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Teals and rose are back, baby: call it 1996-chic.
While most people celebrate the arrival of fall by overusing the phrase “sweater weather,” we here at WL HQ mark the changing of the seasons by refreshing our inboxes obsessively for news about paint trends. That’s right, it’s that special time of year when all of the major paint brands announce their Paint Colour of the Year.
If you went all-in on 2022’s green frenzy, we have terrible news: teals and dusty roses are now the order of the day (call it “1996 Chic”) so grab a brush and get with the times.
Here are all the major brands that have announced their colour of the year so far.
They say: “A vivacious shade of coral tinged with pink, Raspberry Blush enlivens the senses with an electric optimism.”
We say: Wait, did Canadian electro-funk legends Chromeo write a theme song for BM’s Colour of the Year? This pick is now officially our Colour of the Year of the Year. Sure, it’s saturated and juicy and emanates a real joie de vivre, but we may be too busy grooving to notice what colour the walls are.
They say: “Redend Point embodies the idea of a destination worth moving toward, igniting the spirit of discovery and inspiring deeper connections with others throughout the world. In exploring ‘beauty beyond ourselves,’ the hue provides a grounding reminder to stay curious and empathetic toward ourselves and our communities”
We say: It’s dusty-rose season, baby! If you’re looking to relive your ’90s fantasies, Redend Point is here for you… or modernize the hue by pairing it with jewel tones or rich pinky-reds in the same colour family for a saturated, monochromatic vibe.
They say: “As the outside world grapples with rising uncertainty, Canadians are yearning for increased serenity and stability inside their homes.”
We say: We’re not sure a name that conjures the climate emergency is exactly the way to inspire serenity, but there’s no denying that this grounding, refreshing teal is serenity in a can. While the ‘90s are in, keep this potentially retro hue in the modern era by pairing with a white trim and dark wood accents.
They say: Okay, so technically Farrow and Ball did not release Bamboozle as a Colour of the Year: it’s just one of “eleven new shades to fall in love with.”
We say: We guess we love the freedom to choose, but have some confidence in yourself, F&B. Options like Wine Dark and Hopper Head from the new collection are each beautiful in their own way, but sometimes you just have to make a decision! So we’ve done it for you and selected Bamboozle. Juicy, berry-hued, and basically the same as Benjamin Moore’s Raspberry Blush which makes it easy for us to declare an official Trend Alert. Done.
They say: Not much! Less is more with Behr this year, it seems. “Blank Canvas Renews every room of the home.” Okeey doke!
We say: After all of this intense colour, to see a gentle cream enter the ring is downright refreshing. Is Behr suggesting we swing back out of our Maximalist Era back over to chill Scandi minimalism? We’re happy to go along for the ride.
They say: “A striking green-blue jewel-toned hue that is symbolic of deep water, Vining Ivy is both calming and invigorating, infusing home decor with a much-needed breath of fresh air after a few challenging years.”
We say: Teal again! We love a clear theme! It’s looking like we’re leaning away from the sage-y greens of the ancient days of early 2022 and into tones with more of a blue hue. Think gemstones, not foliage.
They say: Valspar once again couldn’t make a decision and listed a dozen options for its Colours of the Year, ranging from Blue Arrow to Ivory Brown to Everglade Deck. Who do you think you are, Farrow and Ball? Some are dusty and pastel-like, others are vibrant and rich: in other words, anything goes. “Trend-worthy and forward thinking, the Valspar 2023 Colors of the Year are beautiful, livable, ready-to-go shades that restore and rejuvenate any space.”
We say: Pick a lane, Valspar. Nothing is more uninteresting that not having an opinion. If you were a person, you’d be saying “I like all music!” on a first date and we would fake having an emergency and leave you at the restaurant.
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