This Year’s Hot New Design Trend: Matching Exterior with Interior

Taking 2016’s indoor décor colours outside by harmonising your plants and flowers with the latest hues is set to be the big new trend in home design according to experts.

Australia’s largest paint specialist, Dulux, and leading gardening products supplier Yates, have teamed up to advise homemakers how they can jump on the craze and create a seamless transition to their outdoor living areas, improving visual appeal and enjoyment.

Dulux’s annual paint colour forecast points to a return to the 60s and 70s but with a fun, youthful and contemporary twist and more experimentation. Its top-selling Retro Remix palette features acid brights like Hot Ginger and Brigadier Blue clashing with faded muddied colours such as Warm Nutmeg, Green Olive and Piglet Pink.

Yates horticulturist, Angie Thomas, said it’s easy to take these colours into the garden or balcony to make living spaces appear bigger, brighter and more modern.

“A pansy ‘Joker Mix’ of pink, yellow and warm browns oozes retro and looks fantastic massed in a sunny or partly shaded garden bed or in a container complemented by a hanging basket full of dusky pink toned sweet peas and alyssum,” she said. “For extra drama add ‘Black Knight’ pansies as a stunning contrast.

“If you prefer warmer shades, plant Calendula ‘Pacific Beauty’ for a dazzling winter display of yellow and orange, and as an added bonus you can use the flowers as an edible garnish. For warm coloured flora with a fragrance, try Nemesia ‘Carnival’ which are quick growing and make a pretty garden border or a vibrant container plant.”

Other plants that tone well with the Retro Remix palette include Summerina 'Twilight', a rudbeckia with earthy browny orange flowers, Oenothera 'Twilight', an evening primrose which has light pink flowers and green to plum coloured foliage, and Salvia ‘Ember's Wish’ which produces bright coral blooms. Placing some of these plants so you can see them from inside will enhance the integrated indoor/outdoor effect.
Angie said that before you start planting, it’s important to enrich the soil with a few handfuls of quality organic fertiliser such as Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food and if you’re growing in containers choose a good quality potting mix.

“It’s essential to sow seeds at the recommended depth and keep the area moist as the plants establish,” she said. “If you’re having issues with snails and slugs that love devouring tender young seedlings, try a light sprinkle of Yates Blitzem Snail & Slug Pellets, and keep foliage healthy and rich in colour by regularly feeding with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food which is also specially designed to encourage lots of gorgeous flowers.”

Angie said no matter where your home is located and what size outdoor space you have, by extending your interior design colours outdoors you will blur the line between indoors and outside and lead your eyes, and feet, out into the view.

For more information visit, www.yates.com.au
You can also join the conversation via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @yatesgardening