Interior Design
Mid-Year Check: How are 2018's Colour Trends Holding Up?
Diving deep into the latest photos on Houzz, we analyse the colours that are being used most favourably in your homes
It’s almost the middle of the year, and we’re seeing a lot of exciting new homes being uploaded by renovation and design professionals, as well as homeowners, from Houzz around the world. Which design style is showing staying power; what trends are homeowners embracing? One of the quickest visuals to check on is colour, so we analysed these latest photos against the colour trends forecast for 2018, to see what colour trends are holding up.
Photo courtesy of Akzonobel
Colour trend: Heart Wood
Forecast by paint manufacturer Dulux, Heart Wood is a cosier, more neutral take on the still-going-strong Millennial Pink trend. Considered a warm neutral, it’s a soft mauve-y brown colour inspired by leather and wood. It’s difficult to say if Heart Wood is in fact being requested by homeowners for their renovation and decoration projects this year, because the colour is a neutral that doesn’t particularly stand out from other neutral tones. Compared with Ultra Violet, however, the latest projects showing up on Houzz are filled with warm neutrals and pale pinks.
How to decorate with Heart Wood, Dulux’s 2018 Colour of the Year
Colour trend: Heart Wood
Forecast by paint manufacturer Dulux, Heart Wood is a cosier, more neutral take on the still-going-strong Millennial Pink trend. Considered a warm neutral, it’s a soft mauve-y brown colour inspired by leather and wood. It’s difficult to say if Heart Wood is in fact being requested by homeowners for their renovation and decoration projects this year, because the colour is a neutral that doesn’t particularly stand out from other neutral tones. Compared with Ultra Violet, however, the latest projects showing up on Houzz are filled with warm neutrals and pale pinks.
How to decorate with Heart Wood, Dulux’s 2018 Colour of the Year
Colour trend: Millennial Pink
Millennial Pink – also called Scandi Pink and Tumblr Pink because of its cool, social media associations – came out strong in 2017. It is still dominating in terms of new projects being featured on Houzz, and new products being launched from makeup to furniture to tech. The soft, pale pink is feminine but not girlish – rather, it evokes a sophisticated and cool vibe. Its grey undertones make it an almost-neutral colour that works very well with different interior styles, from Scandi to contemporary
How to use Millennial Pink
Millennial Pink – also called Scandi Pink and Tumblr Pink because of its cool, social media associations – came out strong in 2017. It is still dominating in terms of new projects being featured on Houzz, and new products being launched from makeup to furniture to tech. The soft, pale pink is feminine but not girlish – rather, it evokes a sophisticated and cool vibe. Its grey undertones make it an almost-neutral colour that works very well with different interior styles, from Scandi to contemporary
How to use Millennial Pink
Colour trend: Petrol Blue
A bold hue that mixes true blue and green, Petrol Blue is a colour we are seeing a lot of on new houses and renovations on Houzz. Sexy, moody and versatile, it brings sophisticated edginess to any space, be it kitchen, bedroom, nursery or bathroom. Pantone should have selected Petrol Blue as its 2018 Colour of Year, seeing as it has resounded so well with homeowners and designers.
Why Petrol Blue is the colour trend to try now
A bold hue that mixes true blue and green, Petrol Blue is a colour we are seeing a lot of on new houses and renovations on Houzz. Sexy, moody and versatile, it brings sophisticated edginess to any space, be it kitchen, bedroom, nursery or bathroom. Pantone should have selected Petrol Blue as its 2018 Colour of Year, seeing as it has resounded so well with homeowners and designers.
Why Petrol Blue is the colour trend to try now
Colour trend: Earthy hues like fir green and terracotta
The possible source of Petrol Blue’s popularity now is its dominance in Maison & Objet for two years running. This means that the furniture and decor products launched in the last two years have finally made it to homes this year.
At the decor fair this year, earthy hues like fir green and terracotta were beginning to steal the spotlight. It’ll be interesting to see how they perform next year, and if they will become the new favourite colour of homeowners in the next couple of years. We’re keeping an eye out for these colours!
Maison & Objet says earthy, natural tones are trending this year
The possible source of Petrol Blue’s popularity now is its dominance in Maison & Objet for two years running. This means that the furniture and decor products launched in the last two years have finally made it to homes this year.
At the decor fair this year, earthy hues like fir green and terracotta were beginning to steal the spotlight. It’ll be interesting to see how they perform next year, and if they will become the new favourite colour of homeowners in the next couple of years. We’re keeping an eye out for these colours!
Maison & Objet says earthy, natural tones are trending this year
Orange, yellow and brown
In complimentary colour schemes launched alongside their colours of the year, paint companies in the region – Dulux and Nippon Paint – had something in common: the autumnal shades of orange, yellow and brown. These warm neutrals are safe bets for creating cosy, welcoming interiors, and have a timeless appeal. Like Heart Wood, however, it will be challenging to say whether this ‘trend’ is performing well because neutrals aren’t exactly a standout, of-the-moment colour story.
2018 Colour Trends: How to use orange, yellow and brown
TELL US
Which colour trend has resounded with you this year? Have you applied any of it to your home? If so, share a photo in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story and join in the conversation.
In complimentary colour schemes launched alongside their colours of the year, paint companies in the region – Dulux and Nippon Paint – had something in common: the autumnal shades of orange, yellow and brown. These warm neutrals are safe bets for creating cosy, welcoming interiors, and have a timeless appeal. Like Heart Wood, however, it will be challenging to say whether this ‘trend’ is performing well because neutrals aren’t exactly a standout, of-the-moment colour story.
2018 Colour Trends: How to use orange, yellow and brown
TELL US
Which colour trend has resounded with you this year? Have you applied any of it to your home? If so, share a photo in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story and join in the conversation.
Forecast by colour expert Pantone to be 2018’s Colour of the year, Ultra Violet is meant to be a “a dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade”. Although associated with creativity, it hasn’t been picked up by many interior and product (furniture/home accessories) designers this year, and like Pantone’s Colour of 2017, Greenery, isn’t resounding with many homeowners. There’s still hope for it towards the second half of the year, however, when the weather cools and the jewel tones come out for the festive season.
How to decorate with Pantone’s 2018 Colour of the Year