Every year a group of critically acclaimed designers from all over the Globe gather to reflect on the status of the World. Then after days of brainstorming, bonding, eating, drinking and cavorting in some obscenely decadent hotel or retreat, they all agree on a colour that embodies the mood of the moment. They then announce said colour as ‘Colour Of The Year’ (COTY). We all gasp, complain we don’t like it and then end up painting our whole house in it a year later (when we’ve finally come around to the idea). And that my friend is the stealth marketing campaign known as ‘trend forecasting’.
Sorry, I shouldn’t be so cynical. I’m just jealous that I will never be one of those critically acclaimed designers. And actually I have no idea if the drinking, cavorting and retreat part really does happen but that’s how I imagine it goes. Although maybe not this year. It probably wasn’t such a blast over Zoom.
Anyway. As you can tell I am normally pretty blasé about the whole COTY announcement. In fact, I have never blogged about it before. But I was quite moved by the choice and the reasons behind it this year. And, although it’s brown, yes you heard me, it’s brown! I actually rather like it.
So let me introduce you to. Brave Ground. Dulux colour of the year 2021.
1. IT’S BROWN!
For years and years now we have been painting our walls Grey. It was the rebellion against the preceding Magnolia era that had lasted for decades. Grey became the backdrop to the new Millennium that reflected our development in pace, technology and social interaction. Grey was cool, architectural and edgy and suited every type of home. It’s been around so long it’s now a classic. So why the sudden change?
Why brown? Brown is what we call in the interior design world a ‘warm neutral’. Any neutral/white with a yellow, brown or even red undertone creates a lovely warmth. They are actually perfect for our dreary climate. Colour massively impacts our mood, whether you realise it or not. So whilst you may not love the idea of brown, I bet if you walked into this room below you’d be happy to curl up on that chair with your favourite book.
And this is the same room in Grey, not so cosy is it?
So after years of grey and laughing in the face of magnolia it seems warm neutrals are making a comeback.
2. IT’S GROUNDING
So now we are over the shock that it is brown. Why was it chosen? Well, this colour is all about us adapting to change. And yes brown certainly is a change! Helen Van Gent, Creative Director of Akzo Nobel, states Brave Ground is about us being brave and embracing change together “with self-belief, social solidarity, past knowledge and smart sustainable solutions for the future”. So it’s been carefully chosen to reflect our current political and social state of mind.
Like I said above, colours aren’t just there to look pretty, they are there to create a feeling. And Brave Ground’s earthy hue creates a feeling of reassurance, connecting us to nature, making us feel grounded and safe. Just what we need right now. So I can totally get on board with why it has been chosen in these weird and scary times.
3. IT’S VERSATILE
So how can we use it in our homes? Well, to help you with this Dulux always puts together different palettes for their COTY. It’s these palettes that really open your eyes to how their new colour can complement your home and your style.
#Expressive
#Trust
#Timeless
#Earth
So are you coming around to the idea? Will you be painting your living room brown any time soon? Ha!
Whether you like the colour or not it’s hard to argue with the principle that right now we should be surrounding ourselves with colours that make us feel safe and strong. We’ve got a tough road ahead and we’re all in it together. So whether it’s brown or green or pink make sure your home gives you that sense of calm and positive energy you need to face the day.
What are your thoughts on Brave Ground? Join the discussion in the comments below.
And don’t forget you can always contact me for any help with your interior design dilemmas.
Sarah x
