Monday, March 24, 2008

Earthtones: Drawing ecofriendly inspiration from nature


Today’s versatile palettes encompass colors inspired by the earth, sea and sky along with metallics and brights to add “pop” and excitement. And while these colors have steadily gained popularity in recent years, homeowners are taking this trend a step further by extending it to the type of paint they choose. Environmentally friendly low-VOC paints are increasingly becoming popular for a variety of reasons, most notably because they lack odor.

These paints are formulated to meet modern indoor air quality standards. Because of this, the room can be put back into use almost immediately after being painted. In addition, since they are not considered hazardous waste, consumers can take pride that they are not harming the environment when disposing of any leftover paints.

This nature-inspired trend lends itself particularly well to designing multiple color schemes, with a nod toward how colors naturally fit together. For example, by combining pale beige with a brighter, true blue recreates the look of earth and sky. On the other hand, create the appearance of a sun-dappled forest by complementing a muted green wall color with burnished gold metallic trim.

Nature has already provided the most inspirational color schemes. With a little help from modern technology, it’s now easier than ever to create a home that does more than look good, it’s good for the environment.

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