Designers tell us why India has always loved green for interiors

2020 was a rough year for all of us. The world retreated into their homes. Social distancing became the norm. And we probably indulged in more banana bread and Dalgona coffee than necessary!

As we slowly get vaccinated and move back to normal, there’s a sense of new life, hitting reset, and starting afresh. And that’s one of the things Asian Paints Colour Of The Year 2021 represents. Vibrance. Renewal. Energy. Nature. A shade of green that’s aptly named ‘Cherish’ - because if the past year has taught us anything, it’s that we need to appreciate and cherish the little things - especially the space we live in.

And after so much time spent locked up indoors, we’re all yearning for the outside – and the colour green is a great way to fill your home with a sense of nature. Green may not be the first colour that comes to mind when you think of home interiors, but the shade is actually a popular one, quite extensively used, and with a pointed cultural and psychological significance.

The Psychology Of Green 
Colour is evocative. It can elicit memories and incite emotions; it can also have an impact on simple day-to-day decisions, from clicking on an ad to picking up a bottle of sauce at the grocery store. It also stimulates the senses.

Light/pastel green, in this regard, is seen as a calming colour with positive energy. It is considered restful to the eye, offers a sense of security, and can even stabilise the mind. It is the colour of balance, harmony, growth and restoration - all very important elements for your well-being, both within the home and outside of it.

Interior designer Shivani Dogra, the creative director at her namesake design studio, works with green in her projects for this very reason. She says, “I have used green in the past, and continue to use it is because it is soothing, and it’s not as boring as white and beige. Green is the colour of nature that’s all around us. And it’s also easy to layer green with other natural elements.”

In design, too, light green is associated with coolness and calm, and can be used outdoors as well. Being a shade that doesn’t take in too much heat, it is a popular choice for home exteriors down South and in Rajasthan, where the temperatures are warmer.

Dogra says that in Nawalgarh in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, pastel green shades are common, often used as a base against bright pinks and blues.