Sep 5

Sep 5 Spiced Honey. Dulux Colour of the Year 2019

It's a warm, neutral colour called Spiced Honey!

Dulux, the UK’s leading paint brand, has revealed its Colour of the Year for 2019. Every year (for the last 16 years), an expert panel of colour designers, design specialists, trend forecasters, architects and editors from around the world join together to suggest a colour that suitably fits our " interior mood" for the year ahead.

So, what do they think our 'interior mood' will be? And do you and I agree?

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Spiced Honey was chosen to reflect the change in mood heading into 2019.

2018 was a turbulent, unpredictable year, where many people were overwhelmed by the news and demands upon their time, causing us to retreat into spaces where we feel safe and cocooned; our homes.

This is something I often write about, how my home needs to be a haven against the demands on my time, a place to relax, where I can feel cosy. For me, that was not to do with the turbulence of 2018, but due to the fast-paced demands on my life in general.

I don't particularly follow trends, but I guess in 2018, my life mirrored the general sentiment in interiors.

The expert panel at Dulux suggest as we move forward into 2019, "This pause has given people time to re-energise and deal with the sense of unpredictability with positive action, optimism and purpose. If the unpredictability of last year forced people to retreat and regroup, 2019 is the time for their awakening. We are ready to ‘Let in the Light’.""

“Spiced Honey can be both calming and nourishing or stimulating and energising, depending on the palettes and light surrounding it,” explained Heleen van Gent, Head of the Global Aesthetic Centre, who chairs the ColourFutures™ panel annually. “The contemporary hue is versatile, sophisticated and timeless and lends itself to a broad spectrum of life and interior styles - perfect for reflecting the universal mood encapsulated by the panel.

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We are seeing a definite move in interiors towards more neutral colours; pink, firstly as a soft pink and likely as a rose pink for Autumn, has been a neutral colour for a while in the interiors space and is definitely catching up in "regular' peoples homes. I've just painted my hallway pink, having been a dark colour lover for years.

I did it because I wanted a lighter feel to my home when I walked in the front door. I realised that not every room needs to feel dark, cosy and relaxing. Sure, I'm always going to want my living room and bedroom to have that feel, but my hallway was feeling oppressive, I wanted light as I walked in the front door. I guess I wanted a lighter feel when I left the house too.

I think this is the trend we are seeing captured by the Dulux panel and the Spiced Honey as a neutral, allows us to brighten rooms, yet still retain the cosiness, if we so require it.

Personally, I really like the cosy tones of the new colour. I am an Autumn decorator, in that I choose to decorate my home for those dark evenings, when the fire is lit and the lights are on. I often tend towards an Autumn palette too; greens, ochres, browns, burgundy.

So, I can see this colour working well against the pink of my hallway, perhaps mixed with the darker colour of burgundy (I'm not giving up on dark colours altogether), as you can see below.

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Alongside identifying Spiced Honey, the panel also created a set of colour palettes all inspired by the mood of the moment and all teaming beautifully with this shade for the season.

Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director for the Dulux brand in the UK, adds: “The colour palettes tell different stories of colour and the way we will be using it in our homes in the year ahead. Think, Dream, Love and Act are the trends that capture a new spirit of resilience and optimism in a world that had us retreating to our homes and hiding behind the sofa in 2018.”

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The Colour of The Year 2019 palettes

● WARM NEUTRALS – A SPACE TO THINK

The ‘Think’ palette has an inviting mix of rich neutrals and touches of soft pink, intense burgundy and sophisticated deep blue. Polished woods, mid-century furniture, graphic rugs and textiles emphasise the smart look.

● SOFT PASTELS – A SPACE TO DREAM

The ‘Dream’ palette is a gently muted mix of romantic powder pinks and blues that create calm. Plain pale woods, simple hand-thrown vessels and pretty fabrics add to the contemplative, centered feel of this space.

● INTENSE PIGMENTS – A SPACE TO LOVE

The ‘Love’ palette is our warmest of 2019, filled with richly pigmented shades including deep forest green, bold teal and intense terracotta red. With wooden furniture and botanical prints, it creates a cosy space perfect for sharing with loved ones.

● BOLD BRIGHTS – A SPACE TO ACT

The ‘Act’ palette is playful, with pops of vivid red and green among pale pinks and blues and crisp greys and whites. This space is brought to life with reclaimed, personalised furniture and bold graphic shapes.