The Power of Flowers in finding Inspiration for your Interior Design Projects

All creatives are inspired by something. Inspiration is an integral part of the design process. As an interior designer, what inspires you to create? Maybe you’re inspired by a story, particular tourist places, or the natural world.

Through many generations, artists have studied, examined, and practiced color theory. Interior designer community can take the great challenge of seeking inspiration from a natural piece of the world and transforms it into a new kind of beauty through spectacular and unique spaces.

 One of the mediums that can spark creativity with color can be flowers. Nature goes a long way in deciding what colors go together. In one single flower, you may find many other colors within that flower that are harmoniously put together.

This blog article focuses on seeking color inspiration for interior design projects through the lens of flowers.

 Disclaimer - All views expressed on this blog are my own and do not represent the opinions of any entity whatsoever with which I have been, am now, or will be affiliated.

Understanding the terminology and usage of color can be helpful in knowing how to utilize color in design to captivate viewers correctly. To understand how color works, it’s helpful to see color visually displayed. Once you notice the color palettes from flower images, then you transfer that to a suitable color scheme, you ultimately end up with a creative interior design process.

As you examine flower, start to notice how specific colors look when paired with others. Take notice of the feeling a color combination gives. For instance, if you get a closer look at the Peruvian Lily*-inspired analogous color scheme 3D photo, how does golden yellow color appear when paired with its analogue color of brown? Does this Entry Hall have a feel of a rich, autumnal palette and elegantly designed space? (*This flower has a showy orange yellow flower color).

Warm analogous color scheme design project - 3D Photo Credit: Aurore Meleme, LLC; Flower Picture Credit: By Two+two=4 - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7397597. No changes made.

Colors used for the floss flower*-inspired color scheme baby room design project (3D photo below) focus on tints and shades of blue and purple to create a soothing and relaxing scene. (*This flower has a showy fluffy lavender/blue flower color).

Cool analogous color scheme design project - 3D Photo Credit: Aurore Meleme, LLC, Flower Picture Credit: By Noumenon - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6984141. No changes made.

In interior design, split-complementary color schemes are usually used to create very eye-catching design looks.

For the crocosmia*-inspired split complementary scheme living room project, golden yellow is incorporated as base color into a velvet Chesterfield sofa which is the focal point of the living room. Complementary colors of golden yellow (i.e., shades and tints of red and purple) appeared on the wall and other furniture within the living room, in the way that this creates high contrast and visual interest, while also retaining harmony. (* Colors of this tubular flower include golden, orange, orange -red, and red, with flower having dark purple red stems).

Split-complementary color scheme design project - 3D photos credit: Aurore Meleme, LLC; Flower Picture Credit: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes made.

Monochromatic color schemes can really convert your bathroom into a stunning calm place! For this snake head fritillary*-inspired monochromatic scheme bathroom project (3D photo below), the selection of rose gold for the plumbing and lighting fixtures, along with the use of shades of purple color for the tile and ceiling work results in an exceptionally stylish and luxurious look (*Flower colors include white along with shades and tints of purple).

Monochromatic color scheme design project - 3D photos credit: Aurore Meleme, LLC, Flower Picture Credit: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes made.

If you want to pair a saturated yellow color with its complementary color purple in a room, you might consider adding a third color to the mix to avoid the space feeling heavily saturated due to the intensity of both colors. You might also opt for muted pastel colors to prevent this.

For the cardoon*-inspired complementary scheme office project, muted brown and green colors are added as additional colors to the complementary color scheme to negate this. Muted pastel of yellow and purple are also chosen to prevent space feeling overwhelming. (*The flower has deciduous leaves and a showy purple flower color).

Complementary color scheme design project- 3D photo credit: Aurore Meleme, LLC, Flower Picture Credit: By Peripitus - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3186121. No changes made.

Rhododendron colors include pink lavender variety with both dark golden yellow and warm golden yellow splotches and freckles, which inspired this triadic color scheme living room project (3D photo below). The three colors incl. golden yellow, pink lavender and pastel green are paired together in order to create a vibrant and playful feel pleasing to the eye.

For a stunning triadic color scheme project, it is advisable to keep all three colors balanced.

Triadic color scheme design project - 3D photo credit: Aurore Meleme, LLC, Flower Picture Credit: Rootology, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes made.

Nature goes a long way in deciding what colors go together. Flower-inspired color schemes are perfect natural color palettes, regardless of your design style.

Let the flora and outdoors be an inspiration for designing memorable home interiors!

Maybe you have favorite flower(s) that can spark an interior design project for your home space. Want to discuss a potential Residential Interior Design project opportunity? Let's connect!