The Power of Colour

Every year, the authorities in the colour world announce what colours they expect to be big over the next 12 months. By examining developments in various cultures and industries these experts are able to discern which colour trends will be making their way into our homes. For 2013, Pantone, a global authority on colour, announced emerald green as the colour of the year, while international paint manufacturer Dulux declared that its hottest colour this year is Indigo Night.

We wanted to find out more, so who better to ask than Rebecca Thompson, Colour and Design Manager at Dulux. Growing up in Bovey Tracey, Rebecca studied at South Dartmoor Community College and it was while taking her GCSEs that she became interested in Textile Design, which she later studied at Exeter College before enrolling at Nottingham Trent University to pursue a degree in Textile Design.

"Throughout my degree, colour was a huge part of my work, whether for fashion or interior projects," says Rebecca. "I was fascinated by how colour trends emerged and influenced my designs, so once I graduated I fell upon a placement at ICI Paints (now AkzoNobel) working on a specific colour project for the Dulux brand. This internship was extended until eventually I managed to carve out a role for myself working alongside the previous Colour and Design Manager."

Six years later and Rebecca's main responsibility is to pinpoint influences from global trends in order to identify the perfect palettes for the UK. And for 2013, Rebecca and her team chose a rich shade of blue. "Indigo Night was predicted following research by our 18-strong panel of global colour and trend experts who specialise in different areas of colour use," says Rebecca. "Collectively the team explores a broad range of different cultures and industries including interiors, fashion, beauty, design and even social and economic influences. The result is an annual trend forecast known as Colour Futures that predicts five key trends for the year ahead and one true Colour of the Year."

Blue is a key colour in fashion for spring/summer and Rebecca believes it is set to be a wardrobe and interior favourite in 2013. She says: "Indigo Night acts as a visual band-aid to our hectic lives. This striking statement colour is associated with wisdom and honesty which really enhances your environment."

It also has some unexpected psychological properties for what is generally considered to be a 'cold' colour. "If you select the right shade it can actually create some of the most inviting interior colour schemes. Indigo Night has a purplish edge, giving it a soothing and relaxing feel, an ideal complement to our cool northern light," says Rebecca, explaining that this colour gives us a sense of tranquillity and stability that is very restful.

When choosing what colours to use with this deep shade, Rebecca advises: "Within a colour palette, Indigo Night is a versatile hue, pairing perfectly with those of a similar saturation level like Cherry Chocolate, warm neutrals like Brushed Fossil or Soft Sourdough, as well as other soothing tones of blue, purple or green to offer serenity." She also suggests using it with white, particularly in rooms with limited natural light as this colour combination can help to balance its intensity.

However, if painting your whole room or even just one wall in Indigo Night is a bit too adventurous, you can always just pick a few key accessories to bring it into your interior scheme in a less permanent way. "Gutsy, strong and velvety, this rich, warm blue lends itself to every aspect of living, both inside and out. It looks just as stunning on walls as it does in furniture and accessories," says Rebecca.

“Gutsy, strong and velvety, this rich, warm blue lends itself to every aspect of living, both inside and out”