3 ideal winter colours that create an earthy ambience indoors

Winter is the time when you can play with the many different tones of seasons such as spring, summer or autumn and create a calming atmosphere in your home. Most importantly, winter is about incorporating that cosy feeling into your décor that makes you feel all warm and comfy at home and beat the chill of winter. One of the best ways to create a welcoming, comfortable living space is by turning to colours on the warmer end of the spectrum, namely earth tones that play nicely off of each other and bring the best of the outdoors into your home.

This winter, it’s time to go back to the basics with hues derived from natural elements, as we list the top 3 winter colours that lend an earthy ambience to homes, right from traditional spaces to industrial-style interiors.

Cocoa for warm and toasty interiors

Why is cocoa a hot favourite throughout the winter months? It’s because of the way it makes us feel warm and toasty, of course! Earthy and rustic is the message that drives home when you use a rich brown tone like cocoa, offset with wooden furniture and heavy linen upholstery and drapes. Opt for rich shades of cocoa for your dining room to give an instant feeling of warmth during breakfast and dinner conversations. Or pair a cocoa-coloured dining table with chairs upholstered in plain weaves of luxurious chenille for an earthy décor setting. Deep and dark, cocoa also works as an accent colour in a room. Painting a wall or your ceiling with cocoa and then keeping the remaining colours in the palette soft, light and neutral works wonders for any décor or even choosing luxe cocoa velvet upholstery in an room dominated by whites and ivory lends an elegant feel. For that classic look, partner cocoa with warm colours like red and gold or cooler hues like blue.

Yellow ochre for feel-good spaces

You may believe that only darker colours tend to make a space feel smaller and therefore cosier. However, you can get a cosy, earthy vibe this winter with lighter colours too. A softer earthy hue such as yellow ochre can be warm and inviting without making your space seem too snug. Yellow ochre ranges from bright gold to light brown. It can be orangey or greenish, but it is always warm. For example, a light, greenish ocher is nearly neutral, but its warmth and depth can lend an intimate, earthy ambience to the rest of your space in winter. It is a colour that brings on a positive emotional and psychological response. Pair splashes of yellow ochre with classic black and white, or partner it with jewel tones like teal and burgundy. Yellow ocher works well in grand, traditional rooms, and its inborn richness makes it a lovely companion for heavy textiles in velvet and brocade. For example, upholstery of ocher velvet, when placed against a backdrop of black and white can add muted pops of colour into your space. Want to add energy to your space, but in a subdued way? Accessories in ochre yellows should do the trick!

Warm grey for balancing the cool with warm

The subtle, earthy shade of warm grey can create a restful backdrop in a traditional or modern home. Warm grey is great for creating snug interiors as the weather outside turns chilly. A touch lighter than most other shades of gray, warm gray is a great backdrop for everything from classic works to bold contemporary compositions, and allows the artwork to determine the room's colour palette. It works beautifully with bold accent colours like hot fuchsia and elegant purple. A balance between warm and cool colours is important for interiors, and a wall of warm grey, when paired with upholstery or curtains in cool colours, can do the balancing act fairly well. The colour also makes for a low-key luxe style that’s easy to sleep with in the bedroom. Simply dress the bed with plain, clean-lined neutrals in grey in velvety chenille and finish off with a wool blanket. And if your bedroom boasts verdant views of the outdoors, then a palette of warm gray, white and blue can emphasise the room's connection to nature. To create a space that envelops you and makes you feel at ease in the winters, use multiple shades of warm grey with taupe, camel and cream tones for a peaceful yet interesting mix of basically monochromatic neutrals.

The best part? Our pick of the top 3 earthy colours this winter are easy to incorporate into your décor even when you want to keep your existing colour scheme intact. So as you get your home ready for the cold season, be sure to dip into these colours for a cosy yet trendier look.