Colour of the Year

Benjamin Moore announced its 2017 Colour of the Year, and if you were disappointed by 2016’s plain vanilla pick, Simply White, chances are you’re going to be very pleased with this dramatic departure.

The 2017 Colour of the Year? Shadow, a deep, saturated purple.

“Allusive and enigmatic, Shadow is a master of ambience. It is a colour that calls to mind a ‘past,’ yet it can also make a contemporary, colour-confident statement,” Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore’s creative director, said in the announcement. The hue is part of a bolder “Colour Trends” palette that Benjamin Moore says reflects consumers’ newfound level of confidence in using deeper, saturated colours.

“I love it. It’s sophisticated, warm, and fresh. I can see it in a library or a small office. It would make a room feel cozy,” says designer Ally Banks, who is using the colour on chairs, accent pillows and stools in a current project. “I think it’s a good choice for today.” When using such deep colours on the walls, she likes to also paint the molding baseboard and window trim the same colour for a cohesive look.

Banks said she sees modern designers moving away from all-white rooms, which can seem cold without colourful furniture, art or accessories. “A paint like this one could make a space feel complete.”

We recommend the following for this rich, raisin tone –

Start small

If you’re worried about jumping into the deep end when it comes to dark colour trends you don’t have to do it all at once. Paint a table, make trim pop, or choose an accent wall while leaving other aspects of the room a more neutral shade.

Add some sparkle

Metallic accents can positively glow in a darker room – something that is occasionally missed in the glare of a well-lit space. Gold leaf and chrome can look gorgeous set against a rich back drop.

Courtesy: Homeservice Club of Canada