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A New Dawn: Meet Dulux's Colour of the Year 2020
And breeaaathe – this hopeful shade is all about calm, stability and rediscovering ourselves in the decade ahead
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Throw open the windows and let nature in, there’s a new colour in town and it’s bringing with it hope and optimism. So, if you’ve favoured dark, cocooning tones over the past few years, now might be the time to look towards a lighter shade for a more refreshing and uplifting mood, as we enter a year of meaningful connections, a desire to make things better and to rediscover what truly makes us human in our busy digital world.
Put your hands together for Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2020, Tranquil Dawn™, a soft and airy shade that oozes calmness, serenity and wellbeing. For Dulux’s creative director, Marianne Shillingford, it’s the colour of the place where the land and sky meet on a misty spring morning. “It’s a delicate, misty, sage green that whispers rather than shouts its presence,” she says. “A colour we can love and live with effortlessly.”
Here, we look at why this colour represents the mood of the moment, and how this beautiful tone will help us ground ourselves in nature and connect to our human presence.
Put your hands together for Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2020, Tranquil Dawn™, a soft and airy shade that oozes calmness, serenity and wellbeing. For Dulux’s creative director, Marianne Shillingford, it’s the colour of the place where the land and sky meet on a misty spring morning. “It’s a delicate, misty, sage green that whispers rather than shouts its presence,” she says. “A colour we can love and live with effortlessly.”
Here, we look at why this colour represents the mood of the moment, and how this beautiful tone will help us ground ourselves in nature and connect to our human presence.
Why it Works…
Inspired by the precious dawn horizon, Tranquil Dawn™ is a delicate shade that contains hints of green, grey and blue, giving it a varying effect depending on the colours it’s paired with. Yet, its calmness and clarity remains constant no matter where it’s used, ensuring it always translates a mood of hope and positive change. “Green as a colour in decorating is becoming as popular as pink in recent years and provides the perfect balance to warmer shades,” says Marianne.
Back wall painted in Tranquil Dawn™, Dulux
Inspired by the precious dawn horizon, Tranquil Dawn™ is a delicate shade that contains hints of green, grey and blue, giving it a varying effect depending on the colours it’s paired with. Yet, its calmness and clarity remains constant no matter where it’s used, ensuring it always translates a mood of hope and positive change. “Green as a colour in decorating is becoming as popular as pink in recent years and provides the perfect balance to warmer shades,” says Marianne.
Back wall painted in Tranquil Dawn™, Dulux
Tranquil Dawn™’s versatility allows it to work in almost any setting, alongside many different colour palettes, from graceful pastels to bold brights, moody shades and rich, earthy hues. “This calm and restful hue is brilliant at supporting all the other colours that clamour for attention in a room – it’s one of the most balancing colours you will ever find,” says Marianne.
Walls painted in Basically Black (lower wall); Copper Blush™ (stripe), and Tranquil Dawn™ (upper wall), all Dulux
Walls painted in Basically Black (lower wall); Copper Blush™ (stripe), and Tranquil Dawn™ (upper wall), all Dulux
Bonus tip: With our renewed desire to reconnect with the things that truly matter, such as our natural environment, try filling your home with mood-boosting houseplants and nature-inspired colours, and you’ll have your own sanctuary of wellbeing and calm. Biophilic design – design focused on improving human connection to nature in a built environment – is increasingly gaining traction in our homes as we strive to find calm in nature and declutter our minds from the stresses of daily life. Colour and greenery are a great place to start – it’s a new dawn, it’s a new day.
Walls painted in Misty Mirror™ (top); Borrowed Blue (under window), and Tranquil Dawn™ (bottom), all Dulux
Walls painted in Misty Mirror™ (top); Borrowed Blue (under window), and Tranquil Dawn™ (bottom), all Dulux
Behind the Trend – a Hopeful New Decade…
Ever wondered how the colour of the year is created? Well, it all starts with a dream team of independent designers, architects and colour creatives coming together to share their observations on present consumer trends, cultural influences and lifestyle patterns, in order to gauge the mood of the moment and what we’ll want from our homes in the new year.
As 2020 is a new decade and a new dawn, the experts have identified a push-back against the busy digitalised world in which we find ourselves, with a new desire to create more meaningful connections with people and nature, so we don’t lose sight of what it means to be human.
As a response, Dulux’s Colour of the Year, Tranquil Dawn™, sets out to draw nature into the home and encourage calm, relaxed spaces in which we can enjoy entertaining friends and family, get a restful night’s sleep and make a connection with the natural world. “The colour represents peace and quiet in a world that often demands more of us that we can give,” says Marianne. “I have the busiest and happiest life in colour, but when it all gets too much, I seek out spaces that offer sanctuary in shades that nurture rather than bang a drum.”
Back wall painted in Tranquil Dawn™, Dulux
Ever wondered how the colour of the year is created? Well, it all starts with a dream team of independent designers, architects and colour creatives coming together to share their observations on present consumer trends, cultural influences and lifestyle patterns, in order to gauge the mood of the moment and what we’ll want from our homes in the new year.
As 2020 is a new decade and a new dawn, the experts have identified a push-back against the busy digitalised world in which we find ourselves, with a new desire to create more meaningful connections with people and nature, so we don’t lose sight of what it means to be human.
As a response, Dulux’s Colour of the Year, Tranquil Dawn™, sets out to draw nature into the home and encourage calm, relaxed spaces in which we can enjoy entertaining friends and family, get a restful night’s sleep and make a connection with the natural world. “The colour represents peace and quiet in a world that often demands more of us that we can give,” says Marianne. “I have the busiest and happiest life in colour, but when it all gets too much, I seek out spaces that offer sanctuary in shades that nurture rather than bang a drum.”
Back wall painted in Tranquil Dawn™, Dulux
How to Use It…
Contrast with brights. A trend that is emerging for 2020 is the joy of finding new experiences in the real world, not just through social media. As a result, people will stop taking themselves seriously and welcome a new vibrancy into their lives and their homes, with energetic colours that express individualism and creativity.
Play with a brave-new-world palette that includes bright shades like sulphur-yellow and coral, inspired by the colours of vibrant summer days. Then mix in softer tones, like Tranquil Dawn™, to balance the intensity. The result will be a stimulating environment that delights its inhabitants, and makes a perfect backdrop for geometric patterns – such as on-trend grid lines – and a mix of modern textures.
Bonus paint trick: Select a shapely piece of furniture and paint it the same shade as your brightest wall colour for cohesion – and for fun!
Walls painted in Citrus Zing (main back wall); Tranquil Dawn™ (side right wall); White Cotton™(ceiling), and Basically Black (door), all Dulux
Contrast with brights. A trend that is emerging for 2020 is the joy of finding new experiences in the real world, not just through social media. As a result, people will stop taking themselves seriously and welcome a new vibrancy into their lives and their homes, with energetic colours that express individualism and creativity.
Play with a brave-new-world palette that includes bright shades like sulphur-yellow and coral, inspired by the colours of vibrant summer days. Then mix in softer tones, like Tranquil Dawn™, to balance the intensity. The result will be a stimulating environment that delights its inhabitants, and makes a perfect backdrop for geometric patterns – such as on-trend grid lines – and a mix of modern textures.
Bonus paint trick: Select a shapely piece of furniture and paint it the same shade as your brightest wall colour for cohesion – and for fun!
Walls painted in Citrus Zing (main back wall); Tranquil Dawn™ (side right wall); White Cotton™(ceiling), and Basically Black (door), all Dulux
Blend with sugary tones. As caring more for ourselves, others and the environment becomes more prevalent in 2020, so does our need for soothing spaces that breathe life into our domestic routines, reminding us of how precious life is.
Welcoming nature into our home is key to retaining this ‘human factor’, so look to this pared-back mix of gentle, sugary neutrals, and you’ll capture the serenity and optimism of a hazy spring morning. “Use Tranquil Dawn™in rooms where you want, and need, a soothing, calm atmosphere, which could be anywhere from a busy open-plan family kitchen to a grown-up bedroom,” says Marianne.
Bonus paint trick: Using simple lines and relaxed styling, highlight a niche to create interest and depth to a tranquil room. Then add in tactile textures like suede and velvet to ramp up the warmth in the cool, contemporary scheme.
Walls painted in Tranquil Dawn™(back wall); Chalk Dust (squares); and Dune Grass and Tranquil Dawn™ (stripes), all Dulux
Welcoming nature into our home is key to retaining this ‘human factor’, so look to this pared-back mix of gentle, sugary neutrals, and you’ll capture the serenity and optimism of a hazy spring morning. “Use Tranquil Dawn™in rooms where you want, and need, a soothing, calm atmosphere, which could be anywhere from a busy open-plan family kitchen to a grown-up bedroom,” says Marianne.
Bonus paint trick: Using simple lines and relaxed styling, highlight a niche to create interest and depth to a tranquil room. Then add in tactile textures like suede and velvet to ramp up the warmth in the cool, contemporary scheme.
Walls painted in Tranquil Dawn™(back wall); Chalk Dust (squares); and Dune Grass and Tranquil Dawn™ (stripes), all Dulux
Walls painted in Sapphire Splendour (lower wall); Tranquil Dawn™ (thin stripe); and Forest Shade (upper wall), all Dulux
Soften a moodier palette. If sombre, moody and atmospheric tones are still your thing, then you’ll be pleased to know that Tranquil Dawn™ also works wonders with these rich and saturated colours, helping to uplift and refresh them.
This eclectic palette is the perfect backdrop for creative homes that enjoy a mix of old and new curiosities and layers of tactile textures, such as sumptuous velvets, aged leather and hand-knitted throws. “Layering is the key to make any decorating interesting and greens love layers,” says Marianne. “You can have lots of fun with different tones of green on different elements of the room, including furniture, without it ever looking overpowering.”
Bonus paint trick: Increase the sense of space and height in a room by clever colour blocking. Pick two complementary tones for the walls, with the lighter one for the upper section, and use a paler shade, such as Tranquil Dawn™, to separate the two with a picture rail-style stripe.
More: Find more inspiration on how to use Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2020 here.
Your turn: What do you think of the Colour of the Year for 2020?
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Soften a moodier palette. If sombre, moody and atmospheric tones are still your thing, then you’ll be pleased to know that Tranquil Dawn™ also works wonders with these rich and saturated colours, helping to uplift and refresh them.
This eclectic palette is the perfect backdrop for creative homes that enjoy a mix of old and new curiosities and layers of tactile textures, such as sumptuous velvets, aged leather and hand-knitted throws. “Layering is the key to make any decorating interesting and greens love layers,” says Marianne. “You can have lots of fun with different tones of green on different elements of the room, including furniture, without it ever looking overpowering.”
Bonus paint trick: Increase the sense of space and height in a room by clever colour blocking. Pick two complementary tones for the walls, with the lighter one for the upper section, and use a paler shade, such as Tranquil Dawn™, to separate the two with a picture rail-style stripe.
More: Find more inspiration on how to use Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2020 here.
Your turn: What do you think of the Colour of the Year for 2020?
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Dulux is the UK’s leading paint brand, with a wealth of expert knowledge, products and services designed to help... Read More
Dulux is the UK’s leading paint brand, with a wealth of expert knowledge, products and services designed to help... Read More
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We love this colour, it's definitely a very calm tone and works nicely with natural woods, not to mention the Carl Hansen Shell chair.
I would never choose a colour because it was trendy. Assuming it appeals, it needs to work in all lights (natural and artificial) and seasons and with the accessories we already have. I could see it looking very chilly in some settings, while in others it could calm things down.
I love the colour. It's very much like a colour I've been using for approximately 20 years - "Apple Basket" also by Dulux. (Apple Basket is discontinued but I have the reference numbers to have it made up.