It’s that time again – Dulux has announced the Dulux Colour of the Year 2022. Bright Skies™ was created in response to our changed relationship with the inside and outside worlds over the past couple of years.
As an appreciation for the essential role that nature plays in our well-being and a demonstration of the hope we have for the year ahead, Dulux say they have chosen this ‘light, airy and optimistic blue that’s good for the soul’.
Want to incorporate this trendsetting colour into your home but don’t know where to start? Here’s our guide on adding Bright Skies™ to your home decor, without just painting this colour on every wall, and how to pair it with oak furniture.
Paint it onto panelling
There are loads of ways to incorporate this shade into your home, rather than simply slapping it on the walls. But don’t be afraid to start there!
If you’ve got the time and really want to transform your space, try combining two of the most popular current trends, and paint the panelling in your home in light blue.
St. Ives double bed | St. Ives bedside table
Because this shade is such a light, airy colour, it will really bring out the structure of the wood and make your panelling pop. Depending on whether you have light or dark furniture, you can also choose a slightly lighter or darker shade than Dulux’s Bright Skies™ to complement or contrast your decor.
Sink into soft, sky blue sofas
Hampton three-seater sofa
Why not take the colour to your furniture? Get inspired by this bright and breezy shade for your soft furnishings: a light sky blue is a stunning sofa colour that adds an element of refined, classic style to any space.
Make the most of another sofa trend for 2022 and opt for a curved silhouette for a match made in heaven. Keep this look soft and natural by accessorising with some light cream cushions and a couple of houseplants to really bring the outside in.
Accessorise with Bright Skies™
Copenhagen sideboard | Dorchester table lamp
Don’t worry if you don’t have the time or budget to make big changes like painting a wall or choosing a new sofa – you can still embrace this gorgeous colour in small ways to give your home the perfect 2022 refresh!
Accessories can go a long way to changing the look and feel of your home. Look out for some vases, knick-knacks, wall art, rugs or even plant pots that have that distinctive Bright Skies™ shade.
If you’re on a tight budget but have time, you could always scour local charity shops for some vintage finds, or DIY your own fake ceramic vase and paint it with a Bright Skies™ tester pot.
What colours should you pair with sky blue?
The colours you pair this shade with will depend on the feeling you want to create in different rooms of your home. Pair it with contrasting colours like a bright yellow, blood orange or a golden tone to emphasise the optimistic and invigorating nature of the shade. This is a great idea if you’re looking to zone an open plan space, or create a playful look.
If you’re looking to create a serene oasis in your home, stick to complementary cool tones, mixing deeper blues and soft greys. Light creams or stone colours work well too. These gentle pairings make for a beautiful bedroom look, or help to create focus in a home office.
Bring warmth to your space by combining cool sky blue with a soft terracotta, warm ambers or spiced neutrals. Combine these tones in a living or dining room for an inviting atmosphere to sink into both day and evening.
Embrace the outdoor world by mixing this soft blue with natural greens. Pair with moss tones, deep earthy greens, or even softer, light greens. Natural greens and sky blue are a match made in heaven, no matter the room of your home.
Make sky blue pop with painted furniture
Keep your colour palette simple and let Dulux Colour of the Year 2022 do the hard work by matching it with light or dark painted furniture.
If you want to create a light and airy coastal feel, match this shade with light cream painted furniture. Or pair with a soft grey painted piece, with a matt finish, for a gentle, relaxing and calming feel to your home.
Or create a contemporary and steely look in your space with dark painted furniture, using statement pieces in dark charcoal grey or inky blue to create a classically inspired decor.
Sky blue and natural, warm wood tones
One of the main reasons this colour was chosen is its invocation of natural, open skies, and the calming effects nature has on us. Lean into this inspiration with a natural palette of soft, neutral tones and warm wood furniture.
These warm wood tones will complement the light and breezy shade to create a calming and hopeful atmosphere. Look for soft edges and real oak furniture, where you can see the grain of the wood, as this will emphasise the natural inspiration for your decor.
Hopefully, this has given you lots of inspiration about how to incorporate this optimistic colour into your home. If you want to find inspiration from Dulux Colours of the Year gone by, read our posts about 2019’s Spiced Honey™ and 2020’s Tranquil Dawn.™
We love to see how you style new trends in your home. Show us how you style sky blue by tagging #OakFurnitureland on Instagram.
