The Nature of Color

Most of us know the colors we like and whether or not we feel comfortable in an environment. However, deciding which colors fit our own space, which colors will make the room feel just right, is very intimidating. My advice: Take your camera, and head outside into nature, where the best color combinations exist in abundance and light.

Needing some color inspiration for several clients' design projects, I headed to one of my favorite locales along with my daughter on Mother’s Day;  The New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx. The new Azalea Garden, which was in glorious full bloom, includes nearly a mile of woodland paths that meander through a collection of 3,000 azaleas and rhododendrons from around the world, planted beneath ancient native oaks, tulip trees, and sweet gums. The spectacle provided by azaleas had reached a crescendo and an entire hillside of Asian hybrid azaleas had erupted into clouds of white, pink, coral, and magenta. Color heaven on earth!

With the Bronx River meandering it’s way throughout, we saw flowering  tree peonies, lilacs, magnolias, cherries, and crabapples. And while there are rocks aplenty in the Rock Garden, the real treasures of this oasis are the thousands of jewel-like alpine flowers, graceful woodland plants, and its sparkling waterfall and stream flowing to a flower-rimmed pond.

You will marvel at rare orchids growing as they would in nature in the Conservatory's rain forest galleries. Set in a luxurious tropical landscape these exotic plants’ spectacular beauty defies description.

Scrutinize the leaves, rocks, tree bark, and flowers for clues to nature’s palette. Take pictures. Once home, remember how the colors made you feel and don’t try to mimic the hues of nature, but rather re-create their effect. Borrow from nature its habit of mixing many different colors with one another so that each is distinct while none seems out of place.

Nature is bold, and gives you permission to be so, as well. Go for it…..all the while remembering how wonderful the colors made you feel!