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The top trends in house colours that you need to know in 2019

Brave Australians are embracing change and shaking up their interiors. Photos; PEXELS

Brave Australians are embracing change and shaking up their interiors. Photos; PEXELS Photo: PEXELS

They say change is as good as a holiday, and nowhere is that truer than in the home.

In the early 2000s, all-white interiors were the norm, but across the country, brave Australians are embracing change and shaking up their homes with bold colours.

This is a shift back to colour the nation hasn’t seen since the bright yellows of the ’70s and acidic greens of ’80s adorned our walls.

But unlike their earlier cousins, this year’s colours give the nod to nature, not psychedelics, with earthy greens and smokey blues leading the trend.

Earthy greens and smokey blues leading the trend. Photo: Porters original Paints

Melanie Stevenson, from Porters Original Paints, said there is a noticeable trend towards more people embracing bold colours.

“More people are using colour on their walls than ever before, especially in what they see as their special space, like bedrooms, home offices, children’s rooms,” she told The New Daily.

“Blues and greens are on the rise. Not clear simple colours, but complicated colours that carry a multitude of hues.”

Smoky palettes are in, and deep saturated colours are being splashed across houses, but green is leading the pack in terms of popularity.

Sarah Stephenson, from Wattyl, says green is “the colour of the moment.”

A photo of a green lounge room

Green is leading the pack in terms of popularity. Photo: Wattyl

“We’re all trying to create spaces that feel connected to nature and encourage health and wellness,” she said. “When plants are all over our homes, a green colour palette seems like a natural extension.

“Dark colours will still be popular but are evolving. Rather than the shades of charcoal we’re used to, they will evolve into more interesting colours that evoke a sense of history and the timeworn – think old libraries and grand reception rooms.

“Mulberry, ink blues, aubergine and bottle green will enliven cozy living spaces in both residential and commercial settings.”

A bedroom with deep green wall

Brave Australians are embracing change and shaking up their interiors. Photos: Pexels

But the trend towards nature doesn’t start and end with dark colours.

Green may be the star of the show this year, but there’s also a movement towards pale pinks and peaches, says Cherie Barber CEO of Renovating For Profit.

“Colours like coral, peaches, pastel hues, brush pinks, are all big.  They’re all soft colours and they’re all connected with nature,” she said.

“People are definitely more adventurous. If you said ‘I’m going to paint a whole room coral’ five years ago, people would have looked at you like you’ve got two heads.

A pale pink wall

There is a movement towards pale pinks. Photo: Wattyl

“With these colours, corals and peaches, people will paint a whole room that same colour. Then they might put a beautiful piece of art on the walls to break it up.”

The end of all-white?

In the era of Marie Kondo, simplicity and de-cluttering still dominate our aesthetic tastes, but that is becoming less about white walls and more about warmth.

And while colours are coming out from their cultural banishment, there will always be a place for the perfect white look, says Ms Barber.

“That white-washed Hamptons look is still popular. It’s a timeless look, with white walls and breezy curtains. It all feels nice and clean – that will never go out of fashion.”

The all-white Hamptons-inspired look is timeless. Photo: Pexels

White might be right for your house, but you want to be careful about which one you pick, says Rachel Rimmer from Hello Colour.

“People think white is a safe choice but really white is one of the trickiest colours to get right in a space. White can add lightness and spaciousness but if you choose the wrong one it can make it feel cold and sterile.

“A lot of whites have blue in them and it can translate into a really crisp gallery white, which doesn’t make a warm and welcoming space.”

Choosing ‘The One’

No one wants to live with a big, bright regret on their wall. While an unfortunate choice can easily be painted over, the key to getting it right the first time is not about trends, but about what you love, says Sarah Wood, from Sarah Wood Designs.

“If you don’t love it, it shouldn’t be in your life,” she said. “You want to choose colours that invoke emotion. You need to think if you want it to be comforting, and relaxing.

A before and after picture of a lounge room

Before and after picture of a lounge room by Renovating For Profit. Photo: RFP

“And you need to be brave. I tell my clients that if it’s going to work, they need to be brave. Often the husband usually wants something different to the wife so if that’s happening you need to find a middle ground, you both need to love it.”

Thinking of selling? Then maybe think again

If you’re thinking of selling you may need to be more strategic with your palette choice. A poorly chosen colour can devalue a home, while a perfectly picked one can add double-digit value.

“I would never paint any room purple, I wouldn’t do a feature wall in fluoro green,” says Ms Barber. “If you’re choosing a colour and you’re going to sell, you need to be strategic. Be bold but really think about it.

“If you’re going to stay in your property for ten years, paint it whatever colour you like because you need to be happy.

“But if you’re selling in the next couple of years, think strategically about what is the right colour for your home.”

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