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the Environmental Graphic Photo Wall
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(ARA) - Imagine the soothing silver-green
of prairie grassland. Or the deep
shimmering blue of an ocean bay. Colors
evoking calm and a sense of connection
to nature will be on the leading edge
of home design this year.
Experts say the influence of nature
on the latest colors and styles is
an attempt to counterbalance the strong
effect of technology in our everyday
lives. "There is a strong desire to
balance the sensory overload from
technology with the need for human
sensory experience," says Todd Imholte,
president of Environmental Graphics.
"Many of the newest motifs and colors
are inspired by the botanical and
organic qualities of plants, fruits,
vegetables and grains," he says. For
instance, floral prints in upholstery,
drapes and wall coverings have made
a come-back this year, and brocaded
silks and jacquards evoke warmth and
luxury.
Softer nature-based tones are showing
up at textile and home decorating
shows all over the world. Various
shades of peach will be the most popular
form of orange this year, and green-cast
blues, reminiscent of water, are a
new look. Some additional examples
of naturally inspired colors are:
-- Tiger Lily: a complex, multidimensional
orange combining the vibrant florals
of nature with the satisfying glow
of a quiet fire.
-- Pineapple: a pale, luminescent
yellow with organic overtones, it
bridges spring into winter with a
softness that is almost neutral.
-- Oxygen: a blue sky as seen through
a glass block, with a silver influence
on aquatic blues.
-- Gingko: the botanical green of
dried grasslands, bridging the freshness
of mustard green with the relaxing
feel of forest moss.
-- Essence of Lilac: a translucent,
pale botanical blue with a hint of
lilac.
-- Sycamore: an update of a classic
neutral brown, edgy but luxurious.
Another trend emerging in home design
shows around the world is large patterns:
the bigger, the better. For example,
at a show in Paris, giant spring flowers
blossomed across a meadow of bold
yellow and white stripes and a large,
curvy sofa was covered in huge red-on-red
roses the size of beach balls.
Bold patterns can be a refreshing
break from minimalistic furnishings,
adding weight and shape to the sometimes-stark
interiors often favored by architects.
Giant scale, either as a pattern
or a graphic, can visually expand
a small space. A large-scale wall
covering can define a style and boost
a room's personality from "wallflower"
to "social butterfly." One easy way
to transform a room and bring a dose
of nature indoors at the same time
is by installing a wall mural.
"Wall murals from Environmental
Graphics can transform a room into
whatever you want it to be, from a
haven for daydreaming, or a garden
for reflection, a pastel desert to
a crystalline lake in the woods,"
says Imholte. "Wall murals are easy
to install, won't hurt your walls
and can instantly transform a room
from ordinary to breathtaking."
One mural that encompasses both
of this year's hottest design trends
is "Dolphins'
Paradise," an underwater scene
that depicts dolphins gracefully swimming
through a coral reef. The deep, aquatic
blues and the play of light across
the coral evoke the serenity of an
escape to nature, while the mural's
size, at 13 feet by 8 feet, makes
an immediate and lasting impression
upon entering a room.
Environmental Graphics' murals are
a perfect way to add a view to a room
that may not have one. Many customers
have installed murals in basements
or rooms that have been added or remodeled.
The mural can resemble a large window
by adding molding around the image
to echo existing windows in the home,
and adds a feeling of light and spaciousness.
Several popular murals can bring
the tranquility of nature into a room,
with all its warmth and color. "Serenity"
shows a quiet path leading to a gated
garden; "Cinnamon
Bay" shows a deep blue bay surrounded
by white sand beaches, and "Oriental
Garden" shows a quiet stream falling
over rocks among green and flowering
plants.
View
our Wall Mural Selection!
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