Dunn-Edwards Paints has released its 2018 Color and Design Trends Report, which features five color palettes that center on celebrations as an overarching theme. The company enlisted the expertise of blogger and Dunn-Edwards color expert Sara McLean to take a big-picture look at some the most significant influencers shaping color and design trends in the upcoming year. To forecast those emerging drivers, McLean and Dunn-Edwards analyzed myriad cultural dynamics, including world events, lifestyle, fashion, food, travel, and wellness.
McLean determined five distinct palettes that reflect the color and textures that bring those dynamics to life: memories, natural wonders, the stars and unknown, life’s adventures, and childhood joys.
Bethany Nauert for Dunn-Edwards Paints
Memories
The color palette evokes a return to the classics of the 1940s, including chic French fashions, art deco, and art nouveau. Colors include blue-greens, lacquer red, dark-brown wood hues and bronzed caramel, lightened with touches of grayish pink and gold.
Bethany Nauert for Dunn-Edwards Paints
Natural Wonders
Inspired by nature and innovation, a back-to-basics focus on well being drives desire to be surrounded by nature without leaving the city or giving up the modern comforts of city life. Colors are casual with springtime and seaside influences, with coral tones, aquatic blues, and overexposed color with sunny contrasts like salmon, lobster, pebble, and ocean.
The Stars
Retro, vintage tech is trending, along with futuristic possibilities. Fantasy experiences increase with the use of virtual and augmented realities. Colors are inspired by the exotic and unnatural natural world of fantasy. Pastels are layered with lacquer and glow. The influence of technologically based color creates layers of gloss and bling, with shocking pops of rose, hot pink, dark blue, and 1980s retro colors.
Adventures
Myths, lore and legends, and oral storytelling recall the historical narratives of cultures and people throughout the world. These lush, extravagant colors are found in nature such as reds, emerald greens, amber, lava black, and mystic purple with infusions of lava black, earthy brown, dark reds, blues, and purple.
Bethany Nauert for Dunn-Edwards Paints
Childhood Joys
This palette reflects the comfort and routine that allows the child to be free to dream. Fun and games and new adventures through picture books, fairy tales, science fiction and fantasy, moral tales and children’s poetry are in focus. Colors are chic, sophisticated basics with classics of navy, burgundy, gray and beige, along with near-primaries of blue, green, and orange.
“Trends are inspired by so many sources…from finding happiness in the little things, rebellion and shock values, individuality, adventure and one-of-a-kind experiences,” McLean explains in a release. “Even the increasing infusion of technology influences trends. All these elements provide a wealth of experience for creating a storied, well-lived life.”
For more design inspiration and to download the report, visit the specs+spaces blog on DunnEdwards.com.
