Colour Your New Year

Every year the industry goes about finding a colour that defines that year and 2016 is going to be no exception. Benjamin Moore, Pantone, and Dulux all have put forward their picks for the defining hue for you. However, they all chose different colours, so here are your choices:

Benjamin Moore: Simply White

In light of the recent snow that is now half-melted outside, the Benjamin Moore pick of “Simply White” is like the idealized version of what we wish it looked like outdoors. And while we cannot control nature’s weather whims, Simply White makes a lot of sense as a guiding colour choice for an indoor space. The modern scandinavian design aesthetic often uses the purity of white as a way to contrast both the bold colour accents of other pieces in the room and the darkness of a nordic winter. Anyone who has walked through an IKEA showroom will have at least subconsciously noticed the predominance of whites in much of the furnishings and fixtures. This choice of Simply White by Benjamin Moore seems to be playing on this modernism of Scandinavian design, while also trying to draw in some rustic elements in highly contrasted wood tones. Check out below our items with the Benjamin Moore 2016 Colour of the Year, Simply White.

Pantone: Rose Quartz and Serenity

Not content with choosing a singular colour to represent 2016, Pantone has cheated by selecting a combination of two colours, “Rose Quartz” and “Serenity.” There is a lovely contrast between the soft warmth of Rose Quartz and the airy coolness of Serenity. And while this might seem a feminine duo of colours, Pantone seems to have chosen these colours as a deliberately provocative questioning of these gendered assumptions in a world where fluidity of colour expression is more socially expected and accepted. See below our in-store selections that play within the palette of the Pantone 2016 Colour(s) of the Year, Rose Quartz and Serenity.

Dulux: Cherished Gold

With its 2015 pick of “Copper Blush,” Dulux has decided upon a similarly accentuating tone for 2016 with their choice of “Cherished Gold.” Golden metallic tones can add austerity and formality to a space, or, by contrast, can provide much needed earthiness and warmth. Cherished Gold, just like Copper Blush in 2015, is a versatile tone on accent pieces, though it can also take on a more prominent role in a room as the accent wall colour or even the primary colour of the walls. We can find Cherished Gold accents in stained woodgrain, clay and earthenware pieces, or, obviously, gold metal items. Check below for our selection of store products featuring the Dulux 2016 Colour of the Year, Cherished Gold.

Other 2016 Colour Picks

Of course, there are numerous other colour authorities that designers look to for the yearly trends. Similarly to Benjamin Moore’s choice of Simply White, Sherwin-Williams chose Alabaster as their 2016 colour forecast. Farrow & Ball have yet to disclose their choice for colour of 2016, but Behr has a range on colours and trends that they are forecasting for this year.

Trendy colours change from year to year, but it is surprising to see how varied these colours are within one year when you look to different forecasts in the industry. One thing is certain, we here at VII Designs + Gifts can help you choose colours and accentuating pieces for your home that both play into timely trends and capture the timeless individuality of your particular stylistic taste.

Finally, in case you were wondering, the above images are captures from our VII Designs + Gifts instagram account. Be sure to follow along!