Next year’s paint picks include gold and nature-based pastels
It’ll be a kaleidoscope of colour on walls, ceilings and furniture next year, judging by the top picks of several paint makers.
Within hours of each other, Sico, CIL, Dulux and PPG recently issued their front-running colours for 2016, and while they all promote soothing serenity, they’re all headed in different directions.
Yellow, blue, green, pink — take your pick. All are predicted to be popular choices next year.
MELLOW YELLOW
Yellow-gold is the “it” colour and a huge decorating trend, “delivering a warm, nurturing aura to living spaces,” Sico says in a release. Spokesman Mathieu Hamel says it’s reminiscent of both sun-kissed wheat fields and the dazzling vintage glamour of the ’70s.
“It’s reflective of a less-complex time in history and of people’s increasing quest to return to cocooning.”
Other colours trending for 2016 are equally nature-based, soothing and nurturing, he says.
THINK PINK
CIL is also parading earthy colours “that promote a sense of serenity,” spokeswoman Alison Goldman says in a release.
“We’re seeing a move away from the saturated greys, blacks and acidic brights that were popular the last few years.”
The hottest colour of them all? Think pink.
“Soft blush pink will be incorporated in all elements of home decor,” Goldman says, adding that the colour works well with soft green, pale brown, chalky grey and slate.
BATHED IN BLUE
Keeping things soft, Dulux Paints is opting for an ethereal blue “that exudes calm and peacefulness."
Promoting a colour palette of soothing shades of soft pastels, spokesman Martin Tustin-Fuchs says in a release that the colours build on the resurgence of last year’s paler tones.
“These aren’t your mother’s pastels.
“The pastels of 2016 are more natural and pigment-infused than the popular shades of the ’80s — they’re subdued yet vibrant, muddied yet rich, and subtle yet strong.” Anchored by dark grey, black and light neutrals, the new pastels are livable and elegant in any decor setting, he says.
SERENE GREEN
The parent company of the three, PPG Paints, has its own palette of colours “to help create a refuge in the home,” it says in a release.
Likening the 2016 paint palette to “a big, warm hug after a long day,” spokeswoman Valerie Jager says these colours “are like a silent guard, emanating strength and protection in the midst of uncertain times.”
Leading the pack is a soft, muted green that hints at nature while emitting a sturdy, shielding feel, echoing the popular urban militia-inspired look that is showing up on fashion runways, Jager says.
Pairing well with muffled plum and armour grey, the new green works particularly well in a family room, living area or bedroom, she says.
Of course, the true test will come when industry trendsetter Pantone Color Institute reveals its colour of the year, usually in early December.
Last year’s choice was marsala, a reddish-brown hue, and the year before, radiant orchid.
PLAYING WITH PASTELS
Dulux’s Tustin-Fuchs offers the following tips for incorporating pastels into your decor: Pair with white: Balance soft tones and create a cohesive scheme by using an equal amount of white or neutrals in the room — whether in furniture, fabrics, window coverings or rugs. Particularly hot for the year ahead is pairing matte and high-gloss finishes side by side. Combine with brights: For a fashionable and cheerful look, play up pastel shades with doses of bright hues. Consider painting three walls in a pastel tone and the fourth in a bright colour, or liven up a pastel-themed room with bright accessories and bold-patterned pillows. Balance with wood: Pastels are an excellent way to put a contemporary spin on a traditional space. A wood-pastel mix creates a beautiful and serene decor while adding interest and equilibrium to the room. To tie the two together, pick a grain in the wood and paint the walls a pastel shade of that grain. Mix with metallics: Increase the soft glow and romantic feel of a pastel-painted room by introducing metallics in accessories, frames and accent pieces. The new natural pastels work particularly well with trendy gold, bronze and brass finishes.