Decorating with Nettle

Meet Nettle – Neptune's new-season paint shade. Vibrant, verdant and the perfect bridge between inside and out, this bold, decorative green is a summer woodland walk in a tin.

Carpeted with unfurling ferns, wispy grasses and nettles, the native English woodland floor is a haven for wildlife – bugs and mammals, bees and birds all feeding off its rich bounty. And the much-maligned nettle is as important as them all. Butterflies love them – Red Admirals, Painted Ladies and Small Tortoiseshells use them as vital breeding and feeding grounds.

Nettles have been part of country life for centuries. And while the chemical cocktail of their sting is strenuously avoided by most, their mineral and vitamin stores make them rich in antioxidants – a herbal remedy to alleviate arthritis, allergies and even gout. In our kitchens, they're a culinary treasure that can used in everything from soups to sauces, teas to cheeses.

Nettle is Neptune's 48th paint shade – a rich and joyful homage to this versatile plant that takes its cues from the classic Georgian drawing room green. A warm, true green, it's balanced with a hint of black for sophistication.

Used on everything from walls to furniture, candles to Neptune's 30th anniversary jute bags, it's fresher and brighter than Olive, deeper than Quince and more vibrant than muted Cactus.

How to use it

Great for layering with other greens, Nettle has soft yellow undertones so can be paired with creamy Polenta or Saffron, or the rich coral of Rhubarb, verdant Olive or deep Saddle. It's beautiful with solid oak.

It's particularly joyful on kitchen cabinetry, or in this Chawton home office (pictured). Add custom-painted Nettle dining chairs to a more muted dining room scheme. Or use on the walls in a utility, study, library or boot room to bring the outside in, all year round.

Looking for inspiration?

Not sure how to choose a paint colour you'll love to live with? Our design team are always on hand to help. Inside our Neptune store-in-store you'll find the whole Neptune paint collection in sample pots and 2.5l tins plus room sets painted in our favourite shades. While, upstairs in our Interior Design Studio, discover Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Invisible Green is close to Nettle.

And if you're looking for inspiration for your decorating project, the Holloways Interior Design Service is free. Book your initial consultation and our expert team will walk through your ideas with you, suggesting furniture, fabrics, paint and finishes to make your house a home.

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