Fashionable homes will be sporting colors this year that may leave you feeling mellow yellow and realizing that it really is easy being green.
The hyped hues for 2017 are “honey glow” from Dunn Edwards and “greenery” from Pantone. Expect to see them on the fashion runway as well as at the end of many driveways.
Dunn-Edwards got the jump on Pantone by first announcing its color selection. “Honey glow” is a golden yellow with orange undertones that gives off a sense of warmth. The company suggests using it on walls (maybe an accent, along with a white or gray) to add a cheerful ambience or strategically for pops of color. And beyond the groovy feeling it generates, the Los Angeles-based company hopes it can help further the buzz about the importance of honey bees to the food chain, man and the planet.
Los Angeles-based HoneyLove is thrilled by the choice, according to Paul Hemimian, director of the nonprofit that aims to promote urban beekeeping (www.honeylove.org).
“We get approached by all kinds of companies, etc. — anything honey-related. But when Dunn-Edwards contacted us, we got excited,” he said.
That’s because the company is donating 10 percent of its sales of honey glow paint to HoneyLove. The timing couldn’t be better since seven bee species have now joined the ranks of the endangered.
“The connection makes great sense because the paint it produces is chemical free which is good for bees and bee hives,” Hemimian said. “It’s a great color that gives off a sense of relaxation. And this is a great way to educate the public. We as an organization rescue honeybees. We’re bee advocates trying to spread the message that if you find bees, don’t call pest control. Call a beekeeper.”
Although honey glow is warm and appealing, it took Sara McLean months of research to finally make a decision. Selecting the 2017 Color of the Year was no easy choice. The Dunn-Edwards color expert examined all kinds of design palettes and considered global influences.
“Honey glow came out of lots of research from global to regional influences. I tend to do lots of research to glean info and find those nuggets that are sprouting out. Yellow kept popping up from light to dark,” she said. “Honey glow simply is a color that can go from traditional to contemporary. It has a way of transporting a room.”
Pantone’s prognosticators also opted for an environmentally friendly shade. In fact, they say “greenery” is a vibrant color that brings about a sense of hope with heavy overtones of healing and optimism. For the home, it’s meant to help satisfy a longing for regeneration and renewal.
Designers at York Wallcoverings and Chella Textiles agree about the power of greenery. They think it makes an ideal mood-maker, a great companion to corals, yellows and blues. Showcase it in whimsical watercolors, strong stripes or fantastic florals. Greenery lends itself to décor possibilities both inside and out.
“Greenery oftentimes can be looked at as a neutral from a designer point of view. It can be brought in to complement beige, brown or blue,” said Kathleen Beall, a Southern California-based certified interior designer who lives in Redlands (www.kbeall.com). “Last year, all the companies sort of left us scratching our heads with their color choices, but I think this year has some great choices.”
Pantone’s choice of greenery is almost a reaction to the starkness of the tech world. “We have an upcoming generation that appreciates the outdoors, but may have to spend a lot of time indoors. Greenery allows for a blend of indoor/outdoor,” Beall said.
Use it to create a pleasant and fun work space with vibrant wallpaper or draperies, maybe Roman shades in a kitchen. In the bathroom or powder room, pair it with earthen natural looking tiles to reflect nature while offering texture. No one expects rooms to be transformed overnight into yellow or green spaces, she said, but the adventurous, the ones looking for a little shakeup of the routine, will opt for splashes.
“I was asked once, do these colors of the year designations really matter? I think they help people make informed decisions about where their dollars will be spent,” Beall said. “And, if you look at the big picture, you don’t have to do an entire room or remake what you have, but choose throw pillows or new rugs. Feel vibrant. Feel like you’ve made improvements. Live with it. Small things aren’t a huge investment, but you get a chance to live with it and got enjoyment out of it.”
Color addresses those parts of the brain that make a person feel happy, which may be a reason why greenery was chosen, according to Los Angeles stylist Laurie Brucker of Laurie B Style (www.lauriebstyle.com). Pantone’s 2016 choices were rose quartz and serenity, a pale blue that reminded many of colors ideal for a baby’s bedroom. So Brucker, who calls herself the “wardrobe whisperer,” was a bit shocked with the selection of greenery.
“Greenery is such a transition from last year’s colors, which were ethereal and dreamy and all of a sudden — bam,” she said. “Maybe that tells us about the nation because a lot of people, on both sides of politics, had a bubble burst. Maybe this choice is a shock jolt for us to action.”
From her celebrity personal stylist standpoint, green, like yellow, can be a bit of a challenge wearing it and may not work on all skin tones. Appreciate them, but don’t wear them near your face. Opt instead for shoes, handbags, etc. Add your own doses of greenery to your surroundings with live plants. “They can completely change the energy of a room. My general thinking is this: if you like it and want to express yourself, then go for it. If greenery, for one, is your jam, find some great wallpaper or pillows and bring nature to your home so you’ll feel connected.”
