Dulux Colour of the Year is completely down to Earth

Image courtesy of the Dulux Decorator Centre 

It’s that time of year again. Every autumn the colour experts of the world make their Colour of the Year selections. While Pantone’s chosen shade may be arguably the most influential, paint heavyweight Dulux serve us a sort of starter – it’s still important to the overall affair, and sets up our palates (palettes) for the next colour course.

Dulux’s 2021 COTY, Brave Ground, is described by the paint pros themselves to be a warm, earthy tone which creates “a feeling of stability, growth and potential” while giving us a “foundation for change and creativity” in the home. The shade was revealed alongside four all new colour palettes: Trust, Timeless, Earthy and Expressive.

Dulux’s Creative Director, Marianne Shillingford, has explained that the colour choice is a response to how lockdown has changed the way we view our home environments, which have become the place where we work, learn and relax. She says: “In 2021, the warm and grounding tones of Brave Ground will allow us to find certainty in the strength from the very ground beneath our feet, emboldening us to go forward and begin to live again and giving us the flex to adapt to the ever changing circumstances we face.”

But what do you think? Will the neutral shade of Brave Ground inspire you to create a “nurturing” space, giving you a place to “stand up for what [you] believe in and make new connections from the past to the future”?

As usual, Dulux’s selection has had a mixed reception on social media, with some calling the shade “gr-eige” or “sludge” and others denouncing it as “boring”. Others have called it a fittingly drab choice for the year 2020.

But if you’ve been paying attention to Colours of the Year for the past few years, it should have been no surprise that this year’s would be a reassuring “anchoring” shade. Dulux opted for a foundational shade, and we won’t be surprised to see Pantone follow suit later this year.

Our team actually love the look of Brave Ground in colour palettes, particularly when styled alongside Pink Sandstone and Stolen Rose. We’ve even given some thought to how our own handcrafted lighting would complement Dulux’s colour of the year. Here are our top three picks…

The IP44-rated Calex Avesta Bathroom Wall Light in Quartz Pink

Combined with a decorative yet energy-efficient bulb from producer Calex, the handmade British-designed fixture has been manufactured by us for use in contemporary bathrooms and wetrooms. The rosy glow from this chic and understated fixture will create a statement in any bathroom environment and it features a coil shaped internal filament that casts a warm light throughout the room.

The Reeded Glass Bedside Pendant in Long Style

These handcrafted luminaires add understated contemporary beauty to your bedroom thanks to the fluted glass finish. The glass surround is fabricated from premium quality glass, and is complemented by the energy-efficient Edison-style bulb and decorative black braided fabric flex. When it comes to Brave Ground, this luminaire could be styled with shades of the Trust palette, natural wood and live foliage for a relaxed, inviting and biophilic atmosphere.

Solid Copper Orbital Pendant Light or Floor Lamp

Made from eye-catching solid copper our orbital pendant ticks all the boxes: statement lighting, energy-efficient, made in Britain, a focal point bringing warmth and a welcoming feel to your kitchen or living room. Fully dimmable, its lustrous copper is the perfect example of how bold metals can be styled in complement to foundational shades for a balanced, yet striking look that just works.

So if you weren’t too enthusiastic about Brave Ground at the start – perhaps we have changed your mind? If anything, at least we hope we have got your design mind in gear, even if the Colour of the Year still doesn’t have you rushing to the paint shop.

For more lighting commentary, design news and advice, follow Gwyn Carless at the Light Yard on  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and/or LinkedIn.