Yellow & spring ‘26

Image is from the archive of Art Nouveau Artist, Hannah Borger Overbeck. Titled “DayLiliy” 1915

Note Top right image is “Creamy” from Sherwin-Williams paint collection

Yellow is associated with Spring, a time of renewal and hope. Daffodils will pop up and the Sun, giver of life moves closer in northern countries. It is a time of rebirth and celebrated with Easter. It is interesting to note that in earth medicine traditions, Yellow is seen as an earth element and the direction is East, where the sun rises each day.

Yellow is also associated with happiness, think of smile emojis in texts and social media posts.

There are several ways to enliven your spaces with Yellow from the subtle to the more dramatic. When thinking of Yellow as a bold pure hue, also consider its expression in tints, tones and shades. Will you want to group yellow with adjacent harmonies such as green and blue or go for energetic colour contrast working with violet and purple? Here are some ideas as you begin to contemplate how Yellow will apply to your living spaces. Make notes as you begin your research. (For those who use pen to paper, have you considered that a yellow lined pad will help you focus and aid memory?)

• Yellow in floral arrangements and gardens to welcome the new season

• If subtlety is desired, experience a paint for interiors which is creamy with a comfortable yellow undertone,

• Bold, gold accents can be realized in accessories such as picture frames, table accents etc.

• Gemstones with various colour energies can be part of the design scheme such as gold, citrine and amber

• You don’t need to “see” Yellow in your space to enjoy its benefits. Also providing healing colour rays when diffused into the subtle atmosphere are organic essential oils such as lemon, basil, sandalwood, birch, bergamot and more. Corresponding houseplants such as basil will also provide this experience.

• Finally, if Yellow is your favourite colour, you belong to that colour family and I would love to offer you a personalized colour analysis…

Shapes for Living

Your personal oasis is a life project, not cast in iron, but renewable at any time”

Current decor trends in organic shapes and biophilic elements are a direct response to the harsh minimalist interiors seen in new constructions. Consider the landscape of new condos, rectangular in shape, with harsh right angles repeated in TV & computer screens, kitchen countertops with cold surfaces. Add to those elements dull neutral walls and the result in a lifeless environment.

This image above is an inspiration I found on Instagram. The Italian company, Artemest is showcasing a beautiful marble coffee table. The scene depicts organic flow and shapes inspired by nature, a curved arch leading to a window onto a natural setting.
(Review the shapes and patterns from left to right, irrespective of colour, and select the first one that appeals to you) . While trends come and go, there is a human desire to to achieve comfort in living spaces as we look for inspiration from nature. By realizing our own aesthetic imprint, we can realize the spirit of place. Shapes play a role in creating a healing interior and achieving wellness by design.

Some ways to incorporate organic shapes into you interiors:-

• Examine wall areas that could use some more character. Environmentally friendly wall coverings have a range of motifs, themes and “stories” that can match your interests

• Choosing a houseplant such as ferns, palms, snake plants etc. They will also improve Indoor Air Quality by combating indoor toxins and electronic pollution.

• Furniture with soft leathers and curved shapes contribute to the organic flow of your room. Fabric upholstery will have a range of interesting patterns to choose from.

• Any interesting shapes or motifs in rugs made of natural fibres will add excitement to the area it covers

• As contemporary lighting fixtures tend to be very large in scale, made of metal, comfort can be achieved with a good old fashioned table lamp with a beautiful custom made lamp shade.

• As with upholstery there are many options in drapery fabrics. With natural fabrics look for the weight to match your window area and whether plain or patterns will speak best to your space.

• For accessories anything from objects found in nature - seashells, birch branches, pine cones etc - to hand made pottery items and much more…

Your personal oasis is a life project, not cast in stone, but renewable at any time.

Ps if you “Contact” me with your choice of shape in above image, I will send you some feedback on what this means and how to work with your favourite shape!