When you think of comfortable, cozy, and atmospheric spaces that literally envelop you, you may well picture an earthy palette like the one in Whitney Cummings' living room. Instead of opting for energising or jarring brights, the actress, comedian, and producer has plumped for brown, cream, beige, and even black to create the perfect tonal palette, which is balanced by mood lighting and natural materials for the most calming and inviting aesthetic.
This tonal scheme is nothing short of a muted masterpiece, designed by celeb-favorite Jake Arnold, who is all about evoking comfort through sensorial experience, and it's clear that he's achieved that in Whitney Cummings' LA home.
I've called on the designers and experts to reveal how to recreate this tranquil atmosphere at home, whilst you can shop the look from my edit of earthy living room buys below, from a reclaimed wood console table (Wayfair), to a rattan basket pendant light (Amazon).
Shop the Earthy Living Room Look
A woven pendant light, like Whitney Cummings' brings an artisanal feel to an earthy palette with natural materials and interesting detail without dominating.
Whitney Cummings' beautiful vase of blue hydrangeas really lifts her muted color scheme and these realistic faux flowers will have the same effect.
Hints of black, in stoneware and iron candleholders like these bring variation and punctuation to Whitney Cummings' tonal living room palette.
A rustic console table styled with some fresh flowers or sculptural ceramics creates a naturalistic look that works so will with an earthy scheme.
Handmade ceramics bring a layered and collected feel to a natural-leaning space – choose pieces from your travels for an extra point of interest.
The striped throw pillow in Whitney Cummings' living room both interrupts and blends with her neutral-toned space adding visual interest.
Decorating with earthy colors helps us tap into our innate human connection with nature, which instinctively calms and encourages us to slow down, take a moment, and relax, making it a wonderful choice for a living room. Joanne Dodsworth, from Wren, explains: 'Earthy tones and layered textiles create a calming effect that feels especially relevant as people seek out warmth and depth in their homes.'
The plaster-effect walls in Whitney's living room create a wonderful starting point for an earthy scheme. 'Sand and stone shades are great neutral base tones,' advises Shelley Cochrane, Accessories Buyer at Furniture Village, 'but incorporating brown into the scheme will help to bring depth and warmth to the space, creating the perfect minimal, yet soulful colour palette.'
Decorating with brown has recently seen a return in popularity, both in more luxe schemes with rich textures, but also, as seen here, with a leaning towards natural materials like raw wood and linens. Shelley adds: 'Brown’s earthy connotations instantly add a grounding and organic influence to your space, helping to cultivate a relaxing atmosphere.'
You can also call on inspiration from around the world to create an earthy color scheme, says Mike Whitfield, luxury interiors expert at Lusso.
'Drawing on the colour palette of a favourite destination – whether that’s sun-bleached neutrals inspired by coastal escapes or warmer, earthier tones reminiscent of desert landscapes – allows the space to retain a timeless, sophisticated feel.'
However, some care is required to achieve balance with an earthy palette, to avoid a monotone look that feels characterless rather than cozy. Stacey Martin, Owner and Principal at Boston-based design firm, The Freshmaker, explains: 'We love the warm embrace an earthy palette can lend, but it’s important to vary the elements to keep the look from falling flat.'
In order to acheive that, Stacey suggests: 'A range of shades within the same family create visual interest, while darker accents will keep it grounded. We love to pepper in more saturated colors for punch, and stoneware or metallics in the same tones for depth and a chic material mix.' For a final flourish, Stacey recommends: 'Greenery, such as a vase of cuttings from the yard or a graphic houseplant, will add texture and life to round things out.'
You could also enhance the global-inspired style with artisanal pieces collected from travels, such as stoneware bowls, textural throws, or basketwork. Mike explains: 'Travel-inspired design can be introduced through materiality, colour and carefully chosen statement pieces, such as a single woven pendant, a piece of carved wood furniture, or textiles inspired by a particular destination.'
If this color palette appeals, take a look at how to try another nature-inspired color scheme, dubbed serene earth, which brings in an unexpected hint of blue.
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