentation of colour is never flat and we can learn much from the subtlety of her application of layers of tones and hues to avoid blandness in any interior setting.

The wise decorator looking to nature will always take care to avoid being swayed by fleeting seasonal palettes. The time of year you decorate in can undoubtedly have a subliminal impact on mood and choice and you need to be sure your decisions are made with longevity in mind. But other than this, I heartily recommend a romance with nature as an endlessly engaging source of inspiration for sophisticated colour palettes that sing in the home.

For more inspiration follow our Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook pages where we post interior inspiration to get you ready to decorate. See our beautiful gallery where you can search by colour and room to find the ideas you are looking for. If you know what colour but not sure about the ceiling, woodwork or pairing fabrics on each product page we have tonal and colour palettes designed by Edward to give you a helping hand.