With searches for ‘interior trends 2024’ up by a staggering 2,500%1, James Roberts, Director at Sanctuary Bathrooms, and Johanna Constantinou, Brand and Communications Director at Tapi, offer their advice on how to incorporate Dulux colour of the year 2024: Sweet Embrace into your home.
1. Complimentary colours
James says: “With ‘Sweet Embrace’ being such a muted and earthy shade of pink, it leaves a lot of room for experimentation and exciting colour combinations. Other earthy tones will work nicely with this shade, such as browns, greys, and greens – this will create a grounding and calming space and also naturally make any room look slightly larger than if you were to use bolder colours.
“Additionally, because it is a pink tone, other pinks will work really well with it such as powder or baby pink. Experimenting with varying shades of pink helps to achieve a sense of femininity, which can be really inviting in a space such as the bathroom.”
Johanna says: “Pairing low toned pink with bolder colours can create a visually striking and balanced colour palette. Deep greens, navy blues, rich purples or even darker shades of grey can create a contrast and balance when paired with muted pinks.
“If you’re hesitant about using bold colours, start by incorporating them as accents. This can be through accessories such as pillows and will add vibrancy without overwhelming the overall design.”
2. Maximalists, fear not!
James says: “If you’re someone who prefers a bolder interior, there’s no reason why you can’t use ‘Sweet Embrace’ to enhance a maximalist look. With it being a pale shade, it stands out against darker colours, so consider adding it in furnishings such as a wash basin, wall prints, curtains, blinds, and cupboards or vanities. You could also use the colour for tiling inside your shower, and use contrasting black, brass, or gold fixtures.”
Johanna says: “Bold furnishings often stand out best against a contrasting background. If your furnishings are bold and colourful, opt for a neutral flooring colour that contrasts with them. For example, pair vibrant wall prints with light grey or white flooring. Warmth is still important, and you can bring that in with textiles and darker shades.”
3. Use the colour to create a calming sanctuary
James says: “In recent years, there’s been much more value placed on how our homes makes us feel, due to the rise in working from home. Pairing this colour with soft furnishings such as cloud-like cushions, flowers and feathers, and warm lighting creates ambience and a space you’ll be excited to unwind in.
“It works particularly well for bathrooms because this room is one in which you’ll want to decompress and appreciate some time to yourself, so this is a perfect colour to adorn your walls with to make bathing an even more relaxing experience.”
Johanna says: “To further make your home a calming space, incorporate natural materials such as light wood, bamboo or rattan furniture. This will also help prevent the space from feeling overwhelming and balances the pastel pink with neutral colours such as white, cream and beige. These colours will also create a sense of visual harmony and balance.
4. Play with light to get the most out of the colour
James says: “According to Dulux, ‘Sweet Embrace’ takes on different tones in different lights2, which means you can be clever with where you use the colour. Positioning it on a wall opposite a window will bring out it’s soft, calming tone, but in the shadows, it produces a more moody violet shade. This makes it really adaptable, depending on the desired tone of the room.”
Johanna says: “Consider table lamps or pendant lights with a soft diffused light to make your colour work harder. You can also layer your lighting to add depth and versatility. Combine ambient lighting (ceiling lighting) with task lighting (reading lights) to provide different levels of illumination and alter the tones.”
