Is your home ready for an update? Have you been looking at light gray walls long enough and decided it’s time for a change? You may still love the clean, sleek look of gray and all of those HGTV modern makeovers, but it seems so does everyone else in the modern world. But… you like to do things a little different than everyone else perhaps you haven’t quite figured out how to make that neutral backdrop work for you. I understand exactly how you feel. So let’s talk about about color trends and how you can discover your natural element to make your home feel more like you.
Nearly ten years ago, when I told friends I was painting our living room a light gray, I remember getting sideways looks. You know the look when they think you’re absolutely out of your mind and say something like, “Oh Wow, that’s different” or “But gray is so cold” or they just nod and say nothing at all.
Funny, I got the same kind of looks and comments 20 years ago when I painted the living room in our first home forest green. Now that I think about it, I painted a room light gray in that home too.
Most of the time I don’t even realize I’m introducing new color trends for even a year or more into it. I just decorate with colors and items that make me feel good. You know that feeling you get in your gut? When something feels right, it’s a feeling of total relaxation. When something is off, it can be gut-wrenching knots or as subtle as a soft “Hmmmmm” that vibrates the back of your throat.
If you’ve been following Entri Ways on Facebook, you likely already know what my latest favorites are and what we are going to see so much more of in the upcoming year.
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Green, White & Wood
Photo by Teddy Edwards – Search kitchen pictures
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This color scheme is primarily for those of us that relate to the Woods but can be integrated into many other natural elements. Let me explain.
I believe that people are grounded by a particular natural element. It’s the element in nature that makes you feel most relaxed yet at the same time energized and creative because it makes you feel most comfortable. Most at home.
The elements are Wood, Water, Metal, Fire, and Stone
Similarly, Chinese culture believes in the 5 elements theory. These 5 elements have many applications in life from cooking and food to home decorating and feng shui. Their 5 elements and corresponding color schemes are:
- Wood: Green, Brown.
- Fire: Red, Strong Yellow, Orange, Purple, Pink.
- Earth: Light Yellow, Sandy/Earthy, Light Brown.
- Metal: White, Gray.
- Water: Blue, Black
You may have noticed I’ve substituted Stone for Earth, but they are essentially the same. I prefer Stone because I’ve seen how people are drawn to stone and some love to work with Stone (like my Dad). Let’s go through the 5 elements one by one.
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Wood
If you come alive, yet at the same time your entire body relaxes, when you walk among the trees, then the element you most relate to is most likely Wood. You may enjoy being by the water but not in it. Spend 24 hours camping beneath the pine trees and you’ll know if this is your space.
Those that relate to the Wood element feel most comfortable when they decorate with natural wood furniture, wood beams, and bring in green color and greenery that remind them of the outdoors.
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Water
Those that feel a close connection to the ocean or need to be on a lake, closely relate to the Water element. You feel the need to live by the water and enjoy being in the water. If your element is Water, your comfort comes from being surrounded with colors of water – blues, light greens, and sandy grays.
Photo by April Powers Interior Design – Discover family room design ideas
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Metal
Those that love the glam and glitter of shiny surfaces usually closely relate to the Metal element. Your home is likely decorated in a way that draws the eye to and enhances the sparkle of the shiny surfaces. Whites and gray are only a backdrop to the glamorous chandeliers, lamps, mirrors, extravagant furniture hardware, and satin sheen fabrics.
Photo by Tara Dudley Interiors, NCIDQ Certified – Search bedroom design ideas
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Fire
If you enjoy bright red, oranges, and yellows that energize rooms when you walk into them, you likely relate best to the Fire element. It’s ok with you that every room mixes different, bright colors that keep you awake and on your toes at all hours of the day. And be sure to have a gas fireplace installed for fire warmth all year round.
Photo by Studio ATARA – Look for living room pictures
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Stone
For those that enjoy working outdoors and building with natural materials, Stone is likely your element. The focal points in your home are hard surfaces of stone and brick. These could be entire walls or grand fireplaces.
The colors that most likely make you feel at home are the sandy grays of stone, light yellows, and browns (you enjoy wood tone woodwork) with some earthy greens and blacks to ground a room.
Photo by GreyHunt Interiors – Search family room design ideas
I’m sure just by reading the list above you can determine which element you’re most drawn to and are likely using it most in your home. If you’re not, start making the move toward your personal element and you’ll see your world transformed.
Now let’s get back to the Green-White-Wood. The element I’m most drawn to is Wood. Just walking into the woods and standing under the pine trees is amazing to me. I instantly relax and feel at home.
As a side note, read about how Forest Bathing can heal HERE.
And you should see my face light up when I walk into a huge barn! Pure magic to me. The smell of the wood and the expanse of the wood beams. My mind suddenly starts dreaming in pure COLOR with idea after idea after idea.
If I could have a workshop where I refinish furniture or an office where I write in a barn with a large window with a view of the trees, that would be heaven to me.
Some of you are thinking… that’s the same feeling you get when you’re at the ocean (Water) or are surrounded by shiny things (Metal) or walk into a room filled with bright colors (Fire) or are sitting by an enormous stone fireplace (Stone).
Knowing my element is Wood, I’ve intentionally brought wood tones and green into my home.
That’s not to say I don’t love other colors. Blue & white have always been a favorite and it’s the color of our master bedroom and boys bedrooms. But every time I tried to force blue & white as the primary color in the main living spaces of our home, it felt off.
The main living spaces of our home are filled with natural woods, baskets, natural wood and jute rugs and accented with mostly green and just a little navy blue (because I still love blue).
Our walls are basically neutral. The lightest creamy whites and grays on the color charts so they blend as a backdrop rather than act as the primary color. Except my office, of course, which has dark green walls, but I think of this as more of a color to accent the main space in our home.
Hopefully this has helped you determine your primary element so you can start making a decorating move toward the element that makes you most comfortable.
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