Canadian paint brand Dulux has unveiled its 2014 paint trends forecast with a palette that “represent renewal and refreshing change.”
“After four economically-difficult years, people are starting to let out their collective breath and are ready for new beginnings, which is translating into a movement towards fresh and creative colours,” said Martin Tustin-Fuchs, brand manager for Dulux paint. “As a result, we’ll see novel shades and unexpected combinations of colours in the year ahead in all areas of home décor.” For example, “reds are more tangy, oranges are more expressive, greens are more jeweled, and blues are more tropical,” Tustin-Fuchs explained.
According to Delux, the major trends in each colour family are:
Reds: The berry tones of the past few years are being replaced by vibrant reds with orange undertones. Think tomato red, a tangy attention-grabbing colour that pairs well with warm browns, spicy oranges, and golden yellows. The new reds also work nicely with elegant darks, jewel tones and other bright tones. The Dulux brand’s top red pick for the year is Tender Rose.
Oranges: Terracotta and spice hues will be all the rage in the coming year, moving away from the melon and pink-orange tones of seasons past. Lively and expressive, the new oranges are both soothing and eclectic, warmed up with pastel pinks and greys, or cooled down with turquoise or dark blue. Oranges of 2014 – including Dulux brand’s Pagoda – work particularly well on an accent wall.
Yellows: Trendy yellows for 2014 range from gentle pastels to cheery brights to antiqued golds, all exuding an air of warmth and optimism. Most popular will be a delicate, buttery yellow – such as Dulux paint’s May Yellow – that coordinates well with many of the year’s stylish colours, including rusty oranges, muted neutrals and warm browns.
Greens: Building off the growing popularity of emerald and teal, the 2014 greens, such as Dulux paint’s Sea Isle, take their cue from lavish jewel tones. Leaning more towards blue than yellow, the hottest green shade for the year is cool mint. Playful yet delicate, this hue pairs well with more intense greens, as well as blue, pink, soft neutrals and pale khaki.
Blues: Oceanic blues will take centre stage in the blue family over the coming year. From deep, Mediterranean Sea-like colours to tropical Caribbean tones and the airy, ethereal hues reminiscent of the earth’s atmosphere, the new blues take on a natural dazzle. Used easily as a feature colour or bold accent, Dulux paint’s key blue for 2014 is Huckleberry.
Violets: Purples will move in two different directions in 2014, towards both red-purples and blue-purples. Those with reddened undertones are vibrant and daring, while blue-tinged violets are soft, diluted and retreating. Popular Dulux paint purple choices for the year ahead are Deep Aubergine and Picton.