How to Incorporate Earth Tone Colors Into Your Home

August 2, 2018

Earth tone colors are inspired by nature and tend to be neutral and soothing. Because they tend to be neutral, they can sometimes get a reputation that comes across as boring. The reality is that earth tones come in a variety of palettes. Though they do tend to be muted, instead of bold and neon, they can still offer warmth, rich texture, and variety to a room. Here’s how to incorporate earth tone colors into your home:

Stick to a Palette

If you’re decorating a room from the ground up, take some time to pick a palette and then stick to it. You’ll want to choose your primary, secondary, and accent colors while also keeping the room balanced. An easy way to do this is by using the 60-30-10 color rule.

When applying this rule, the walls of your room will account for 60%, which makes them the primary, or most prominent, color. Furniture materials and fabrics account for 30%, which makes them the secondary color. Finally, your accent color, or colors, in the accessories make up the remaining 10%.

This can fluctuate a bit as you are able to customize depending on your palette and personal style. For example, if most of your walls use a lighter, more neutral color, you may be able to incorporate an accent wall or statement ceiling without overwhelming the room.

Other elements may enhance and complement your main colors without specifically being included in the color rule. Sticking to your palette and loosely following the color rule helps you balance the decor in a room to ensure you’re getting the atmosphere you want without one aspect completely overwhelming anything else.

Natural Materials

One of the easiest ways to incorporate earth tone colors into your home is to add decor that uses natural materials. Hardwood or wood-laminate floors can create a base for your earth tone color palette. There are a lot of options available besides the floor. Wood, wicker, or rattan furniture and accessories easily add a touch of nature to a room and some earth tones. Wood paneling on the walls can add an interesting touch.

Using natural wood finishes can make a piece stand out. Sun-bleached wooden shelves or bookcases tend to be warmer and brighter than the gray tone distressed wood can sometimes take on. In addition to wood, natural fibers can also add an earthy look to your room. These are all great ways to incorporate natural wood into your custom home and get some earth tones in your decor too.

There are also plenty of options for paint. Earth tones are some of the best paint colors with oak cabinets. A woven area rug, wall hanging, or window shades usually come in lighter tones that are relatively neutral. This makes them an easy addition to a room that usually fits in with the rest of your palette. You don’t want to overdo it or have too many tones that clash, but you certainly have a ton of options available to get exactly the look and feel you want.

Plants

Another easy way to add earth tones to a room is to add some houseplants, flowers, or succulents. If you don’t have a green thumb, there are plenty of hardy houseplants that need minimal care while also acting as air purifiers. Several of them tend to be popular indoor plants for fall.

You also have the option of using fake plants or flowers; just don’t forget to dust them regularly, especially if you have allergies. If actual plants aren’t your thing, you can still incorporate them with print. Floral prints are a great way to brighten a room while using earth tones. These can be incorporated in artwork, pillows, throw blankets, and more.

Earth tone colors bring a natural touch to a room while also creating a relaxing atmosphere. Plus, they’re often included in interior color trends and they can still make a statement. If this has you dreaming up a custom home of your own, call Custom Home Group at 717-284-4090 to start making it a reality.