3 Natural Color Pallet Ideas to Create a Calm Space

May 16, 2016

6 minute read

3 Natural Color Pallet Ideas to Create a Calm Space

Anyone who spends a lot of time in nature knows the rich abundance of color inspiration it brings. Using natural colors for your interior design can bring a soothing, earthy style to the rooms you spend the most time in, like the living room and bedroom. What’s more, you can add extra layers of visual interest by combining natural colors with materials that mimic textures found in nature.

If you want to bring a natural, calming look to your home, a nature-inspired color scheme is a good place to start. Try these nature-inspired color palettes in your own home to create a relaxing, comfortable, and radiant space.

Understanding Natural Color Schemes

Before you can get started designing your space with a natural color scheme, you need to know what colors are in and what colors are out.

The most important thing to remember may also be the most obvious: nature-inspired color schemes feature natural colors. These are commonly thought of as neutral colors, like beige, brown, or white.

But, even though some common color palettes found in nature are made up of neutral tones, you are certainly not limited to them when decorating your home. If you are interested in a bolder color or a darker shade, look for inspiration in the more colorful elements of nature like dark green leaves or the bright blue ocean.

Still, it is best to avoid especially vivid colors, especially colors that are in the “electric” or “neon” range—colors not generally found in nature. If you do want to include something particularly bright, consider a floral theme with small accents of vibrant colors among a background of saturated greens and browns.

Even within the greens and blues found in nature, you can find a wide variety of shades to make any space feel at once unique, natural, and calming.

Creating a Natural Color Palette

Knowing the colors of nature and creating an appealing, cohesive palette are two different things.

To create a natural color palette, start with colors that commonly appear together in nature. It’s possible to find just about every combination of colors in a natural environment somewhere, but you will have a much easier time evoking the feel of nature if you keep it simple.

Start by picking three colors. Once you have selected your colors, decide which of the three will be the primary color for the room—this will likely be what you use as your main paint color. The remaining two colors are your accent colors, and they will help create depth and texture in your room as pieces of furniture, artwork, rugs, and any other pieces of decor.

If you need more inspiration for what natural color scheme to bring into your home, consider these three natural color palettes:

Color palette: Beige, brown/gold, and ivory

When you think of a natural color palette, this may be the first one that comes to mind. Beige, gold, and ivory are common in popular design styles such as farmhouse and cottagecore. These warm colors evoke a field of wheat and effortlessly create a cozy and sophisticated interior.

Light ivory walls, beige bedding, and brown furniture are a classic color combination. This palette goes especially well in a bedroom to create a cozy, calming place to rest—and a comfy place to lounge in bed on a long weekend morning.

This color scheme is organic and natural, but that doesn’t mean it can’t also be urban and modern. Ivory paint is a pleasant alternative to stark white, while a darker beige or even khaki accent wall can help give some calming visual interest. A few brown accents such as lamps, artwork, and rugs can help round out the space and make it truly your own.

You don’t have to rely on paint to give a natural look to your living room. Wood planks or paneling are about as natural as you can get without going outdoors. With that backdrop, adding additional elements within this color palette makes it a simple task to decorate while maintaining a natural look.

Color palette: Green, brown and white

If you find relaxation from a stroll in the woods or the sounds of a jungle, consider a color combination that incorporates shades of green, brown, and white.

In this room, pops of vibrant green from the plants combine with the furniture’s various shades of brown, all of which stand out against the white walls. This color scheme creates a simple and calming living room.

You don’t have to limit yourself to white walls in this color scheme. Bringing in multiple shades of green with lighter green walls and dark green plants is a good way to make your space feel especially forest-like. Add white or off-white decorative elements such as pots for your plants and light brown furniture to create a muted yet natural look.

If you are after more of a mid-century modern aesthetic, a saturated green accent wall is a bold choice and still feels inspired by nature. To continue the mid-century look, add big plants and ornamentation made from natural materials like oak or bamboo. Finally, bring in some organic texture with a natural fiber rug to complete the style.

Color palette: Blue, white and gray

blue, white, and gray color palette for interior decor

Whether you want to feel like you’re up among the clouds or under the sea, a blue, white, and gray color palette is a great way to create a calming, natural atmosphere in any room.

gray and white sisal carpet in a blue and gray living room

Gray and white are natural colors that are a natural choice for your living room walls, especially if you are decorating a beach house. This calm background gives the sense of clouds, while bright blue furniture and a navy blue rug evoke the ocean. To make the space especially calming, don’t go too dark with your gray—stormy skies are not typically a relaxing sight at sea!

For the bedroom, consider a blue, white, and gray color combination. Blue is said to lower stress and relieve anxiety, helping you relax and even fall asleep in your personal sanctuary. White and gray are cool colors that complement blue nicely, maintaining the soothing, natural space you're trying to create.

powder blue walls, gray sisal carpet and minimalist living room furniture

White, blue, and gray is also an ideal palette for a more subtle color scheme. Adding light, powder blue paint to your walls and keeping furniture, rugs, and the rest of the decor white and light gray will make any space feel dreamy and calming.

Enhance Your Natural Color Scheme with a Natural Fiber Rug

The colors of nature can be a great source of inspiration for your interior design. But what are the colors of nature without the textures of nature?

To give your space a truly natural feel, consider adding a natural fiber rug. Our sisal, jute, and seagrass rugs come in a variety of natural colors and can be cut to fit any size room.