Three Colors To Embrace For A Living Room With A Gorgeous Natural Look

It's no design secret that your chosen color scheme can make or break the look of, and feeling in your home. We've all suffered the frustrations of picking the perfect shade of paint, only to choose one and have it look completely different once the painting is complete. Or, there's the hassle of realizing that your chosen furniture pieces clash and don't look as harmonious as expected when you planned the room. 

One room where color balance and harmony are especially important is your living room — the room that acts as a haven for homeowners and guests and can set the tone and communicate volumes about your personality and design persona. If you're seeking a cohesive living room style that exudes peace and timeless sophistication, an aesthetic that draws on the soothing colors found in nature may be just the thing you're looking for. Three timeless and on-trend shades to springboard a living room color palette that stuns are earthy greens, rust, and shades of beige.

Design firm Thomas Vooght Design shares why these trending tones are such a captivating choice for interior design via its blog, "Earth tones, ranging from rich terra cotta to soft beige, deep greens to muted browns, are celebrated for their versatility and timeless appeal." They add, "These colours draw inspiration from the natural world, creating interiors that feel both welcoming and refined." 

Earthy greens, shades of beige, and rust tones aren't simply three randomly selected colors inspired by nature. Instead, this harmonizing blend helps you achieve two of the key principles of design: unity and contrast. For example, rust, with a base color of red, and earthy greens, are complementary colors as they are located across from each other on the color wheel. Complementary colors help to create contrast. Also, since rust and beige are warm tones, they help to create warmth and coziness in the living room while earthy greens are a cooler color, so together, these shades create contrast for depth and interest without overwhelming the room visually.

And beige, far from boring despite its reputation, helps to create unity because of its neutrality and ability to pair well with a wide range of shades, especially rustic tones and green hues. Together, these three colors draw on various recognizable aspects of nature to create harmony and a cohesive appearance that encapsulates the tranquility of landscapes like forests, deserts, and mountainscapes. Using earthy palettes is known to inspire peace, calm, and a connection to nature. This unity makes the palette versatile for many design contexts and can enhance the visual appeal of bohemian styles, contemporary interior design, retro decor, and even a coastal luxe home. Thankfully, with each of the three colors, there are so many shades to choose from to suit any style; from a muted aloe to a sophisticated Mediterranean olive or a bold evergreen, the choices are all yours.

Before you go and plan a full renovation, you'll be happy to know that there are many ways to subtly infuse your living room with nature's warmth using these three shades. Of course, if you can, painting your living room in one of these shades is a great place to start, as it gives you a canvas for cohesive natural design. But, if you're not up for such a large undertaking, and you're not seeking to replace major pieces of furniture, you can begin by replacing fixtures, art, and small decorative items in your living room with items in these three tones. Textiles such as couch coverings, blankets, throws, pillows, rugs, and curtains can go a long way to set the atmosphere and bring the beauty of nature indoors. And many of these items can be replaced on a tight budget or by visiting thrift and antique shops.

You may also consider incorporating these colors through natural elements. Earthy greens can be brought in with live plants, and beige tones through wood, macrame art, or natural jute rugs. Terracotta pottery pieces can pull rust tones into the home while creating a storied look. Another tip is to play with a variety of sizes, textures, shades, and shapes. For example, a rust-colored leather sectional can be well-complemented by a beige jute ottoman and pine green velvet pillows. Since these colors are harmonious, you can have fun playing with variety and letting your creativity shine.