It’s that time of year again. Those interiors wizards at Dulux are here with their Colour of the Year, giving us all a nudge in the direction of great design for the next 12 months. Last year’s pick was Tranquil Dawn, a soft, fluid shade inspired by the morning sky. Full of hope and possibility for the year ahead.
They couldn’t have known at the time, but that hope and possibility has been in short supply. 2020 so far has been jam packed with hurdles to be overcome, unique problems, once-in-a-lifetime events and downright mood killers. We’ve all been spending way more time in our homes than we once imagined, missing our loved ones, stressing about schooling and getting to grips with social distancing.
We need a fix. And we need one fast. Ideally one we can cover our walls with, incorporate into our soft furnishings, and match with our favourite design trends to create interiors that forge a brave new path in these uncertain times. So we turned to interior design experts, Couture Living, for help. They create handmade, made-to-measure curtains and blinds using a curated collection of the world’s best fabrics, all from their Yorkshire workshop. So they should know a thing or two about making the most of colour.
So let’s say hello to Brave Ground. Described by Dulux as a ‘bolstering shade’ perfect for keeping you rooted, connected with the natural world, and packed with ‘stability, growth and potential’. A cure-all colour… and a true fix for those of us far too fed up with 2020 and its many and varied woes, according to Couture Living.
Keeping you rooted.
Many of us have been struggling to keep things in perspective this year, remembering what’s important and what makes us happy. To hold on to our roots.
Luckily, Brave Ground is a super earthy tone, packed with pigment that evokes the natural world. It’s the perfect shade to keep you rooted to a sense of place. Something to anchor your home, and make sure you remember where you lay your head every night. Wellness experts preach the benefits of ‘centring’ – returning to a point of focus and calm – and Brave Ground could just be your way of centring your interior.
Change will come.
It’s no surprise that, after everything we’ve experienced over the past few months, many of us are looking for a change. Something new on the horizon, and something to mark a new era.
Making changes in our home is one surefire way to mark that step, and Brave Ground is just the ticket. It’s neutral enough to pair with impactful shades and brighter colours – just check out Dulux’s suggested palettes for a prime example. But it’s also warm and deep enough to stand tall on its own. Could it be your new living room backdrop? Or a dusky bedroom re-do?
Connecting with the past.
When the future isn’t exactly looking bright, it can be heartening to reconnect with the past. And Brave Ground does heritage and nostalgia as well as any shade out there.
Used as a muted neutral, the colour makes for the perfect partner for any number of timeless looks. Rusty oranges, classic creams and whites, forest greens and rich browns all sit happily alongside our star selection, evoking warm memories of times past.
Ready for anything.
This year really has thrown all sorts our way. So striving for adaptability can’t be a bad thing. Plumping for a super bright, neon scheme might be a drastic change, but you can’t change your mind in a few months time. The same goes for those drastic, dark shades.
Brave Ground does flexibility, and it does it brilliantly. Choosing neutral walls, or even just new furnishings like curtains and blinds, means you can bring impactful decorative elements to the party – cushions, prints and hangings – then change your mind later. A room ready for anything.
Inspiring creativity.
2020 is all about creative solutions. We’ve all been finding new ways to work, play and live, and our houses have been too. Pop-up desks at the kitchen table, yards repurposed as personal beer gardens, and home offices upping capacity.
So a shade that inspires creativity sounds like just the thing. As a foil for any number of expressive options, from rich berry reds to dusky pinks, Brave Ground is ready to embrace your wild side. Get inventive using colour blocking, high borders or full colour ceilings.