Colour me excited for the new year

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The pandemic has permanently changed how we view the world – and how the world views us back. From how we cook to what we wear to what our homes look like today, it’s a whole new ballgame out there.

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This includes colour. We’ve noticed an increase in warm, autumn hues in the clothing and accessories we’re wearing this fall: “We’re seeing a return to rich colours and warm tones, with bursts of high-energy colour, in everything from clothing to furnishings,” notes Jordan White for Homesense/Winners/Marshalls trifecta of shopping ( tjxstyleplus.ca ).

On the home front, Benjamin Moore is declaring a delicate shade of green as the “IT” colour for 2022. Called October Mist, the famous paint company says the colour’s influence came out of living with the Covid virus and the lock-down effect on people working from home, or staying put during the worst of the pandemic.

“Our annual celebration of colour is the result of a yearlong exploration into design, art, fashion, cultural and environmental influences around the globe,” said the company in a recent release.

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In a Q and A with colour trends expert Sharon Grech, with Benjamin Moore, ( benjaminmoore.com/en-ca ) we asked her how the hue came about, and the philosophy behind the new year’s choice.

Q: What exactly is the colour of the year all about?

A: It’s named October Mist CC-550, a soft, silvery-green that is like the stem of a flower, supports an abundance of diverse colours from the palest of pastels to bold, high chrome hues and everything in between. It is the perfect colour to help us embrace and celebrate individuality and creativity.

Q: What is the philosophy behind the colour scheme? Is it a reflection on dealing with the pandemic?

A: Yes, trends generally are a reflection of where we are at. I feel our 2022 palette is so relevant – the colours hit all the right notes for where we are, what we are craving and where we are going: The palette has a balanced sense of nostalgia, reassurance, whimsy and comfort.

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Overall, we want to encourage people to explore colour and combinations that feel right for them, that speaks to their individuality and personal style. Curating this small collection of relevant, on-trend, yet reliable colours, makes it a little less daunting for people to try something new, whether it’s for a solo room or multiple spaces that need hues to connect and create harmony.

Q: How did the company arrive at this decision for October Mist?

A: The process is continually evolving. Without the opportunity for our team to travel which often leads us to discover industry-driving trends, we were challenged to be more creative with our research and collaboration methods.

Exploring the world virtually provided unexpected points of inspiration. From a colour perspective, the green colour family felt like the right choice for these times as it provides balance and stability but also diversity as it pairs so well with other hues. October Mist became the anchor for our 2022 palette. We rediscovered how colour serves as an ideal tool for self-expression and creativity and green is the perfect foundation for that.

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Q: Where will it be showcased?

A: October Mist easily transitions from soft and dreamy to nurturing and even invigorating which makes it an adaptable choice for any room. It can be used as a connector colour on walls that flow from room to room as it has a neutral quality that brings harmony to other colours. It can serve as a backdrop on all four walls in any room allowing other colours, patterns and textures to come to the forefront. It can be painted on furniture, kitchen cabinets, ceilings in addition to walls. Outside of the coatings industry, we are seeing this soft green surface on many other home furnishings such as textiles, bedding, upholstery and even kitchen and ceramic ware.