Early springtime, and particularly the weeks leading up to Easter, mark boom time for sales of paint.
And no wonder, because there’s nothing quite like a coat or two of paint to lift or even to transform a room.
Big-name paint company Dulux has announced its Colour of the Year for 2023 – a glowing and uplifting blush pink tone with the trademarked name of Wild Wonder. It’s notably softer and warmer than the whites and greys that have dominated interiors in recent years, and perhaps reflects a move towards more reassuring comfort and less starkness in our homes.
Layering various hues of pink is one upcoming trend, with soft pale blushes being teamed with an exciting accent of bold magenta, plum or fuchsia. Alternatively, blush goes surprisingly well with everything from deep blues to light neutrals.
It’s always fun to pore over paint colour charts and experiment with tester pots before taking the plunge on a final colour, and the Dulux website also has a great interactive feature called ‘colourplay’ which does what it says on the tin, and allows you to explore different colour combinations for your home.
Design professionals have also tipped other colours that are likely to be big in the world of interior paints this year- including vibrant, fruit-inspired options such as citrus yellow and soft crushed raspberry, which are great choices for a dramatic feature wall or alcove.
Other designers are tipping shades of rust which can create an earthy, modern colour palette, especially as a companion colour to mustard yellows, teals and greens.
Of course for many people, there’s only ever one colour for walls and that’s white. But you can still subtly ring the changes by opting for warmer whites, or using a combination of different white shades and finishes from matt to silk and gloss, to play with the light in a room.