Green with Envy Over the Color Green! A Lesson on Color

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Greetings!  Today I thought I’d give you a little head’s up on the color green, and how you can use it in your life and work.

Green is the color of new beginnings, and since we are just starting off in this new year, it seemed a fitting color to talk about, so here goes!

Some History of the Color Green

The word “green” can be traced back to the root word ‘grô’ which means “to grow”. It is the green pigment chlorophyll in plants that help them to convert the sun’s rays into energy needed for life. Green is often associated with life and new growth.

Green had a positive connotation in ancient Egypt, sometimes representing love and life. Malachite, a green mineral, was very important in ancient Egypt. It was grinded and mixed with other ingredients to create an emerald green colored type of make-up. Egyptian women would use it to paint their eye lids. Crushed and powdered malachite was used in other cultures as well. Some in the Arabic world used it to cure abscesses. Green was believed by many to have healing powers. The green mineral Malachite, even today, is a desirable gemstone.

Green was used in the French Baroque period, where it showed up in elaborate fabrics, braids, and tassels. It also appeared in the English Baroque period in rich and more subtle tones. Early American décor, the greens were more olive, and green appeared greyer in American Early Georgian design.

Green was used in the original green rooms for television guests who were waiting to appear on camera. The calming effect of the color helped to keep these individuals from becoming nervous and overly tense. Today green is used in many styles of homes and it is the second favorite color used by Americans.

Emotions the Color Green Evokes

Green is cool and introverted color that is very calming and restoring to the spirit. The positive healing effects of the color green were recognized even in medieval times. The color green is relaxing for both the body and the soul. It is common for people to take a leisurely walk in the outdoors to relax and unwind from a busy day or stressful event.

Green is associated with being calm and safe.  It represents order, honesty, and practicality.  Dark green is associated with wealth, security, success, tenacity, and good judgment. Lighter greens represent new growth and inexperience.

Green is physically easy on the eye compared to all other colors, and can actually improve vision.  Blackboards in many schools are green because of this. It is used on pool tables because it contrasts well with other colors, which encourages the ability to focus on the game.

Not only is green calming and refreshing to the mind, but it helps build tissue cells like muscle and bone. It relieves tension, lowers the blood pressure, dilates the capillaries, produces a feeling of warmth, stimulates the pituitary, and helps even out the emotions. Green acts as a hypnotic upon the sympathetic nervous system.

When to Use the Color Green

Green works well in interior design where peace and tranquility are the purpose of the space.  If you dream of a quiet retreat, green is the perfect color. Green can also be used to visually cool down a room that gets a lot of sun. Green is also perfect when healing virtues are essential, such as when a family member is recovering from illness.

Light greens can help to open up a room and make it appear larger. The lighter the tint, the more visually open the room will become.

Rooms Where the Color Green Works Well

 Did you know that using a pale, soft green in the bedroom of someone who is ill can actually serve to speed recovery?

Green is a claming color, but it is also a healing color, moving on the body in powerful but quiet ways to help restore health and peace of mind.

Green is one of the most attractive colors for bedroom decorating, not only because it is beautiful to look at, but because it calls out to you to just unwind and sleep peacefully. Because of its closeness to nature, it is has a powerful soothing and harmonizing effect that is essential in a master bedroom, and because of its tranquilizing influence on the body as well as the mind,  it works well for a babies room or a child’s bedroom retreat.

The cool, tranquil, healing color of green is perfect for a bathroom or spa, where relaxation is sought out. Lighter shades work well in small bathroom since they will help to expand a small space.

Family rooms fair well in a variety of shades of green-what better color to anchor the family meeting place and ensure peaceful community and needed downtime. Green in family rooms can be mixed well with other colors for interest and accents.

Green is a welcoming color, and is a natural candidate for entry ways and parlors, particularly in softer, lighter tones. Kitchens fair well in green, especially since putting a family meal together can be strenuous at times. Green will keep you grounded in the kitchen, and it is believed that green gives a chef creativity in cooking.

Do’s and Don’ts of Using the Color Green

Green is a retreating color, and tends to fade into the background. It is important that green is paired with warmer accents in rooms where you desire peace and calm, but not boredom or total calm. Green used in too much abundance can be somewhat depressing, so balance it with other colors. Green works well with all neutrals, such as brown, and beige, and it looks especially crisp and inviting when paired with white.

Use lighter tones of green to add space-to visually open up an area. Use darker shades to make a space seem cozier.  

When choosing green to reflect a palette found abundantly in nature, try to notice the outdoors and use it as a basis for the palette and for successful color mixing. Look at the different colors and shades in the outdoors and how they play and work together. For example, green can be paired with brown or deep purple to reflect the trees, and green can also be paired with many warm colors to reflect the flowers in nature.