2013/2014 COLOUR FORECASTS
Interior Decorating and Paint Colors, Trends for 2013
DULUX COLOUR OF THE YEAR
This sumptuous blue and violet hue - Dulux's 'Indigo Night' - has been picked as the Dulux Colour of the Year for 2013. Blue was a key fashion colour for Spring/Summer and is set to be a wardrobe favourite in 2013. Blue is also something of a rising star for interiors, and we are seeing a wider trend towards deeper statement shades for walls |
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Tender is the night
Blues are huge this year
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Benjamin Moore Colour of the Year
Luscious lemon sorbet (2019-60), our Color of the Year for 2013, is the perfect transitional color between the mid-tones and saturated colors seen in today's home furnishings and the softer, lighter pastels which are emerging for 2013.
This beautiful yellow harmonizes with other trending pastels in the mint, coral, pink, blue, and vanilla families. Uplifting without being overpowering, lemon sorbet (2019-60) complements almost any color palette and provides a unifying element for diverse spaces.
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Pantone Palette: Out of the Ordinary
Quirky and whimsical. This is how Eiseman describes this color collection, which marries shades of pumpkin and bright blue with goldenrod, lime, and violet. Beth Styles, author of the blog Parsimonia calls this unlikely harmony of hues home. "I adore bold colors and try to get them into my home as much as possible," Styles says. Her advice? Welcome accessories in to test pairings—a couple of pillows, a throw over a chair, or a spray-painted lamp against the wall. |

Pantone Palette: Sojourn
Eiseman's favorite palette for next year combines quiet moss green, cobblestone gray and shitake brown with vibrant fuchsia. "I love the complexity and seriousness of a single bold shade," she says. Blogger Michelle Hughes of Vintage Junky couldn't agree more. To bring one neutral corner of her living room to life, Hughes put clusters of purpley-pink blooms in green grass vases. "I’ve always liked how fuchsia pairs with green," she says. Plus it brings out the brighter shades in the vintage German botanical print Hughes hung on her Revere Pewter (a Benjamin Moore color) walls. |
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Resene Paint colour trends for 2012/2013
As our communities have become more global, thanks in no small part to the wonders of modern technology, we can draw inspiration from all over the world from the comfort of our own home or office. This has broadened our outlook on colour palettes and colour combinations, banishing those restrictive colour rules to the history books. When we travel we bring back new finds to incorporate into our homes.
The hues head in three directions; the dusty timeless hues that provide a soft cocoon and remind of us of our heritage, the clean cool light hues that provide soothing relief and tranquillity in a fast world and the pops of bright colour that bring fun, excitement and energy.
Layering colours is becoming increasingly popular as a new way to add interest to a space. Rather than one paint colour in an area, imagine stripes of your favourite hues decorating your walls, kitchen drawers each painted a different but complementary hue and brightly painted internal doors, each an infusion of unexpected uplifting colour. Think of a bold hue painted on a wardrobe or the jewel red brightness of the inside of a jewellery box. It’s a colour pop that can be enjoyed one on one without the need to please an audience.
Our connection to technology means we are now used to seeing bright clean bursts of colour and this translates to accent colours in the real world. Colours are often broken into smaller pieces of block colour, almost pixellated, or striped, as we explore multiple accent colours in a confined space. The mundane gets a refresh with a spark of colour, making you look at that toaster, kettle or jug as part of the colour palette.
Colour, texture and form are inseparable. A red applied in high gloss will punch out much brighter than the same hue in a textured low sheen finish. Carefully selecting your finishes you can create subtle interest by keeping to the same palette and varying the materials and sheen levels.
Expect the unexpected. Colour combinations that might once have raised eyebrows are now commonplace. It’s not so much the colours themselves but how you combine them in spaces that is key. Much like the theatre, choose your main colour act and then bring together the rest of your cast of colours in a supporting role to make the main act sing. Embrace eclectic colour schemes; the days of having to have a perfect match of all elements are gone. We all have multiple colour personalities depending where we are and what we are choosing. Be brave and translate your adventurous wardrobe colour personality into your walls.
It’s time to forget the old colour rules and embrace the endless possibilities of colour. Let your own tastes be your guide and surround yourself in colours that you love – you’ll be amazed at just how good it feels to live and work in your favourite colour palette.
Top paint colour trends for 2013
Amidst the uncertainty and craziness of the fast paced, ever-changing world we live in, finding a sense of stability is essential to our wellbeing - and colour in our homes and work spaces can influence our moods and help us find that much needed balance.
Anne Roselt, international colour expert and Plascon’s colour manager, has announced the much anticipated Plascon 2013 Colour Forecast. The Colour Forecast is endorsed by the International Colour Authority (ICA) and Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute.
Roselt and her team have identified four colour palettes that explore the theme of ‘balance’ and how we use colour to bring harmony to our lives when everything around us is constantly changing.
Roselt says they are affected by what they read and hear in the news, the economy, technology and major events.
Each forecast aims to capture a feeling of what’s happening in society, looking to reflect people’s needs and desires. But with the rapidly moving and changing environment we live in, it is often hard to express these feelings when faced with the continuous discord and a flurry of imagery.
In times of uncertainty we crave stability and balance in our lives and for that reason the theme for the Plascon 2013 Colour Forecast is ‘balance’.
It explores how we use colour to bring harmony when everything around us is constantly changing. Whether it is the calm we find in whites and soft pastel colours, or the energy we seek in bright daring colours, we can always find balance in colour.
Taking many months of preparation, the forecast looks to the international markets and blends those trends with what we see happening locally.
“We are influenced by nature and the environment, pop culture, movies and fashion,” she says.
Simplicity
Simplicity is about stepping out of the chaos and into the calm. This palette is inspired by light white tones, which appeal to our desire for peace and serenity.

Contrast
The theme of Contrast aims to build a centred atmosphere within your home by using deep blues and greys together to create a contemplative and grounded feeling.

Pause
Pause consists of a collection of colours that are light and feminine, but still connected and mature. Also included in this theme are metallics, which add a bit of sparkle and optimism, and green, which brings a sense of nature.

Dare
Dare is perhaps the most vibrant theme of them all, but without being overwhelming and outrageous.This collection of colours is light and feminine, but still connected and mature. The overall effect hints at nostalgia, while retaining a sense of the contemporary. It is perhaps the most vibrant theme of them all, but without being overwhelming and outrageous. The overall feeling of this palette is energetic without being manic. Often when times are hard we crave bright optimistic colours to lift our spirits and keep us motivated.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT INTERIOR PAINT FINISHES
Even after a homeowner has chosen the perfect colour for a room, there's another very important decision to make. With 5 or 6 paint finishes to choose from, you should learn the benefits of each and determine the right one for your job. Should you use flat or satin and why? Browse these tips on selecting the perfect paint finishes for your interior home applications.
Matte Finish
This type of interior paint has a matte surface. This paint finish is usually used on interior walls, especially ceilings. It's good if you have to camouflage small wall bumps, cracks, or other imperfections, as this finish does not reflect light. While some flat paints are advertised as washable today, you may need to touch up scratches or marks by covering with a bit more paint, so be sure you keep some on hand after you've finished painting.
Flat Enamel
Flat enamel is paint with a durable flat, matte finish. It's a good choice for powder rooms and halls, as it holds up to occasional cleaning.
Eggshell / Low Sheen
With only a slight hint of shine or gloss, it's good for walls and holds up better with cleaning than flat finish paint.
Satin or Silk Finish
Satin finish paint has a smooth, velvety look with a bit more gloss. It is most often used for windows, doors, trim, or ceilings, but can also be used as wall paint. This is particularly suitable for kids' room walls, kitchens, or bathrooms, or in areas which get a lot of traffic. Paint with a satin finish is formulated to hold up to cleaning and light scrubbing.
Semi-Gloss
Semi-gloss paint is most often used on doors, trim, and cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms. It is easily cleaned and lays down a nice, subtle shine, without being too glitzy. Take care with pre-paint preparation work, as poorly prepared surfaces can be a bit distracting when highlighted by a semi-gloss surface.
Glossy
High gloss paints have an almost reflective quality, as their shiny finish mimics the look of enamel or plastic. It stands up to a lot of wear and is very tough. This finish will magnify any surface imperfections, so careful preparation and sanding is essential before painting with high gloss paints.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF DECORATIVE PAINTING
Humans have always decorated the walls of their shelters. In pre-historic times, the first artists used just a few earth pigments bound with animal fat to paint the walls of their caves with scenes of hunting and daily life. In ancient Egypt, artists painted the walls of tombs and sarcophagi with a still limited palette of earth pigments using waxes and gums as binders; the ancient Greek palette also included primary colours, which they used to decorate their temples. The ancient Romans invented mural painting, mixing their earth and plant based pigments with water based binders to paint frescos featuring faux mouldings, marbleizing and other forms of ornamentation.
During the 19th century, decorative painting reached glorious heights, and again in the 1920's and 30's. Demand fostered the emergence and subsequent growth of art materials manufacturing. Advancements in paint chemistry produced new pigments and the introduction of synthetic resins and binders eventually lead to the widespread ease of use of premixed house paints and wallpapers.
After World War II, the craft declined to its lowest point, a result of the rejection of academic standards of aesthetics and traditional painting techniques, in favour of innovative styles and techniques practices by such influential artists as Picasso and Matisse.
Today, some form of decorative painting most commonly stencilling, glazing, marbling and mural painting can be found in virtually every home. Today's decorative painter is an heir to a legacy that was once passed on from master to apprentice .