Trend Colours 2023: Nature’s brushstrokes in your living space
Digital Lavender, Sundial, Luscious Red, Tranquil Blue, Verdigris – these are the colours that set the tone for 2023. They represent hope, stability and balance. Values we long for and that paint an optimistic outlook.
Colours can dictate our moods, enrich our lives and help us feel better, even though they are just something we perceive visually: an interplay between what the eye sees and the brain interprets.
For a colour to exist, it must have light, which is made up of electromagnetic waves that vary in length. Light rays reflect off an object and enter the eye through the cornea. The waves that enter the eye are visual stimuli, and this visual information is transmitted to the brain by the receptor cell. The brain then perceives a specific colour based on which part of the wavelength spectrum enters the eye.
Colours play just as big a role as furniture in our homes. They are decorative and create a welcoming atmosphere in our living space. This feeling of well-being stems from the choice of colour – naturally our individual preferences, memories and cultural influences play a part here. Colours have a visceral impact on people as they trigger different associations. That is why there isn’t the colour for a sofa or curtain. And that is why the colour palette for 2023 offers such an inspiring selection.
Who decides which colours are in fashion?
Every year, the trend research institute WGSN defines which colours are currently in demand, drawing on the universally recognised Coloro colour system. Their decisions are based on surveys of industry experts around the world, the opinions of social movements and significant events impacting social values. Potential colour trends are identified based on these findings and then presented to specialist experts for their final approval. The last step in the process is to give the colours a name that represents universal values.
Some of the major events and developments driving the selection of trend colours for 2023 are: growing digitisation, climate change, global political crises and unclear prospects for our future. It is criteria like the latter that motivate us to treat nature and fellow human beings with greater care, as well as prioritise mindfulness and well-being. The colour experts have taken all of this into consideration as they unite blue, red and orange tones with pastel colours. Intense shades, accentuating contrasts and playfulness entice us into the living space.
Digital Lavender
Digital Lavender is not one of the trend colours for 2023, instead it was proclaimed as Colour of the Year. It is enjoying great popularity on digital media at the moment. The colour will also enrich our real world and feature heavily in home and fashion trends next year. The soft lilac tone evokes and harmoniously unites the two emotional worlds of serenity and calm. It reflects our search for security within our own four walls. When skilfully and purposefully applied, Digital Lavender invites a sense of wellness into our home.
Digital Lavender goes beautifully with grey, beige, white, blue and red. For a more offbeat or fancy look, mix it up with green, yellow, gold or silver.
Sundial
There is heightened interest, worldwide, for handmade products, sustainability and a balanced lifestyle. People increasingly want to be more connected with nature. There is a growing demand for a nature-inspired palette or colours made from natural ingredients. Sundial is a grounding ochre yellow tone inspired by plants and minerals. This natural colour also lifts our spirits.
The earthy ochre hues of Sundial work wonderfully with other natural tones like beige, light pink, grey, green, dark blue and various shades of red.
Verdigris
The warm colour Verdigris owes its name to a greenish pigment that forms on oxidised copper. On the colour palette, Verdigris is between brown and green – it may remind some of us of sports and outdoor clothing from the 1980s. It awakens feelings of nostalgia, as it represents a longing to return to nature, feel light-hearted and explore our adventurous spirit.
Verdigris creates cosy and soothing accents when set alongside white, yellow, red, grey or black.
