COLOURFUL EXPRESSION
Talking trends with Benjamin Moore design expert
Design trends get talked about year after year, but as 2024 started the conversation seemed unclear. Terms were thrown about like flamboyant, whimsy, even natural and organic. Such diverse description can confuse consumers who are looking to add something new to their design space.
Sharon Grech, colour and design expert from Benjamin Moore, agrees that the diverse range of trends can seem overwhelming, but trends should always spark a conversation and not be the end of the discussion.
“I think overall we're seeing this idea of people embracing comfortable expression. From a colour standpoint we're really seeing that from the soft colour palette in pastels, and on the other side we're also seeing these dark moody themes. And then also a mix and match approach to style and colour,” says Grech.
Mix and matching can mean picking favourite styles from different eras for a truly bespoke look that fits your personality.
If you're throwing caution to the wind, colour drenching can be an interesting way to give a room a refresh. (Colour drenching means painting the walls, the ceiling and all trim all the same colour.) Grech recommends trying it in a smaller space, such a powder room.
While it's certainly easy to get stuck thinking about colour only for walls, paint can also be a quick way to upcycle an old chair or refresh your kitchen cabinets. If you're interested in the bright juicy topaz colour, for instance, you could introduce a small throw cushion in the hue or paint a chair and add it to the space.
Another idea is to incorporate the colour on the back of a bookshelf or open cabinet. “It just allows everything in front of it to really pop,” Grech notes.
These smaller touches can serve as a test of a colour before you jump in with a whole wall or room.
Grech is a big believer in “shopping your own home.” Sometimes exploring the pieces you already own with an eye to a new colour treatment can be a way to add energy to your space without breaking the bank.
For example, Grech took a piece of furniture her in-laws were getting rid of and gave it a new life with an aged finish and turned the piece into a buffet for her dining room.
“It's got these beautiful rounded edges on it. It's ornate,” she says. “Everyone loved it.”
And, she notes, it's even more meaningful when everyone can remember its original home.
According to Grech, trends give you a place to begin, but just like the colours on the Colour of the Year palette, the conversation doesn't have to stop there.
“We were thinking of it as providing people with inspiration. (It's) more diverse so you can find the colour that you love,” says Grech. “At the end of the day colour and style is so personal, so it is important to look to the trends to find something you gravitate towards but you don't have to bring it all in at once.”
It's also important to keep the conversation going as you add more pieces, expand your decor, and examine your space with new eyes. “I think there is so much more diversity out there now when it comes to style,” she says
When it comes to finding your personal expression, it can take time and some experimentation. But try not to overthink it. Grech says sometimes you just have to “pick a colour that you love and don't worry about it.”