Interiors: freshen up your house with a hint of mint

The pastel hue that plays nicely with others — bring a cool and calm splash of colour to your home with these shades

Novelist John Boyne’s mint-hued reading room, designed by interior designer Caroline Flannery (interiordesignerdublin.ie).

Vitra Jasper Morrison tray in mint green, €50, see smallable.com

Rudsta glass door cabinet, €85, see ikea.com

So Simple Tom three-seater sofa in Tranquil Dawn velvet, €769, see DFS.ie

Novelist John Boyne’s mint-hued reading room, designed by interior designer Caroline Flannery (interiordesignerdublin.ie).

Vitra Jasper Morrison tray in mint green, €50, see smallable.com

Hay pillar candle, €45, see arnotts.ie

Rudsta glass door cabinet, €85, see ikea.com

So Simple Tom three-seater sofa in Tranquil Dawn velvet, €769, see DFS.ie

Novelist John Boyne’s mint-hued reading room, designed by interior designer Caroline Flannery (interiordesignerdublin.ie).

Nathalie Marquez Courtney

May 16 2021 02:30 AM

Nothing says spring like a pretty pastel, and while soft lilacs, buttery yellows and pretty bluebell blues dominated the spring/summer fashion runways, mint is reigning supreme in the home.

Part of its enduring popularity is no doubt down to the fact that Tranquil Dawn, a soft, muted mint green, was Dulux’s 2020 Colour of the Year and a huge hit for the company, quickly becoming one of their best-selling Colour of the Year releases. This season, the hue has a bit more pep in its step, and while there are still plenty of pale and interesting pieces around, we’re getting bolder too, with more vibrant, saturated colours and interesting contrasts.

So Simple Tom three-seater sofa in Tranquil Dawn velvet, €769, see DFS.ie

“Mint is a fantastic hue to work it; it adds a definite freshness and vitality to a space and is very easy to live with,” says interior designer Caroline Flannery. “It has a calm coolness that works particularly well in kitchens and bathrooms, and it is an extremely versatile colour, working well in both contemporary and traditional schemes.”

“Mint is everywhere at the moment — in paint, accessories, clothing and décor,” confirms Cathy Dunne, in-house colour specialist at eco-friendly paint company Graphenstone. “It’s relaxing and inviting and brings a freshness and a brightness into a house.”

Hay pillar candle, €45, see arnotts.ie

Caroline has used mint green in several residential projects, especially in home offices. She also used it in novelist John Boyne’s light-filled garden reading room: “It creates the perfect backdrop to his extensive collection of books and delightfully quirky colourful furniture,” she explains.

Surprisingly versatile, mint green also works beautifully with black, white and natural wood. “I have also used it in quite a few kitchens and bathrooms, contrasted sharply with black metro tiles and white sanitary ware,” says Caroline.

And of course, it always looks great paired with softer pastel hues as well. “I am currently working on a beautiful period home in Dublin 16 where we are using it on all the walls and joinery, coupling it with blush velvet upholstery and a stunning cut-glass chandelier.”

“It can work in any space where you wish to feel energised but have a sense of calmness also, such as a yoga room, home gym or office,” says Caroline. “I have personally never used it in a bedroom but am sure it could work well, particularly as an accent colour, such as on a headboard or in cushions or curtains.”

Rudsta glass door cabinet, €85, see ikea.com

“I like it in a hallway,” adds Cathy. “It’s surprisingly relaxing and inviting.” She is also seeing mint mixed with ice-blue hues, for “a light and airy feel that flows well”.

Caroline says she tends to stick to using mint in rooms that already have quite a lot of natural light and recommends being careful about using it in a north-facing room or dark room.

“As with any paint colour, it’s important to test it out in situ to consider how it will work with the light and existing finishes before making a decision,” she advises.

“Mint green is considered a pastel. While it will appear on the cooler end of the colour spectrum, the tone will vary from dark to light, so it really depends on what it will be coupled with and how the available light affects it.”