Spiced Honey is the Dulux Colour of the Year 2019
Dulux, the UK’s leading paint brand, has revealed its coveted Colour of the Year for 2019, duly named Spiced Honey. As is usually the case I would prefer to refrain judging this colour until all the hoo-hah has passed and the noise subsided but if you asked whether I would use this colour in my home, I would probably give you a positive answer right now (something I also considered with Heartwood whereas I would never touch Pantone's Ultra Violet).
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What is the Dulux Colour of the Year 2019?
2018 was an unsettling and unpredictable time. We were overwhelmed by the deluge of news, choices and demands upon our time, causing us to close up and retreat into spaces where we feel safe and cocooned. We pressed pause and took time to regroup.
As we move forward into 2019, we find this pause has given people time to re-energise and deal with the sense of unpredictability with positive action, optimism and purpose. If the unpredictability of last year forced people to retreat and regroup,2019 is the time for their awakening.
We are ready to ‘Let in the Light’. The warm and inviting amber tones of Spiced Honey perfectly capture this theme.
“It can be both calming and nourishing or stimulating and energising, depending on the palettes and light surrounding it,” explained Heleen van Gent, Head of the Global Aesthetic Centre, who chairs the ColourFutures™ panel annually. “The contemporary hue is versatile, sophisticated and timeless and lends itself to abroad spectrum of life and interior styles - perfect for reflecting the universal mood encapsulated by the panel.
“Every year, we seek to transform a trend into a colour that responds to consumer needs and enables them to bring a mood, affecting their life, in to their homes,” explained Heleen.
“In 2019, as a society,we want to reach out, engage with our communities, make things better and ‘be the change’ – anything from supporting charities or fishing plastic out of the ocean to small acts of neighbourly kindness. It’s time to act and Spiced Honey enables transformation inspiring a positive, emotional change.”
Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director for Dulux, continues:
“Spiced Honey has a raw, natural quality that works like a warm neutral, which makes it so adaptable to pairing with different materials and styles of decoration. Its rich caramel tones visually turn up the thermostat a few degrees and so it’s perfect for creating a relaxed cosy atmosphere in places where we like to think, dream, love and act. It looks especially good when teamed with whites and off whites in furniture and furnishings which give it a contemporary feel.”
Alongside identifying Spiced Honey as a lead colour for the year ahead, the panel also transformed the insights into a set of colour palettes all inspired by the mood of the moment and all teaming beautifully with the hero shade for the season.
All palettes include Spiced Honey, are inspired by the varied tones and properties of honey itself, and have been designed to make decoration with Colour of the Year simple.
So this year's chosen shade is Spiced Honey – a warm amber tone that reflects a new mood of positivity. A versatile colour that can create a whole range of moods, depending on the palette you combine it with.
How can I use Dulux Spiced Honey in my home?
Above, the mood is subtly sophisticated, as Spiced Honey sits with earthy ochres and cool greys, while black brings a graphic edge to the look.
Interior Decor Ideas with Dulux Spiced Honey
Seeking somewhere to get lost in the moment? Combine Spiced Honey’s earthy notes with muted pastels, warm woods and tactile textiles to create the perfect soothing space for rest and reflection.
As seen below: a dreamy palette that works beautifully for a young child with a serene and soothing style that can only help with a good night’s sleep. The lower walls are painted in a delicate mauve-pink while the upper wall is a soft grey with a border stripe of versatile Spiced Honey adding a precious golden tone.
Is Dulux Spiced Honey a good colour for my kitchen?
If you like to surround yourself with people and things that you love, this warm and inviting palette is for you. With its mix of pigment-rich shades, combined with simple wooden furniture, woven baskets and pottery, it creates a space where everyone feels at ease.
A vibrant place to act
What do the industry insiders think about it?
"Dulux, in choosing warm Spiced Honey, are showing that we are beginning to loosen our need to retreat and press pause on the overwhelm of modern day urban life. Spice Honey is still a very safe colour, but there are glimmers of light ahead… we are moving in the right direction"
Karen Haller, Colour and Design Consultant, www.karenhaller.co.uk
"A beautifully relaxed yet rich earthy shade with caramel and biscuit undertones. Spiced Honey invites the layering of colours and textural contrasts. Our new Fontenelle Rug (launching this week!) would sit well with Spiced Honey."
Claire Gaudion, Textile Designer, www.clairegaudion.com
"Our thoughts on Dulux’s colour of the year 2019 ‘Spiced Honey’? In one word - beige!
The trends we have been seeing for AW18 are for colour, as in rich, opulent colour. From a retailers perspective, people are getting much more confident with colour and we’re observing an up-take in bolder choices, which we’ve also seen reflected in the trends coming through for the new season too. Spiced Honey, whilst being a warm and cocooning shade, feels entirely uninspiring for us. As an accent colour, yes. Painting a whole room? No. If it’s your cup of tea, we think our Marilyn Velvet Armchair or Mongolian Fur Chair would work well with Spiced Honey.
"After a long affair with cooler tones, I’m really happy to see that warm colours are making a comeback – and with such a deserving colour for ‘Colour of the Year’ for 2019! I always had a soft spot for caramel tones and Spiced Honey with its subtle amber hues is an absolute winner for me. I can see it work in so many different scenarios, with different styles. It’s timeless and versatile. Dress it up with sumptuous, decadent fabrics such as velvet and jacquard or keep it contemporary with minimalistic furniture and a neutral colour palette. I can definitely see why the experts associate it with optimism and positivity – Spiced Honey is a calming, inviting and friendly tone that will instantly make you feel comfortable and at home.
Melinda Kiss, Interior Designer, www.keyholeinteriors.co.uk
"I love the versatility and timeless nature of Dulux Colour of the Year 2019 - Spiced Honey. A modern-day neutral the rich undertones of Spiced Honey is not only cosy and cocooning but also a restorative and energising colour that will leave you feeling balanced and calm. The ideal colour choice for North and Western facing rooms, I would suggest pairing this enduring colour with natural woods, rattan pieces and black accessories."
Jane Rockett, Co-founder of Rockett St George
All photos: DULUX
What do you think about it dear friends?
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