Colour trends: paint companies launch new colours for 2020

It’s that time of the year when the paint companies unveil a host of new colour trends for the seasons to come. For 2019, going into 2020, we’re spoilt for choice with a broad range of tones, from bold blues and earthy greens to dark chocolate hues and soft neutrals. There’s should be something for everyone, whether you like your interiors light and bright or rich and sumptuous.

I’m seeing a lot of hues in the blue/green end of the colour spectrum – perhaps reflecting a desire to reconnect with nature and create a soothing environment inside, away from the stresses of modern life. While invigorating red and orange tones might bring to mind warning signs and danger, greens and blues can give a fresh feel to a space. These tones instantly brighten up a space and help bring an element of the outside in.

There’s muted greens and khaki colours, but there’s also bright pops of uplifting emerald green and ultramarine blue. Pastels are slowly coming back, as shown with Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2020 but dark colours are dominating. The darker green and blue tones can add an element of richness to a period property, or a bold note to a contemporary space.

Elsewhere, neutrals aren’t going out of fashion anytime soon – there will always be a need for a few calmer tones to help form the backdrop of a space. Often, without these relaxed tones, other colours and shapes wouldn’t have the effect they have – you need some element of contrast to give a room life and highlight points of interest. Instead of cold whites, we now have yellow-pigmented creams and grey-whites to help bring an element of warmth.

To highlight these colour trends, here’s three new colour collections that have been launched this September. I’d love to know which colour palette you’re drawn to?

1. Colour by Nature by Farrow & Ball and the Natural History Museum
Farrow & Ball has collaborated with London’s Natural History Museum to create a brand new palette of 16 colours. Inspired by the museum’s collection and archive of rare books, the rich hues take inspiration from the natural world, running from deep ultramarine blues, through soft neutrals, to opulent greens and uplifting reds. The colours were drawn from a groundbreaking 1814 book called Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours, a colour guide used by Charles Darwin on his HMS Beagle voyage.

Snow White, a warmer, more laid-back alternative to pure white, is bound to be a best seller. I like the look of Skimmed Milk White, a mid-tone off white, and Ash Grey, a relaxed green-grey. Blues and greens dominate the colour palette; there’s Ultra Marine Blue, that was used in the 18th century to make small rooms feel bigger, and the intense Scotch Blue that will add a sophisticated element of luxury to a space. Green is still proving to be popular – and no surprise for this nature-inspired collection. Go for a bright, happy pop of colour with Emerald Green and Verdigris Green, or embrace a cosier, more muted atmosphere with Sap Green and Duck Green; both subdued and earthy in tone.

The collection launches on the 19th September.

All images courtesy Farrow & Ball

2. Dulux Colour of the Year 2020
The paint colour that holds the biggest influence over interior trends for the following 12 months, Dulux Colour of the Year is one to take note of. For 2020, Dulux has chosen Tranquil Dawn, a soft green hue that’s soothing and contemplative.

The panel of trend forecasters, architects and editors that picked out the calming tone recognised a need for humans to reconnect with one another, away from digital technology and the chaotic qualities of modern living. It ties into Dulux’s universal theme for 2020 – A Human Touch – that is based on our growing awareness of the impact society is having on the planet.

‘A new decade heralds a new dawn and the hazy pale green tones of Tranquil Dawn are calming and comforting just when we need it most in our lives. When paired with neutral pastels and rich jewels it becomes incredibly powerful at creating spaces that encourage making better human connections,’ says Marianne Shillingford, creative director of Dulux UK. ‘The colours within all palettes including Tranquil Dawn have been inspired by the changing sunrises that paint the sky in different seasons and have been designed to make decoration with Colour of the Year simple.’

The four palettes that Dulux has curated for the Colour of the Year 2020 are based on the four seasons, a common theory in colour psychology where each has its own personality. Unsurprisingly, I’m drawn to the Meaning palette, as shown below. Inspired by a cold winter’s dawn, this palette has a minimalist feel, with icy green, warm cream and charcoal hues. Find out more about the other colour palettes here.

All images courtesy Dulux

3. Monochrome from Paint & Paper Library
You probably know by now that I have a great love for monochrome interiors, so this collection of elegant, pared-back tones really speaks to me. Paint & Paper Library has unveiled six pairs of black and white shades that have been carefully formulated to be combined together to create a balanced, harmonious setting.

The white tones are versatile and can be used on their own, or with bolder tones. The black tones, meanwhile, range from chocolatey browns to dark burgundy hues and inky blues. When used together, the light and dark tones create a bold, sophisticated contrast. In my hallway, for instance, I’ve painted the walls a pale light grey, the stairs white and the handrail a dark grey, almost black. The smooth line of the handrail now stands out beautifully and provides a focal point when you walk into the house.

‘Many of the world’s most elegant interiors, old and new, have used black
and white colour schemes to achieve maximal impact with minimum effort. In truth, it’s a disarmingly simple principle, and the considered, subtle combinations in the ‘Monochrome’ colour-card avoid any unpleasant, harsh contrasts of pure jet black and bright, brilliant white,’ says Ruth Mottershead, marketing director of Paint & Paper Library.

All images courtesy © Paint & Paper Library 2019