Think of the last time you walked on the beach or through a wooded trail. The salty air, the golden light, the piney smells: they’re so restorative and energizing. How do you convey those feelings in your home? Our resident trend expert at Spoonflower, Tara Reed, was inspired to do just that, styling various rooms with an earth-centric spin. From oceans and forests to meadows and deserts, these four scenic themes are building blocks for a room that feels completely natural. Follow her tips to recreate these looks in your home!
“Start by narrowing your setting down to four colors,”
-Tara Reed, Merchandising and Marketplace Manager at Spoonflower.
Take, for example, a desert palette. “When thinking about the canyons and rock formations of the Southwest, the terracotta hue was a natural place to start. Then I wanted to evoke the stark shadows of the area by selecting charcoal and rust as contrasting colors. Inspired by fiery sunsets, I included saffron yellow as an accent color to create a layered effect with the terracotta color. Once you have your colors, you can start searching corresponding for patterns in the Marketplace.”
“The colors or motifs don’t have to be super literal; you’re just trying to capture that inspiring mood or vibe from the outdoors in your home,” said Tara. “Don’t be afraid to branch out. You never know where Mother Nature will take you.”
Choose the focal point of your room, whether that’s a wall, window or bed. We like selecting larger-scale designs for applications such as wallpaper, curtains or duvet covers. Contrast that by using smaller-scale designs on accent pieces including pillows, blankets and DIY art canvases to create visual interest. This will help the eye work its way around the room and achieve balance.
The important thing is to stick to a limited color palette, so you aren’t overwhelmed with choices. Check out the scenes below for even more ideas.
Desert
Set a warm, casual mood with Southwest-inspired geometrics and a palette that mimics the dramatic canyons and sunsets of the area.
Bonus tutorial: Wrap canvasses with your favorite designs for an art gallery look.
Featured Color Palette
Charcoal (#404444), Rust (#952B34), Terracotta (#CA7A3D), Saffron (#E9A73F)
Get the Look
Meadow
Featuring soft hues and whimsical watercolors, this collection feels fresh and playful for a nursery. Choose simpler, symmetrical designs on wallpaper and throw pillows to let flora and fauna accents pop.
Featured Color Palette
Plum (#54323E), Green (#517B67), Pink (#F5B2AE), Lavender (#CEAEB9)
Get the Look
Ocean
You don’t have to live by the beach to find tranquility. Curtains, bedding and pillows featuring various sea and sand hues feel like a breath of fresh air.
Featured Color Palette
Navy (#2E3747), Light Blue (#B1CADF), Sand (#D6B88D), Blush (#F6DCD7)
Get the Look
Forest
Pulling the moody greens and earthy browns of the forest into your home on wallpaper, throw pillows and blankets makes a grounding presence for an entryway.
Featured Color Palette
Emerald (#225751), Sage (#AFC9B6), Tan (#BCAC98), Fog (#E0E3E2)
Get the Look
Whether you’re a designer looking for color palette inspiration or an interior designer getting ready to spruce up your next space, these four color palettes inspired by nature are just the starting point for your transformation!
I want more 😉
Crosses arm and tap foot.;-)
LOL.
Seriously, thank you. It is soooooooo cool.
I am loving it when you post palettes like that. I make my own palette on my software with it and so I have choice at my finger tip while creating.
I will patiently wait and watch for more when/if you come around to it.
Thank you.
Such a fabulous business! I never imagined having the ability to take a photo of fabric I’ve dyed and have it printed on fabric! I started sewing in 1962 and have had the creative bug ever since. Technology is great!
Thank you so much for your kind words Diana! You may find this article about turning watercolor paintings into fabric inspiring.
Best of luck with your projects!
Amy
Spoonflower
Can you tell me the name and marker of the owl and raven pattern in the very first photo on this post? It would be perfect for a dress!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your interest! That design by Zoe Ingram is apart of our meadow collection for this post and can be found here:
https://www.spoonflower.com/en/fabric/6826547-lucid-dreams-miss-mystic-large-by-zoe_ingram
Best of luck with your project!
Amy
I love these color palettes I might have to think about something similar for future patterns!
Looking for something not to busy or bold for two walls in guest bathroom with a window. Vanity is navy counter top is white quartz. Any suggestions from your collection?
Hi Debbie,
Thanks so much for your question! You may want to take a look at the ocean collection Tara has curated to get started or even search by a specific color in the Marketplace. You can see the search for Navy wallpaper here. I hope that helps, but if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to ask!
Best Regards,
-Meredith F.
Spoonflower