Wow them with white
Is it a colour or a shade? Either way, Simply White wins Benjamin Moore’s 2016 colour of the year
And Benjamin Moore’s colour of the year for 2016 goes to . . . (insert drum roll here) . . . Simply White. Yes, white. “The colour white is transcendent, powerful and polarizing — it is either taken for granted or obsessed over,” Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore’s creative director, said in a statement. “White is not just a design trend, it is a design essential. The popularity of white, the necessity of white, the mystique of white is quantifiable in our industry.”
Of Benjamin Moore’s Top 10 bestselling paint colours, variations on white hold five spots, she added. “It was inevitable that we would ultimately recognize white as our colour of the year.”
Last year’s chosen colour was Guilford Green.
While some may argue that white is technically not a colour at all, try telling that to a designer. In fact, white is the sum of all possible colours. It is the colour of perfection, purity and spirituality.
I love the fresh and uncomplicated feel of a white room.
The key to designing successfully with white is layering textures and varying tones to create delicate contrasts. For example, changing the sheen levels achieves a subtle distinction and brings out the beauty of a room’s details.
So how do you go about choosing the right white for your room? It can be a daunting task. With the enormous number of whites, off-whites and various undertones and the differences between them seemingly so slight, it is important to look at them against a neutral surface.
Another tip is to look at the samples at different times of day.
In north-facing rooms, avoid cooler whites (grey, green and blue) to prevent the room from feeling dark and gloomy. Instead, opt for yellowbased creams that reflect light throughout. South-facing rooms have the privilege of being able to use either warm or cool whites.
Lighting in eastern-facing rooms has a bright white cast that fades by end of day. A warmer tone will help balance the absence of natural light in the afternoon.
The reverse is true of west-facing rooms. Morning light is cool and evening warm. Depending on when you are using these rooms, you will want to balance with the opposite undertone to prevent the colour from becoming overwhelming.
And herein lies the beauty of a neutral white such as Simply White. This shade remains consistent in various lighting. It works, well, everywhere. Colour trends for 2016 Overall, the colours we’ve seen suggest living spaces will be more tranquil and low key in the coming year.
For the rest of Benjamin Moore’s 2016 colours, we are seeing a palate of soft, muted tones, including Lemon- ade, Weimaraner and Enchanted.
We see similarities in Sico’s 2016 colours, which include Norwegian Spruce and Tomato Peel.
They foster a calm and peaceful mood. The vivid colours of last year are greyed down, making them more livable. On the other hand, Sico’s 2016 colour of the year, Buckwheat Yellow, translates our love of all things gold into a paint in which you can surround yourself.
Behr’s 2016 collection includes vibrant shades such as Raw Copper, Blue Vortex and Penthouse View. Andrea Colman is a colour consultant and the principal designer and owner of Fine Finishes Custom Design Solutions, an award-winning firm. Send her your paint shade questions: info@finefinishes.ca.