Earth tones, inspired by nature, bring a harmonious, inviting and organic feel to any space. From the warm tones of terracotta and brick to the cool tones of natural stone, these colors create a calming, calming effect. By incorporating materials and colors that reflect the natural world, you can imbue your home with the calm, balanced essence of earth tones. Learn how to incorporate these colors and textures into your architecture and interior design.
Designer: New Object
1. Rammed earth construction
Thanks to its rich, tactile texture, rammed earth brings a natural, warm aesthetic to your home, creating a beautiful connection with the environment. Its earthy tones blend easily with natural materials and enhance the organic look of your space. In addition, the rammed earth adjusts the internal temperature and humidity, creating a comfortable living environment.
Casa Covida combines ancient earth-based building techniques with modern 3D printing technology. Created by Emerging Objects in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, this prototype home uses a robotic arm to 3D print a mixture of sand, silt, clay, and water. The structure features a central space with a customizable inflatable roof, a sleeping area with beetle-proof pine furniture, and a bathing area with a metal tub surrounded by river stones. Named to reflect both the times of pandemic and the concept of communal living, Casa Covida explores the synergy between traditional materials and modern technology, and how ancient techniques can be revitalized with modern innovations. I am emphasizing that.
2. Brick exposure design
From rich reds and oranges to muted grays, the warm tones of brick lend a rustic feel and tactile feel, enhancing the organic feel of both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Designer: Wall Makers
Designed by Wallmakers in the Indian state of Kerala, the Toy Storey is a circular house that cleverly repurposes approximately 6,200 discarded toys into structural and decorative elements. The residence features a striking façade that integrates compacted stabilized earth blocks (CSEB), Mangalore tiles, and recycled toys in rich earth tones. The circular layout, central courtyard, CSEB-Toy Jaali compound walls improve ventilation and insulation, and the basement adds functional living space. Toy Story blends tradition and modernity, challenging conventional architecture and consumption, celebrating sustainability and creativity with a nod to childhood nostalgia and environmental awareness.
Designers: Omar Gandhi Architects, Philo Timo, Arline
Wall lamps are mounted on the wall and enhance the atmosphere indoors or outdoors. Innovative designs like OG Brick embed lights directly into the wall, creating a seamless effect with earthy colors that blend naturally with the brick surface. Available in finishes such as stainless steel, black powder coating, and electroplated brown, these lights emit a warm, magical glow. The durable metal frame and color-matching mesh allow the lamp to easily blend into its surroundings, adding style and subtle lighting to any space.
3. Integrate wood
From light beiges and honeys to deep browns and deep reds, the wood’s warm tones create a cozy, organic feel, and its grain patterns lend a rustic feel to indoor and outdoor spaces.
Designer: Jun Kawanishi Architectural Design Office
The Nightingale House in Osaka, designed by Jun Kawanishi Architects, is a wooden house that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces. The approximately 1,400-square-foot property features six patios, three indoor gardens, and two outdoor gardens, with large windows and wood surfaces highlighting the earthy tones. The home’s three triangular roofs complement the mountain backdrop, and its warm, minimalist design offers a tranquil Japanese-style living experience.
Designer: Julian Topol
The KURVE furniture collection maximizes space with a minimalist curved plywood design that combines beauty and functionality. The KURVE chair features a backless curved base made from a single piece of plywood, and the KURVE couch has a central console and additional storage space underneath. The simple wooden trapezoid KURVE table is perfect for mounting on a wall or for organizing items such as shoes or keys. The KURVE nightstand is also trapezoidal and has a drawer under the top to provide additional storage space. Each piece cleverly integrates storage into its design without complicated mechanisms.
4. Use natural stone
Natural stone has a diverse color palette and unique texture, from soft grays and beiges to rich browns and deep blues, creating a rustic, organic look. Its unique patterns and variations, including stripes, enhance its natural charm and rugged appeal.
Designer: Burg Nehir Tum
MEMORABLE photo frames combine the timeless elegance of marble with the versatile functionality of earthy hues. The modular design features a rail system for attaching interchangeable modules such as pen holders, vases, and memo holders for customized use. Marble’s unique pattern and durability provide both stability and a sophisticated look. Frames support two modules at a time and can be combined with additional frames to expand the display. Although the rail system is limited to certain modules and compatibility with landscape orientation is unknown, the frame’s earthy tones and practical design add sophistication and organization to any desk.
5. Introducing wall colors inspired by nature
The earth tones on the walls are inspired by earth, rock, and sky. These versatile and timeless colors provide a sophisticated look while fostering a connection with nature, creating a calm and harmonious environment.
Designer: StoneCycling and Studio Nina van Bart
CornWall is an innovative, eco-friendly wall covering made by heating organic corn cobs to 150°C to form a strong bond. This process uses solar energy and reduces your carbon footprint. Unlike traditional materials such as ceramic and HPL, CornWall absorbs more CO2 and is 100% reusable thanks to its removable fixing system. Available in colors such as dark blue, mustard yellow and terracotta pink, CornWall provides a sustainable alternative to transform waste into stylish and functional interior design.
6. Beautify with textile materials
Woven materials such as rattan bring earthy tones of brown and beige, while intricate weaves and textures add warmth and enhance the organic feel of the space. They offer a handcrafted aesthetic that fosters a strong connection with nature.
Designer: Ching Cheng Chang and Xu Da Zzan
Rattan is known for its flexibility, durability, and water resistance, and is traditionally used in woven baskets and rustic decorative items. Derived from Asian, Australian and African palm species, rattan is rarely seen in modern furniture, but adds warmth and texture to a space. The Muarau Lounge Chair challenges this conventional wisdom by combining rattan with bent metal piping. It looks beautiful and uses rattan as a cushion, and is characterized by its unique elasticity and comfort. Named after a Taiwanese sweet, this chair combines a crisp outer shell with a plush interior to provide both style and incredible comfort.
7. Add a green thumb
The different shades of green in the plants enrich the overall aesthetic, providing a fresh and lively experience that complements the earthy tones. Plus, colorful flowers bring a pop of color and enhance your space with natural beauty.
Designer: Camila Saulino and Alibek Atakhanov
The ToThem planter is a modular vase system designed for small spaces, featuring a playful, integrated design with a unique earth-toned shape. Efficiently organize and grow multiple plants with a manual irrigation system and water reuse features for optimal watering and drainage. Perfect for herbs, succulents and flowers, ToThem combines functionality and aesthetic appeal to transform compact spaces with warm, earthy tones.
These tips will help you use earth tones to evoke warmth, create a comfortable space, and establish a connection with the natural world. Research has shown that such shades minimize stress and improve concentration, making them ideal for the home and workplace.
