Nature-Inspired Colour Palettes to Inspire Your Next Project
- Bethany Liddle
- Sep 3, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 6
Bringing the beauty of the outdoors into your home is more than just a trend; it's an approach to creating timeless spaces. Nature-inspired colour palettes offer a perfect way to achieve this. From the soft hues of sand to the rich tones of a forest, nature offers an endless array of inspiration. Whether you're looking to create a calming retreat with earthy tones or a lively space with bold, botanical colours, nature has an abundance of inspiration. Let's explore a variety of colour palette schemes, offering you fresh ideas to elevate your next project!
1. Land Colour Palette
Colours: Gentle Cream, Honey Beige, Neutral Grey, Dark Grey Blue, Deep Cove Blue
This Land Colour Palette is where natural elements and earthy tones come together. It features a gentle cream inspired by the texture of sunlit walls and a soft taupe that mirrors the shades of mushroom gills. Neutral grey is inspired by weathered concrete, while dark grey blue captures the hues of river pebbles. Deep cove blue rounds out the palette with a rich, vibrant tone inspired by the deep blues of flower petals. This colour palette is perfect for a Wabi Sabi or Japandi interior design style.
How to Use:
Living Room: To create a light and airy ambience, consider painting the walls with a cream shade. Ground the space by incorporating honey beige and neutral grey in larger furniture pieces or textiles. For a bold statement, use dark grey-blue for a feature wall or as accents like cushions or rugs. Additionally, consider adding decorative elements in deep cove blue to introduce depth and a pop of colour to the room.
2. Earth Colour Palette
Colours: Sailor Blue, Forest Green, Tan Brown, Slate Grey, Ecru White
Admire the natural elements of water, leaves, stone, and sky with the Earth Colour Palette. Sailor blue captures the depth of choppy waters, while forest green reflects the colour of leaves. Tan brown draws inspiration from the earthy tones of cracked, dry ground, and slate grey represents the rugged beauty of pebbles. Finally, ecru white brings a soft touch, reminiscent of clouds drifting across the sky. This palette is perfect for creating designs that are calming, and that connect you with the natural world.
How to Use:
Bedroom: Choose either slate grey or ecru white for the walls of the room. You can accentuate the space with forest green curtains or rugs. Incorporate tan brown in the bedside tables or headboards, and to add contrast, opt for ecru white linens with deep navy blue detailing.
3. Organic Colour Palette
Colours: Soft Maroon, Warm Ivory, Dark Taupe, Russet, Fir Green
This Organic Colour Palette is inspired by nature's rich tapestry. This palette includes soft maroon tones inspired by the hues of red sand dunes, ivory inspired by mushroom gills, warm taupe cloth reminiscent of limestone cliffs bathed in sunlight, a russet shade capturing the essence of autumn, and fir green inspired by the intricate veins of leaves. Let this colour palette bring the beauty of nature into your space, creating a grounded atmosphere perfect for an organic modern style.
How to Use:
Dining Room: Create a striking atmosphere by using soft maroon as the central theme, such as on a feature wall or dining chairs. Apply warm ivory to the walls and incorporate dark taupe in textiles like tablecloths and blinds or curtains. Complement the look with russet accents and green plants.
4. Tropical Colour Palette
Colours: Deep Orange, Hunter Green, Charcoal Black, Soft Gold, Dark Jade
This Tropical Colour Palette takes inspiration from the lush and vibrant nature of tropical surroundings. This palette features rich deep orange inspired by sun-warmed leather, hunter green reminiscent of fresh tropical leaves, black inspired by black sand, soft gold evoking the natural texture of rugged rocks, and dark jade reflecting the charm of polished tumble stones. It's perfect for infusing your designs with a bold tropical flair.
How to Use:
Kitchen: For the kitchen, consider using hunter green cabinets with a dark jade backsplash. Use charcoal black for countertops and appliances, and add gold accents in fixtures or decor for contrast. To finish the look, incorporate deep orange accessories such as flowers, a runner rug, and artwork to add a pop of colour.
5. Terra Colour Palette
Colours: Sandy Beige, Emerald Green, Olive Green, Black, Grey
The Terra Colour Palette brings nature’s soothing colours into your home, creating a calm and inviting environment. It features a soft, neutral sandy beige that provides a welcoming atmosphere. The deep emerald green adds a touch of vibrancy and introduces richness. Olive green offers earthy hues that bring a natural, organic feel to the palette. For a touch of drama, black offers a sleek contrast. This dark hue grounds the palette, adding a bold edge that balances the lighter tones. Another neutral shade, grey, complements and enhances the other colours, providing a balanced, cohesive look.
How to Use:
Living Room: Consider painting the walls in an olive green and opting for sandy beige flooring. Incorporate black in larger furniture pieces and introduce pops of emerald green through smaller decorative items. To enhance the dramatic effect, utilise shades of grey for fixtures, accent chairs, and additional design accents to fully complement the overall colour palette.
5. Sleek Colour Palette
Colours: Charcoal Black, Slate Blue, Navy Blue, Graphite Grey, Silver
The Sleek Colour Palette combines modern aesthetics with natural charm. It includes a graphite grey inspired by smoke, a slate blue reflecting rough stone, a charcoal black inspired by marble, a navy blue capturing the essence of stones and an airy silver resembling cloudy skies. This palette is ideal for creating cool-toned designs and offers endless creative possibilities.
How to Use:
Bedroom: When painting the walls, consider applying the colour graphite grey for a industrial modern look. To complement this, incorporate charcoal black for furniture or a feature wall to create a bold look. For added depth and richness, consider using slate blue and navy blue in bedding or drapery. Integrate silver accents in decor or lighting, which will provide a polished and refined finish to the overall room.
6. Wild Colour Palette
Colours: Bright Beige, Dark Grey, Black, Deep Bronze, Maroon
The Wild Colour Palette is inspired by natural landscapes and materials. It includes soft beige reminiscent of sun-kissed sands, calming hues of grey, black inspired by black marble patterns, dark bronze reminiscent of foliage, and warm maroon. This palette brings a bold, artistic expression to any space.
How to Use:
Dining Room: In the dining room, consider painting the walls with a bright beige colour while incorporating dark grey and deep bronze accents in the furniture or decor to add depth and contrast. Introduce black elements, such as a dining table or light fixtures. Use maroon as the focal point on a feature wall or on the dining chairs to infuse warmth and richness into the overall design scheme.
7. Seaside Colour Palette
Colours: Soft Beige, Taupe, Dusty Blue, Teal Stencil, Deep Blue
The Seaside Colour Palette is a beautiful, calming colour scheme which draws inspiration from coastal landscapes. The soft beige reflects the warmth of sandy shores, while the taupe represents the delicate shades of seashells. The dusty blue captures the expanse of the sky. Additionally, teal adds a layer of depth, symbolising the ocean, and the deep blue shade encapsulates the deep sea. This colour palette is perfect for Coastal interior design style.
How to Use:
Living Room: Start by painting the walls a dusty blue. Then try introducing taupe and soft beige for flooring and in textiles like curtains and cushions. Use teal stencil in artwork or small decor pieces, and finish with deep blue accents in larger furniture or an accent wall for depth.
8. Ocean Colour Palette
Colours: Desert Tan, Alibi, Soft Beige, Dark Aqua, Deep Blue
Similar to the Seaside Colour Palette, the Ocean Colour Palette is inspired by the calming and refreshing landscapes of the coast. It includes desert tan as the perfect foundation, complemented by soft beige and alibi shades that mirror sandy shores and seafoam. Dark aqua and deep blue capture the mysterious and mesmerising depths of the ocean. Again, this palette is perfect for Coastal interior design style.
How to Use:
Bathroom: To create a coastal-inspired bathroom, use a light colour like alibi on the walls and tiles to provide a neutral backdrop. Consider painting the bathroom cabinetry in a deep blue or dark aqua for a bold contrast. Introduce soft beige flooring to create an earthy feel. You can also use desert tan for natural elements such as wooden frames. To complete the seaside ambience, add coastal decor such as framed ocean prints, plush towels, and natural elements.
9. Countryside Colour Palette
Colours: Olive Green, Tan Brown, Light Sky Blue, Dusty Sage Green, Pale Gold
The Countryside Colour Palette embraces the earth’s most grounding and soothing tones. It includes olive green that represents rolling hills, tan brown that connects you to the outdoors, and light sky blue that adds the feeling of a breath of fresh air. Pale gold captures the colour of golden fields, while dusty sage green reflects the beauty of rural landscapes. This palette brings greenery and a rustic feel to your space.
How to Use:
Living Room: Begin with olive green on an accent wall or in upholstered furniture to bring the natural feel of the outdoors inside. Use tan brown in leather furniture and wooden elements like tables or flooring to add a rustic touch. Add pale gold through throw pillows, curtains, fixtures, or decorative accessories. Light sky blue can be sprinkled throughout the room in decor or artwork to soften the space.
Incorporating nature-inspired colour palettes can help you create spaces that look stunning while embrace the beauty of the natural world. Whether you prefer earthy tones, bold botanicals, or calming seaside hues, there's a palette here to inspire your next project. Embrace the colours of nature!
