Green is the new black

Text by

Cesar - Photo Andrea Ferrari

Green erupted into design, bringing with it that feeling of reassurance that we’ve all yearned for, and a symbol of our desire of connection with health, nature and other people.

With all due respect to the Pantone Color Institute, this year the role of protagonist – not just in furnishing and design but in a number of different contexts, from technology to politics – is being taken up by green. First of all, it’s the most common colour in nature, which is why the human eye literally perceives green more than any other colour. Right in the middle of the colour spectrum, between the poise of blue and the energy of yellow, it’s fair to say that green is the great harmoniser. Often described as a relaxing colour, it has a physiological effect on the nervous system, making us breathe slowly and helping the heart to relax and recharge, channelling that feeling of equilibrium, serenity and positive energy that we feel when we are surrounded by it. It also boosts reflection and creativity and puts us in a good mood.

In all cultures, green symbolises the desire to start again, to change direction, stay strong – it represents life that goes on, grows and is renewed; it expresses power, tenacity, perseverance and stability. It is the colour of those who believe in themselves and in their own potential.

It’s hardly surprising, therefore, that furnishing producers have channelled it for all their latest collections. None of its thirty-six shades seem to have been neglected – from the brightest, such as Lime and Spring Green, to more delicate ones such as Celadon and Moss Green; the boldest ones, such as British Racing Green and Myrtle to burnt colours such as Olive Green and the more mineral ones such as Verdigris and Alpine Green.

This colour is an excellent choice for walls and floors, because it brightens up spaces, making them look bigger and refreshed. Laminam has taken this on board, with a bold and unconventional surface covering: Verderame from the Ossido collection reproduces the oxidising process in brass and metal sheets, making for a strong, rich colour that simulates the effects of atmospheric agents on the material. In this case, interior lighting has a fundamental role to play by setting up intriguing and constantly-changing reflections.

Verderame, Laminam — *Verderame*, Laminam - Photo by ModoFotografia

Golran, on the other hand, has extended a metaphorical invitation to walk barefoot in the garden with its Garden of Eden rugs by India Mahdavi. March, with its pattern of regular leaves gradually overlapping towards the centre, seems to move with the wind, showing off all the Springtime shades: Grass Green, British Racing Green, Olive Green, Jade Green and Moss Green.

March, Golran — *March*, design India Mahdavi, Golran - Photo by Daniele De Carolis

Yuri Himuro has gone for Forest Green in Cultivate for cc-tapis. It is a totally customisable rug crafted from wool, made in India and created using the new jacquard Snip Snap textile weaving technique, its design only becoming apparent when the woven threads are snipped, revealing a double structure within the fabric.

Cultivate, cc-tapis — *Cultivate*, design Yuri Himuro, cc-tapis - ©Dario Salamone

The fact that green instils trust and serenity, puts people at their ease, and encourages them to open up to each other, makes it the ideal shade for living rooms. Roche Bobois along with Joana Vasconcelos has chosen the boldest, freshest and most acidic tones for one of the sofas in the Bombom collection, created to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the brand - upholstered pieces in fluid, organic shapes that can be put together as desired, rounding each other off, for a shot of optimism and a burst of energy that is hard to miss.

Bombom, Roche Bobois — *Bombom*, design Joana Vasconcelos, Roche Bobois

Draga&Aurel’s nubuck leather Brigitte sofa for Baxter achieves a different result, despite its rounded and harmonious shapes. Lagoon, a borderline shade of green and blue, serves to bring out its contemporary, beguiling comfort.