Reading Style at Home and other Canadian magazines, one style popularized over the last two decades has been: white with springtime green accents. This style is achieved with extensive windows, modern open concept and judicious use of natural wood. New technology in energy-efficient windows and lighter renewable materials make it possible to draw in and amplify the feel of natural light indoors. In living rooms, it is now common to bridge to compatible style and colours in outdoor seating, expanding the sense of space while reserving a private retreat.
This style has been popular in commercial use for decades. Awareness of indoor plants as air purifiers grew since the early 1970s, along with the desire to reconnect with Mother Nature. The collection of indoor, exotic plants dates back centuries to the use of conservatories; these elite elements were popular in England but separated due to humidity and the need for energy conservation.
The Fresh Indoors style is likely to become a Canadian classic. A growing appreciation for environmental values is reflected in lifestyles of younger individuals opting for more sustainable material use and improved links to the natural world, i.e. through forest bathing. The possibilities for indoor-outdoor fresh extension are also available within more compact but modern crafted communities where municipalities intersperse green corridors.
In my Iconography of Colour summary, you will can see the long-term association of lighter shades of green with relaxation and rejuvenation. The greens are neutral in temperature but may seem cold set off against the cool white. This can be of benefit in hotter climates to come, or it could become viewed as chilly if extreme winter events prevail. Either way, this treatment can be easily offset by switching up accents such as spring bulbs or fruit, or using a warm base with pottery, wood or rustic stone.
Coming soon … Fresh Indoors – Demographic Extensions