WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

With its trio of uplifting, calming, and airy tones, ‘Rhythm of Blues’ – Dulux’s Colours of the Year 2026 – serves as a panacea for today’s frenetic world.

This marks the first time the paint brand has spotlighted an entire colour family rather than naming a single shade as its tonal choice for the year ahead.

The sentiment emerging from Dulux’s annual trend forecast, run by AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center, was clear: in our fast-paced lives, people either want to turn up the volume and bring ‘fun’ into their space, or they’re seeking a calming atmosphere that helps them mentally recharge.

“Because we understand that colour is emotion – and therefore personal – we’ve chosen a family of colours for 2026. They’re centred around three different rhythms that offer endless scope for changing the pace of your space,” says Heleen van Gent, Creative Director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center.

The brand’s theme for 2026 is “your space, your pace”. It’s about creating a home that flows at the right tempo for you, and the ‘Rhythm of Blues’ colour family does just that.

‘Mellow Flow’, a light, airy blue, is calming without being cold, while ‘Slow Swing’, a meditative dark blue, helps create a relaxed mood. As a counterpoint, ‘Free Groove’ is the perfect vibrant blue to inject energy into a space. | dulux.co.za

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COMPILED BY Gina Dionisio

Blue is having a major moment – as our latest curated edit in VISI #138 shows, this timeless hue brings instant elegance and edge to everything from furniture to fashion. ‘Blue Blocking’, the strategic overlapping of solid blocks of blue in all the shades of this soothing spectrum, is another way to incorporate the hue into your space. Here are five ways to “block” with blue in all its tantalising shades.

Paint

Paint is a quick and cost-effective way of introducing blue blocking into your scheme and makes a standout statement without the need to hang elaborate pieces of wall art. The key to getting the blue-blocking look right is to “think geometric” – a square of brilliant cobalt here, a triangle of electric indigo there. Blanket a whole feature wall in a single blue hue or highlight just, say, the rectangle of a door, keeping the accompanying scheme neutral and unfussy so as not to overwhelm the eye.

Blue on blue

Layered blocks of beguiling blue add dimensional interest to a space, especially when the chosen hues are kept to the same warm or cool spectrum of the palette. Warm blues, like indigo, denim or slate contain hints of red and, as such, they advance or come toward you, making a room feel cosier. On the other hand, cool blues, like cobalt, turquoise and ice blue, have yellow in them and tend to recede, which can help make a small space appear bigger.

Statement furniture

Resplendent in a deep, rich sapphire or, alternately, in a soothing powder blue, a large-scale furnishing item, such as a sofa, becomes the automatic focal point when inserted into a monochromatic scheme or offset by a backdrop of warm, complementary wood. Add a thin line of defining black or a geometric swatch of inky charcoal to make the colour truly sing, but keep these to a minimum so as not to detract from the impact of your big-ticket item. 

Keep it simple

A single block of a beautiful hue is the commitment-phobe’s answer to decorating with blue. Forgo having to splash out on the whole sofa and, instead, opt for an inexpensive piece of wall art or a blue-fronted sideboard that can be changed as inclination dictates. Against a neutral backdrop of bleached wood floors or expansive white walls, a solitary pop of shimmering blue is as much a scene-stealer as a whole scheme curated around the colour. 

Add a touch of turquoise

Harness the electric energy of intense aquamarine, where blue meets green, by using it in blocks – big or small. Bold and compelling, yet restful at the same time, it is a hue that works well in generous swathes over walls and furnishings, with just a hint of balancing white as a counterfoil. Alternatively, insert into a monochromatic scheme small pops of neon-bright turquoise – think a pair of identical scatters.

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Plascon has just released its latest autumn palette, Drift, a collection of soothing pastel hues that inspire peace and tranquility.

Plascon has released the its second major colour update for 2023! The new colour forecast captures the emotional and personal elements of the seasonal shift while building on the brand’s 2023 Colour Combination, which was release late last year.

With this selection of pastel hues inspired by watercolour skyscapes, misty mornings, and desert landscapes, Plascon has created a palette that evokes the feeling between sleep and consciousness, perfect for the rest and wellness trend in a post-pandemic society.

Uplifting Pales

Evening Mist

(1)

Divina

(Y5-A1-4)

Fragrant Days

(Y6-C2-2)

The selection of uplifting pales is perfect for setting the scene for rest and relaxation, with Evening Mist (1) as the ideal neutral background, and Divina (Y5-A1-4) and Fragrant Days (Y6-C2-2) bringing depth without being overpowering.

Natural Pinks

Miami Pink

(R5-B1-3)

Queen’s Rose

(R3-D1-3)

Downy Comfort

(O2-B2-2)

Variations of pink are the stars of the 2023 autumn palette, with Miami Pink (R5-B1-3) and Queen’s Rose (R3-D1-3) recalling natural pinks found in rhubarb and radicchio, and velvety midnight skies respectively. Downy Comfort (O2-B2-2) adds a delicate pastel touch reminiscent of freshly laundered bed linen.

Soft Blues

Windstar

(B4-B2-3)

Blue Grace

(B4-B2-1

In blues, Plascon opted for Windstar (B4-B2-3) and Blue Grace (B4-B2-1), capturing the crisp blue skies that deepen as temperatures drop.

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With “homegrown” the theme of Plascon’s summer trend forecast for interiors and exteriors, the colours for this season are heavily influenced by the natural hues of South Africa’s unique landscape.

Plascon has released the first major colour update for 2023! The brand’s new palette is bold without being overwhelming or demanding, and combines luminous pastels and deep brights. It features nature-led colours such as earthy browns and oranges, three different blue hues for sea and sky, an olive green, and a more muted purplish berry tone:

Earthy Hues

Directly inspired by the earth and the different colours of soil, from beach sand to riverbank clay, there’s Coffee Shop (O2-D1-2) and Yellow Mystery (Y4-B2-1), which tend towards the chocolate brown and buttery cream, respectively. Then there’s Baked Earth (O4-B1-1), which is a vibrant orange reminiscent of the iron-rich soil of KwaZulu-Natal. These shades also build on Plascon’s 2023 Colour Combination which was release late last year.

Coffee Shop

(O2-D1-2)

Yellow Mystery

(Y4-B2-1)

Baked Earth

(O4-B1-1)

True Blues

In blues, River God (B2-D1-2) is a moody teal with wonderful depth, while Pastel Tint (G7-B2-2) is a soft, powdery sky tone. Granada Bay (B1-A1-3) recalls the enticing blue of clear tropical waters or a midsummer sky at noon.

River God

(B2-D1-2)

Pastel Tint

(G7-B2-2)

Granada Bay

(B1-A1-3)

Bold Shades

Lime Juice (Y6-B1-2) carries hints of khaki in the lemon-yellow and is a fresh green take on plant-based tones. Berry Light (P6-D1-3) is a summer nod to fingertips stained by mulberries picked directly from the tree.

Lime Juice

(Y6-B1-2)

Berry Light

(P6-D1-3)

For those drawn to bold directions, these uniquely African hues will bring a touch of drama to your favourite indoor and outdoor spaces.

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The post Plascon Releases its Homegrown Colour Palette for Summer 2023 appeared first on Visi.

This sun-drenched palette sets a joyful tone for the year ahead.

Which colours will be trending in 2023? According to Plascon the year ahead looks… radiant. The brand has just released its 2nd annual Colour Combination of the Year and their sun-drenched, ochre-hued palette sets a joyful tone for the new year.

Plascon has drawn on extensive research into directional developments in regional interiors, architecture, product design and fashion to present three colours. The rationale for choosing three colours instead of one is based on the industry practice of a 60-30-10 design scheme.

Representing the largest portion of the ratio at 60% is Plascon Fun in the Sun (Y1-A2-1).

The uplifting, light hue has balanced red-yellow undertones that will give any space a warm, fresh feel.

Fun in the Sun (Y1-A2-1)

Colour Finder

The neutral tone offers a beautiful, glowing backdrop for the remaining two colours in the combination. Making up 30% of the combo is Plascon Sunkissed (Y3-A1-2).

This softly shaded, glowing yellow is more saturated and radiant than Plascon Fun in the Sun, yet still natural and versatile enough to bring a touch of sunshine into any space.

Sunkissed (Y3-A1-2)

Colour Finder

Completing the harmonious trio of nature-inspired colours is Plascon Safari Sun (O7-C1-1), the final 10% of the ratio.

Rich and grounding, this warming brown anchors the two lighter and fresher hues and brings a deeper earthen note to spaces.

Safari Sun (O7-C1-1)

Colour Finder

We’ve found some previous VISI homes and spaces which have used similar yellow-inspired hues to decorate their space. Here are a few ways to embrace these feel-good shades in your own home:

Add an unexpected pop of colour – The owner of this micro Scandi style apartment in Paris painted the archway leading into the kitchen in a sunny shade to add interest to an otherwise neutral palette.

Make it a key design feature – The defining feature of the open-plan living room in this Italian apartment is the large portal doors which, when open, reveal the study and guest room beyond. The intense yellow provide a defined division between the entertainment and private spaces.

Create a focal point – The office space in this Hout Bay home is a hub creativity with a radiant-yellow wall to stimulate the senses.

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Global paint company Kansai Plascon has released its Colour Forecast for 2019, which features four distinct stories and a Neutral of the Year.

In preparation for the 2019 guide, Plascon embarked on a Kansai Colour Conference to gain insights from its teams around the world. That information was then combined with research from trend forecasters WGSN to tap into the global mood. Six annual trend drivers were identified, namely cocooning, urbanisation, individualisation, emotional intelligence, mindfulness and global connection.

Those were distilled into four colour stories, namely Glamour, Luxury, Minimal and Urban, and the Neutral of the Year. Each of the stories has its own personality and a palette of eight colours.

“In a time when information overload meets introspection, colour is so much more than the paint we roll onto our walls. It’s a source of inspiration and escapism that can be customised and combined to affect our mood and shape our lives,” say the Kansai Plascon Colour Team.

The Forecast also identifies key paint trends, such as feature ceilings. The Neutral of the Year, Ravine (62), is an artful blend of grey and beige that’s subtle and soothing. A versatile, soft grey, its neutrality means it can work in any setting and with any of the four colour stories. It is also part of the Luxury story’s eight colours.

The eight colours range from red to violet and each palette is broken up into main, feature and accent colours. Colour expert Claire Bond, who is part of the Kansai Plascon Colour Team that interpreted the themes and trends into actual Plascon colours, has associated the stories with the four seasons. “We know that different colours elicit different responses from people and that everyone has their favourite time of year. By linking our colour stories to the four seasons we hope to match the correct colour palette to the appropriate person.”

Check out the Plascon Colour Forecast 2019 here. 

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