Dulux Colour of the Year 2023: Wild Wonder

It’s that time of year again folks when all the major paint brands start to announce their Colour of the Year 2023. Talk obviously turns to colour trends for the coming year and I am extremely excited to be hosting another episode of my Pinterest TV series on exactly this topic. I am being joined by the wonderful Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director of Dulux who will be chatting with me about her role at Dulux, the process of choosing Colour of the Year 2023, why Dulux has opted for Wild Wonder and offering some tips on how we can use it in our own homes. If you would like to join us live this evening (Thursday 13th October 2022 at 7pm UK time) we would love to see you there. You can watch here.

2023 marks Dulux’s 20th anniversary of forecasting and as usual, Dulux gathered together its panel of trend experts at AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Centre based in Amsterdam. The panel comprised architects, authors, cultural analysts, editors, designers, and technology innovators who all came together to predict consumer behaviours in 2023.

Together, these experts identified horticulture therapy, futuristic fabric, the Wood Wide Web and the circular economy as just some of the major influences that we are witnessing. These insights suggest a focus on balancing life and prioritising mental and physical well-being, as we connect to nature in a bid to help us thrive.

What is the Colour of the Year 2023?

Dulux translated these insights into one colour which it feels reflects the mood of the moment and our way of living over the next few years. Wild Wonder was chosen as Colour of the Year 2023. It is described as “a hue inspired by the warm tones of harvested crops with an upbeat glow which connects us with the cycles of life, by creating a sense of energy and positivity.”

The name Wild Wonder was chosen because ‘Wild’ conjures up the freedom of nature and ‘Wonder’ conveys the natural magic we see all around us. Extremely fitting, don’t you think? 

Wild Wonder speaks to us in a language we instinctively understand. Nature is what inspires us and makes us feel better in our lives and in our homes. That’s why, for the first time in 20 years, our entire colour palette is inspired by the rhythms of the natural world.

Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director at Dulux

You all know by now that I have long been harping on about biophilic design and the mental and physical health and well-being benefits of inviting nature into our homes and workplaces. So it comes as no surprise to me that Dulux has chosen such an uplifting, natural tone that has the power to connect us with the natural world, inspire creativity and help us feel better in our homes.

Dulux Colour of the Year 2023 Colour Palettes

As usual, along with the Colour of the Year 2023, Dulux has selected four supporting colour palettes, all of which feature and work with Wild Wonder. The palettes have been created to inspire and facilitate decorating projects which reflect different moods, for every kind of room.

Lush

The Lush palette is inspired by beautiful forest hues from the plant-filled habitats of gardens and woodlands. It is a soothing palette full of comforting tones that create a calming and uplifting feel in a space.

The cool tones in this colour palette are perfect for creating relaxing zones of peace and quiet which has become increasingly important since so many homes have now doubled up as places to both work and play. Dulux suggests colour-drenching certain areas as a way to differentiate the different spaces in the home.

Buzz

The Buzz palette is full of more upbeat tones of pinks and ochres designed to capture the bustling biodiversity of wildflower fields or grassland. Buzz features uplifting tones and bursts of colour which Celebrate diversity and add joy, unity and a soft romance to any space.

Dulux suggests that this palette is perfect for creating those experimental wall murals in your home to really make your own personal mark on the space.

Raw

Raw is an earthy palette inspired by natural shades like woody browns, mushroom, wheat and ochre. It reflects the richness of the earth’s resources and brings a subtle warmth to any room.

Dulux suggests using this cosy and grounded colour palette to create tonal effects in the room, painting the wall from the lightest to the darkest shade to warm up a space ready for the cooler season.

Flow

Fluidity and momentum are captured by the warm neutrals and deeper seashore tones of the Flow palette. Dulux suggests using the blue tones in this palette on the ceiling with Wild Wonder on the walls to give the illusion of opening up the room to the sky. 

So what do you think of the Dulux Colour of the Year for 2023? Are you a fan of Wild Wonder? Can you see yourself using it in your own home? And if so, which of the four colour palettes is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below.

And don’t forget to pin this post for later.