There's no denying that in recent years more people have begun to seek comfort and freedom in nature. Be it investing in house plants, rewilding a scrap of land, or interrupting screen-gazing with a stroll outside, the desire to connect with the outdoors has never felt greater.

So, it made sense that artist Anna Chapman Parker's riverside walks became the inspiration for designing her wallpaper.

The seamless style of Thicket ~ Daylight creates a charming, cocooning atmosphere, as though a window has been left open and nature has crept inside. The unique cut-out design draws the eye to the spaces between Anna's delicate penmanship, allowing the blushing pink ground to speak for itself.

Read on to discover the different paint colours we found to complement it...

THE PINKS

The history of the colour pink is inextricably linked to the natural world. The term was supposedly first coined in the 17th century by a Greek botanist, used to describe the frilled edges of carnations. And later, when the flower species Dianthus plumarius appeared in written records, it was translated to 'common pink' or 'garden pink', making it one of the first colours whose namesake is a plant.

When it came to painting, according to Kassia St Clair, 'pink pigments were made by binding an organic colourant, such as buckthorn berries or an extract of the broom shrub, to an inorganic substance like chalk, which gave it body.' Today, there's real joy to be found from berry-picking, with juices staining greedy fingers or crushed up to create vibrant red, purple, and pink dyes.

Pink has traditionally been a politically charged colour, with the age-old idea of 'pink is for girls' only now truly being challenged as we move into a less binary society. It's interesting that this colour has been so divisive, considering that in visual art, pink paint is often utilised when depicting flesh and blood, regardless of gender. The masterful brushstrokes present in Lucian Freud's Reflection (Self-portrait) almost give the artist's face the appearance of a thicket of brambles - which represents the complexity of his psychology.

When it came to colour-matching Thicket ~ Daylight, we took inspiration from the organic pinks found in many nude paintings, as well as the natural hue of a flower's petals. 

We chose Farrow and Ball's Setting Plaster, and this amazing shade: Mallow by the Hackney Draper.

THE BROWNS & GREYS 

Earth tones are a good fit for Thicket ~ Daylight, particularly since Anna's brambles are based on the wild British countryside - synonymous with mud, mulch, and rainy days.

There's something comforting about varying shades of brown: it evokes the idea of being 'down-to-earth' or 'grounded' and harks back to the past when homes were built using wattle and daub and heated by burning logs.

Similarly, grey tones create a rustic feel. Often the best paint colours appear differently to everyone, especially depending on the lighting and the mood of a room. A grey paint can exist in a 'grey area' - making it versatile and easy to style.

 Here, we've selected Mudlark by the Hackney Draper. And for something more tawny, there's Little Greene's Elysian Ground.

THE GREENS & YELLOWS

In a step away from more muted shades, but in keeping with the wild theme, we turned to an olive green to pair with Thicket ~ Daylight.

Olive sits between green and yellow on the colour wheel, with some shades leaning towards a brown tone. The colour represents abundance and good health and offsets the pink ground of the wallpaper beautifully. Here, we've opted for Jewel Beetle by Little Greene.

We also tried out a yellow for something energetic, which helps the aesthetic remain uplifting and bright even on the gloomiest of days. Little Greene's Giallo is described as 'an uncompromising, yet very easy-to-use, burst of golden sunshine'. So perhaps this speaks to warmer weather, which (hopefully!) should be upon us in the coming weeks.We hope this helps with some colour inspiration. We’d love to see how you bring our wallpapers to life in your homes. Tag us on Instagram @commonroom.co, using the #mycommonroom or get in touch with images via email to info@commonroom.co.

Words by Alice Hodgson.