With the wellness movement in full swing, this summer’s colours will be all about gentle, nurturing colours, contrasting textures and hints of mint and lemon.
Home interiors will focus on soft minimalism, creating calm and reflective spaces that allow us to block out the visual noise and turn our attention to self-care.
Wholeself is a colour palette featuring powdery pinks and warm neutrals, mixed with citrus and minty blue-green colours. It reflects the slowing down trend and tuning into things that really matter.
“Wellness has emerged as a major theme in the design world for 2019, with many of us looking to switch off our digital devices and focus on nurturing our tired bodies and spirit,” explains Dulux colour and communications manager, Andrea Lucena-Orr.
“The Wholeself palette brings this theme to life. It has a serene yet cocooning feel, with gentle colours and subtle textural layerings that hint at creative exploration and new beginnings. Powdery peach/pink has emerged as a key base colour, with accents of clay, gold and blue-green adding a fresh, modern spin.”
The palette is a major shift from the bright, bold and rich tones from last year and Lucena-Orr says people should expect a pairing back of the overdone or unnecessary.
“The idea is to surround yourself with furniture and accessories that serve a purpose and bring you happiness. Environmental awareness will be an important thread running through design in 2019; rather than discarding those pieces we no longer have a use for, we’ll be encouraged to repurpose or reimagine them in a new way.
“When choosing colours from this trend palette, think about how they’ll work with your existing furniture, flooring and soft furnishings. You should also factor in the room type and any colours in adjoining spaces. One area this palette works particularly well is the bedroom. In this space it can create a calm and restful feel.
“If you want to include a smaller volume of these new colours in other rooms, you could use them on a single wall, a feature nook, a piece of furniture or a door,” she adds.
Summer styling tips:
• Edit out the unnecessary; surround yourself with only those pieces you truly love and use.
• Curves are key; choose furniture with rounded edges and soft, sumptuous cushioning.
• Balance out soft pastels with warm, mid-tone timbers.
• Add in contrasting natural materials, such as a stone, wool and linen in the form of side tables, accessories and cushions.
• Inject small doses of unexpected brights, such as citrus, mint and gold, through decorative accessories such as vases and tableware.
• Give new life to an old piece of furniture, by painting it in a complimentary tone, or a contrasting accent colour.
Stylist: Bree Leech, photographer: Lisa Cohen
By Marion Gerritsen
