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Decorating With The Color Hazelnut
by Sheffield School of Interior Design

All too often, when decorating, we think of the obvious colors first: yellow, pale green, and of course, white. Perhaps you recall the time when it seemed everyone’s interior was just painted plain white, in part as a rebellion of the over-use of patterned wallpaper in the ‘60s and ‘70s. This bright white allowed the furnishings to stand out, and could be seen as a step toward simpler lines and less clutter. Of course more recently, colours have become far more widespread in use as we no longer yearn for the elegant minimalism of 40 years ago. If you do have an extensive collection of chic furniture and you're about to insure your home contents, it's worth considering an overhaul and going for something more natural. Bringing life to the room is important, and less minimalism doesn't have to mean a claustrophobic room.

But just as the designer today with a little color know-how wouldn’t dream of simply painting the walls and ceiling white without good reason, so too does the slightly more advanced designer consider using other colors, colors which are not necessarily easy to manage and which aren’t the obvious choices.

Hazelnut brown is just one such color.

Calling a brown “hazelnut” gives it a warming, welcoming feeling, but the warmth of this color goes well beyond its name. Hazelnut brown is a rich, warm brown, with some red tones mixed in to create the warming mood.

 This color can easily be found in natural products; some woods are easily stained to a hazelnut, and some leathers are a natural knockout in hazelnut brown, helping the decorator achieve a woodsy look with just one striking piece of furniture. A hazelnut sofa or easy chair is nicely accented with cushions in a creamy white — but make sure the shade of cream you choose has enough of a warming yellow tone in it, to really bring out the warmth of the brown.

And you’re not limited to using hazelnut in furniture. Creamy white walls with hazelnut trim will add a dignified mood to a dining room or study. In a room with large windows that gets plenty of natural light, you could even paint one wall hazelnut, provided you want to use the room as a place for concentration and contemplation.