Feeling Green (Color Theory)

I have always been intrigued by the psychology of colors. Especially their impact on how they make us feel when they are used in our environment. I had quite a few college classes dealing with this - both when psychology was my minor, in art classes when I changed my major to textile design and then in a marketing/advertising focused class or two when I was a journalism major. Perhaps I should have taken a class on committing to a major. No need, my dad handled it by letting me know it was time to wrap things up as my life as a college student was coming to an end. Or at least the parental funding was!!

It all worked out but I still think about color psychology often, especially at the beginning of the year when paint companies and designers make their color trend forecasts or when I'm about to start a project at my home. So, I thought that perhaps this intrigues you as well and maybe we'd all like to know more about why we are drawn to certain colors. 

I could have gone in ROY G BIV or rainbow order but I keep seeing the statement "Green is having a moment this year" or people stating that they are really drawn to green lately. So I'm starting with green. I love green, I use it a lot and I think green as a color is great but an even better addition to a room is a green living element - plant, flowers, branches. 

Green is the color of nature. It is considered calming - it is actually shown to slow human metabolism and the result is a calming effect. Many feel that green reduces stress. So now that we know it's calming, reduces stress and connects us with the outside is it any wonder that we are seeing green everywhere right now?? If ever we needed these three benefits from a color it is NOW!

Over the past few months, four major paint brands announced that some type of green would be its color of the year for 2022. Behr went with a light sea-glass green called Breezeway; PPG Paints chose a neutral gray-green called Olive Sprig; Benjamin Moore picked a soft sage green called October Mist; and Glidden chose a creamy plant-inspired green called Guacamole. It’s no coincidence that the names and descriptions of all these shades hint at something natural or organic. According to environmental psychologist Sally Augustin, PhD, principal at Design With Science, this influx of green likely stems from our deep-rooted connection to nature and its supportive qualities. via wellandgood.com

These are some "green scenes" from my own home. I use a lot of green - painted and live. I almost think of green as a neutral in many of my spaces. 

Do you use green in your home? Are you thinking that it might be time to add some green to your spaces. Do you like plants? 

I love plants and I have a theory about having them in our homes. I hear people say that they don't have live plants in their rooms because they don't have a green thumb and they die. Well, when you buy a $10.00 floral bouquet at the grocery store you have zero expectations of it lasting more than a week. Even if you don't have much of a green thumb a $15 plant is going to last a month or two at least. And some of them might surprise you and do better than you think. I have a pretty green thumb but I do lose plants from time to time. And some do better than expected. They add so much to your space - take the risk!

This $8.00 Jasmine from Trader Joe's has doubled in size in 2 weeks and is about to burst into blooms. I just make sure it is not completely dried out and has good light. It has surprised me!

And the topiaries (first picture) on my green bamboo table on the porch? I call them "faux-piaries" because they are all fake - pretty good looking ones and they add a nice touch of green to a room. 

Here is a favorite green from Sherwin Wiliams: Talipot Palm . It's about to show up on a small project at my house.

And our porch floor is Lounge Green. I get asked all the time!

Not sure about the power of green paint. Look at this before and after!

Go green! That's my advice :)

I Bought the Most Fabulous Plant

 I love a variegated plant more than anything.

Last week, in search of something else but trying to satisfy my serious Spring Fever, I wandered through the garden center at Lowe's. 

I spied this plant peeking out of a brown paper wrapper. It looked familiar but I wasn't completely sure what it was. I was trying to find the tag (and price) and an employee stopped to help. I asked if the one I was looking at was the only one and he said it wasn't. They had just unloaded a cart full from the delivery truck. I got my pick of the bunch. 

It is a variegated Elephant Ear (Alocasia adora 'Variegata')

 Here in the Atlanta area they are a Summer tropical but they are hardy in zones 10-11. I knew I still had some cold weather  ahead but I couldn't pass this beauty by!

           I brought it home and it's hanging out in a corner of the Family Room right now.                  

 See it in the corner?

Read about my newly recovered Leopard couch here!

We are having mild days (even hitting 70 degrees here and there) so I can take it out on the screened porch during the day to get some bright light and fresh air. I joke about "taking my plant out for a walk" but keeping this beauty happy until it's safe to move outside for the Summer is worth it. 

I'm hoping I'll be able to winter it over and have it for years to come. I'm doing some reading to learn more about Elephant Ear care. I love how big the leaves get on even the solid varieties. Do you grow Elephant Ears? Any tips?

Another Day (or Two) and Another Plant (or Two)

 

(Fittonia Albivenis or Nerve Plant)

As I mentioned the other day here on the blog and on my Instagram I always crave a way to continue the touch of green in January after the December holiday decorations come down. 

A lot of you have shared that you feel the same way. 

I've been buying a few houseplants to give the house a fresh feel in the middle of a lot of gray weather. It's hard to find the right houseplant for each spot. Unfortunately just liking the look of  a plant is not enough. 

Some need a lot of light (which my spots do not have to offer) so I have to look for plants that I like the look of and have lower light requirements. A lot of us are in the same situation apparently so here are my latest lower light requirement plants. 

The plant above was a hanging basket that I popped the wires off of and put in a thrifted planter. The tag said it liked low light (Fittonia Albivenis or Nerve Plant) and I'm trying to be diligent about opening the curtains across from it for at least a little while each afternoon. Fingers crossed that it will be happy in this spot.

One plant that I had been searching for is the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia or Zanzibar Gem.) I started hearing about it early last year - people had left their offices, college dorms or apartments to lockdown somewhere for over a month (and longer) and left their ZZplants behind. They returned and they were not only alive but growing!

(ZZ Plant, Zanzibar Gem or Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

 I thought, "That's the plant for me!" I lucked into one for a good price the other day at my local Lowe's. I've tucked it in a blue and white planter and I'll keep you posted on how it does in my low light situation.

(Dracaena or Deremensis)

The other plant I purchased a couple of weeks ago is in the Dracaena family which is known for being an easy indoor plant and great for helping indoor air quality. I loved the chartreuse green of this particular variety. 

They have definitely brought a little life and freshness 

where we were missing our holiday greenery.

Any good plant recommendations? I need low light options!

New Year. New Plants.

Once I take down all of my Christmas decorations, toss the poinsettias that are dropping leaves at an alarming rate and sweep up all the prickly evergreen needles, 

I have an uncontrollable urge to buy green plants and flowers

 for inside our house. 

(obsessed with the glaze app!)

It is a real thing. 

Happens every year.

This bunch of lilies from Trader Joe's already smells heavenly
 and they aren't even opened yet.
Being able to buy wine, flowers and organic produce in one place is beyond amazing to me!
I love TJ's.

My paperwhites that I planted (late) in December are just now blooming in the kitchen.

They smell amazing, too!

On Monday, I bought a fiddle leaf fig (my first one ever) from Wal Mart for just $17.00

We will see how it goes. 

I've never been willing to risk the cost of one - but under $20?

 I'm feeling daring.

We are calling her FiFi for short and she still needs a home (besides the kitchen table) 

and a pretty planter but she's gorgeous with big glossy leaves.

 Fingers crossed my thumb is green enough to keep FiFi happy!

 Remember this gal?
This is her everyday/non-holiday look.

And then, I sooo did not want to take this tree and it's cute ornaments down 

but I found a gorgeous, huge, brass planter while thrifting on Monday 

and it was just the motivation I needed. 

I could just see it on the front entry table with a lush green plant in it. 

I think that once the Christmas holidays are over I'm just ready for green and Spring.
 Fresh flowers and plants help me get through the gray days of January!