Martha Stewart is certainly known for her green thumb, but it may have met its match with her dining table decor. The expert in all things domestic recently shared a photo of her tablescape, and there is a lot to admire: the white plates, the linen tablecloths, and the 'best blueberry buttermilk pancakes ever,' to name a few. However, our eyes were drawn to the greenery.
Yes, there is a plant peeking into the image, and a glass of Stewart's signature green juice in frame, but what we really love are the green dining napkins that tie it all together.
A staple color in styles such as Japandi and Biophilic design, decorating with green is a popular choice for those who want to infuse their home with a bit of the natural world. In fact, experts say that green has some mental health benefits in case Stewart's endorsement wasn't already enough for us to make an investment.
'Green is a total vibe, and I am here for it,' says Andrea Sinkin of Andrea Sinkin Design. 'The color green gives a feeling of abundance and can have calm and therapeutic effects – like a mood boost. Because it is rooted in nature, there are so many subtle benefits that we don’t even realize. People associate green with basic environmental needs (the earth's elements of water, food, and shelter), so the feeling of security is often a great benefit to using green!'
Shade selection ultimately comes down to personal choice and existing home design schemes.
'Green can go from the most acidic yellow tones to having a stronger blue underneath, which leans more towards turquoise,' Sinkin explains. 'Most people have a strong preference for the shades of green they like and gravitate towards those. But there is no right or wrong answer… it is just personal preference.'
She continues, 'As a design firm right now, we are using a lot of sage green and olive green. Both mix beautifully with wood tones from bleached oak to dark walnut. Our clients have been very receptive and excited to bring green into their homes.'
We love Stewart's punchier take on olive green with her Kelly green-leaning napkins but agree that sage and more muted colors are some of the more versatile greens for the home. We can tap into her tablecape with these handpicked buys, all available via Amazon below.
Wondering if green is going to go out of style anytime soon? Fortunately, Sinkin says that it's a timeless color trend.
'While it is a particularly hot trend right now, I don’t see it dying down anytime soon,' she states. 'People are investing in green and bringing it into their kitchens with the cabinets or an accent like an island. As we know, kitchens cost a small fortune so green is here to stay for many years to come.'
Overall, Sinkin recommends green in the home as a highly palatable burst of color.
'Psychology aside it’s also just a really peaceful color and typically appeals to everyone, so it is a good neutral ground for all members of the family to enjoy,' she says.
We recommend starting with small infusions of color in the kitchen – napkins and other table accessories, such as tablecloths or even glasses are a great way to implement touches of green subtly. Of course, plants are also a fabulous way to tap into the Biophilic/natural design trends that continue to permeate the industry.
