Give your home a fresh look with a lick of the slickest paints in 2016’s top colours
Are you yearning to feel sun-bronzed in these chilly times, considering flirting with a little pink, or maybe dreaming of serene blue skies?
You may be surprised to learn that you’re probably not simply longing for spring – you’re succumbing to the power of paint.
The colour for 2016, according to Dulux, is Cherished Gold, while the paint wizards at Pantone have chosen blushing Rose Quartz and Serenity, a soft blue, and the trio are tipped to make their mark on our decor this year.
They’ve already strongly influenced the colour palette of the new home ranges, which means there’s no problem picking up on whichever colour appeals. I’ll guarantee it won’t be long before you’ll be thinking you can’t live without one, or maybe two, of these fashionable shades.
So be inspired, and colour up with one, or play with all three...
Cherished gold
This rich, ochre gold shade moves away from the in-your-face ‘bling’ of metallics and instead has an earthy, burnished quality, which sits well in a period of contemporary setting.
“Gold and tones of gold are being used everywhere in the design world,” says Rebecca Williamson, senior colour design and content manager at Dulux. “It’s a recurring colour and it’s featuring strongly in graphic design, as well as in architecture, fashion, beauty and interior decoration.
“We feel Cherished Gold is extremely versatile and can act almost like a neutral, and works beautifully with many colours in the spectrum. It’s naturally evolved from last year’s colour of the year, Copper Blush, and is perfectly in tune for the continuing desire to use metallics to add glamour to our interiors.”
Rose Quartz
This gentle rose tone is calming and easy to interpret. Go more candy and sugary sweet if you want girly decor, while pure pale pink will provide a classic backdrop.
“There’s no easier way to add colour to your interiors than to inject it with comforting pastel tones, and Pantone’s Colour of the Year, Rose Quartz, is a perfect example,” says Samantha Parish, interior design manager at Hypnos Beds.
“This soothing shade adds a soft, feminine and welcoming touch to an interior scheme. While pastel-based shades are renowned for their mood-enhancing and lifting qualities, be careful not to pair them with too many colours in one room, as this can make a setting feel too busy and jumbled. Instead, pick it as a dominant colour and complement with smaller doses of a secondary, harmonising shade, to create a grown-up, sophisticated look.”
Serenity
Just looking up at an expanse of pale blue sky is uplifting, and Pantone’s cool Serenity is a safe bet for those who want to create a fresh, airy, tranquil room.
“Serenity is an almost ethereal shade and it’s calming influence is said to create feelings of ‘respite and relaxation, even in turbulent times’, so frankly, who could ask for more?” says Mike Stephen, director at Apollo Blinds.
“Whether utilised in stripes, a coastal scheme, floral patterns, or as a block of colour across home accessories, or even an entire room, this peaceful blue imparts a sense of order and peace. Blue is still strongly featuring in interiors and this would work well contrasting with a deep indigo or a bright cerulean.”
If you really want to show off your decor savvy credentials, pair Serenity with Rose Quartz and then indulge in metallics. Silver would work best for sparkle, or enliven with pops of yellow.
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