There are so many different shades and hues of green I find it quite difficult to understand why many people say they don't like the colour green! From the darkest green, which is almost black to the vibrancy of lime green and cool apple whites and quite literally every other conceivable shade in between there must surely be a green which is liked.

Like most colours history has over time attributed colours with positive and negative aspects and references. For example positive green is thought to represent new life and spring, phrases such as ‘having green fingers' is attributed to people who seem to have a skill in growing plants and vegetables.

Green is a restful colour, rooms decorated in green have an almost calming effect. Those who work in theatre and television go to the ‘green room' to relax. A green light means ‘go'- ‘permission to move forward' while moving to greener pastures intimates of something newer or better such as a new job or house move has taken place.

Negative attributions include the notion that green represent jealousy and envy as in a 'green eyed monster' or ‘green with envy' are said when someone is thought to be jealous of another or their possessions; ‘green around the gills' implies that someone is pale and sickly.

Whatever your perception of green it is a colour which surrounds us most of the time-grass, plants, trees, sea-green etc.

Going green of course also means in our modern world that you are aware of the ‘green house' effect on the planet and are trying to be proactive in preventing global warming and saving the planet. Recycling has to be one effective way that we can all contribute to help reducing landfill and associated problems with all the tons of waste thrown away each and every day.

Interior designers are continually designing furniture, soft furnishings and accessories from recycled materials. A whole new dimension in textures, colour combinations and designs are inspiring people to re-look at they way they furnish and decorated their homes. Furniture designed using recycled plastics, fabrics re-created from both natural and man-made materials and a whole host of innovative ideas can be found in contemporary and traditional style homes.

A delightful bathroom rug is a great way to quite literally feel the grass growing under your feet; although it's not actually made from grass but from a variety of different foam plants. Designed by Nguyen Chanh The has used nature to great effect, soft and spongy to step onto with bare feet to bring a real touch of nature into a home. I assume the moisture from wet feet it what keeps the foam plants healthy and growing.

This bathroom rug also provides an excellent example of my earlier point of the wide range of shades and hues of green found in nature. The rug is like a miniature forest, without the bugs!