Dulux has launched an earthy brown tone as its colour of the year for 2021 to bring balance and stability to homes across the globe.
The hue is called Brave Ground and it is said to echo "the strength we can draw from nature, our growing desire to align more with the planet and looking towards the future" – especially in our current climate as the world grapples with the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
For the 18th year running, Dulux decided on the shade after months of research, deliberating with paint company AkzoNobel and a host of leading external trend forecasters, design specialists, editors and architects.
“It’s been challenging this year to transform the key global trends into inspiring colour palettes. We’ve seen unprecedented global change, with all of us facing experiences that feel out of kilter with the modern world. At the same time, we’ve rediscovered more positive things: solidarity in communities, strangers’ generosity, and the realisation that together we can do extraordinary things. We’re finding the courage to pick ourselves up and move forward. Our homes provide a sanctuary: a place to restore, repair and recalibrate ourselves on the road to recovery,” says Heleen van Gent, creative director of AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Centre.
"This warm, natural Colour of the Year provides a strong foundation for embracing change. Brave Ground connects us to nature and the simple things. It stands on its own as a beautiful, powerful neutral and can be used in a way that allows other colours to shine. Earthy and empowering, it evokes security, growth and potential to help us create environments that fill us with courage," says Dulux colour expert Palesa Ramaisa.
Created to be versatile, the colours in each of the four colour palettes sit comfortably next to one another, taking Brave Ground in many different directions to suit various moods.
Responding to specific needs, each one of them allows consumers to confidently express themselves with colour:
● The Expressive colours palette stands out with shades of reds and pinks that are balanced by soft neutrals – granting you the courage to be yourself.
● The Trust palette brings together earthy tones from across the globe to encourage collaboration and a sense of community – offering reassurance in connection.
● The Timeless palette celebrates the old and the new with yellows, ochres and soft neutrals – lending inspiration to build on the past.
● The Earth palette connects us to the natural world with blue, green and brown echoes of the sea, the sky and the soil – giving us the courage to adapt.