Whether it's a squiggly line down a hotdog or in a glossy dollop next to chips, we can't deny that tomato ketchup has a distinctive hue but have you ever considered putting it on your walls? Innovative paint brand Lick has teamed up with the condiment kings and queens at Heinz to introduce a unique limited-edition paint designed to perfectly match the iconic red sauce. Called Red HTK 57, referencing the 57 varieties of tomatoes that go into their secret recipe, this unlikely collaboration will be custom-made and available in a limited run of just 570 tins. Click or scroll to find out more...
If tomato red walls seem strange to you, they might be easier to live with than you think. Tash Bradley, Lick's Director of Interior Design and a colour psychologist says that this colour packs an emotional punch: “The power of Heinz Ketchup as a brand is incredible because we all grew up with it in and outside of our homes. Who hasn’t seen a Heinz Ketchup bottle in their day-to-day life? [It] plays on the sense of nostalgia – we hope it will trigger that happy, warm feeling when used in a home." The colour red is big news for 2024, from Pantone backing a paprika shade called Rooibos Red to the catwalks at New York Fashion Week, and it is fast becoming a go-to statement colour for top interior designers who want to add drama and warmth to their décor schemes.
Before you go racing off to pick out a bright red for your house, Bradley emphasises the importance of well-balanced undertones, incorporating black, yellow, and blue, to soften the vibrancy of the scarlet pigments. Contrary to the orange-red of a fresh tomato on the vine, this hue leans toward the deeper shade of a reduced sauce. Bradley suggests that it aims to subconsciously stimulate appetites and encourage conversation, making it ideal for social spaces such as kitchens and dining rooms – the very places where Heinz ketchup bottles are typically found. While bold colour drenching, encompassing ceilings, is gaining popularity, using red demands commitment. If you do take the plunge consider complementary accents like cornflower blue, apple green and – dare we say it – mustard.
Ready to see the new colour trends for 2024? These are our pick of the top 20 interior shades for the next year...
The Dulux Colour of The Year 2024 has been named as Sweet Embrace. The delicate and warming pink tone is described as providing comfort in uncertain times. Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director for Dulux, says that the shade: "Has a softness to it that calms the senses and creates an atmosphere of serenity – like a whisper of reassurance."
Dulux has created three unique palettes to highlight how Sweet Embrace can be used to comfort, calm and uplift our spaces in 2024. "While being a beautiful standalone colour, it's a hue that perfectly combines with so many other shades making it a cheerleader in colour form," continues Shillingford. Here, the pale pink is combined with blonde wood and a foam green inspired by seascapes that are naturally calming.
Graham & Brown's Colour of the Year 2024 has been named Viridis. Described as as the 'perfect embodiment of the fertile green hills around us'. Maryanne Cartwright from Graham & Brown says: "Viridis is the perfect colour partner to create a calming effect with tones of new beginnings. A soothing mid-green hue, reflects harmony and stability, enabling those in its vicinity to relax and revitalise."
Paint and wallpaper purveyors Little Greene have indulged us with a new colour palette inspired by a buffet of sweet treats. Based on nine mouthwatering and warming desserts, they range from the golden sponge tone of Madeleine to dark and indulgent Chocolate Colour, via a spectrum of warm caramel and cocoa shades including Mochi, Muscovado and Ganache. Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at Little Greene, says: "We see the trend for rich, cocooning interiors continue into 2024, with a move toward the soothing power of darker and mid-tone caramels and rich and indulgent browns which deliver comforting schemes."
As new neutrals and earthy palettes remain a huge colour story, intense rust tones are probably the more dramatic end of the spectrum – and we love it. This red-brown shade is warming, cocooning and vibrant. This statement colour looks just as hot on walls as it does on a velvet sofa. Use it as an accent on a feature wall or a piece of hero furniture, go for the wow factor and colour-drench the walls, skirting and ceiling.
'Minimaluxe' or 'Quiet luxury' is now a highly desired aesthetic. Put simply, the quiet luxury approach strips back the clutter and allows room for only the things you love most, to be enjoyed and celebrated. Where simplicity takes centre stage and effortless chic is luxurious. Sarah Lloyd, Paint and Interior Expert from Valspar Paint, explains: "Minimaluxe colour palettes are typically neutral or inspired by nature. Go for light and airy tones that open up the space, complimented by some grounding colours too that add warmth. If using colour, keep it tonal rather than clashing."
Damson is a hot home trend for autumn as the rich berry shade is an ideal tone to hunker down to mix with cosy fabrics and warm neutrals. Melanie Archer, Johnlewis.com colour expert, says: "Damson is the perfect shade for autumn, both a bold and harmonious colour, it works effortlessly into customers' existing schemes."
From bottle green sofas to fern-coloured kitchen cabinets, glorious green is a key colour in every interior right now. Our constant need to immerse ourselves in the natural environment isn't going anywhere in 2024. Little Greene has revisited its archives to produce a whole range of green paint tones and leafy wallpapers curated into a collection simply named Forest. This gorgeous Emerald Green is from Farrow & Ball's Colour by Nature palette, created in collaboration with the Natural History Museum. It's vibrant as well as soothing and looks incredible in upbeat kitchen schemes.
In contrast to popular earthy and organic palettes, the trend predictors at Crown Paints have turned to technology and the future for 2024 colour inspo. The eclectic neon-inspired palette is designed to awaken your inner maximalist and create an immersive, bold and disruptive design experience. Think electric blue, striking teal and neon pink. Kathryn Lloyd, Crown Paints Colour specialist, says: "This is not a theme that is fearful of technology, it is hopeful for what it may bring. Metaverse is for the progressive optimist."
Let's face it, painting a room black is not for the fainthearted. However, when coupled with creamy tones you can create a sophisticated space that isn't so intimidating. Bher's Colour of the Year 2024, Cracked Pepper, is a soft black that they say "accentuates the spaces you create life moments in". Erika Woelfel from Bher says: "From heightening the aromas of a dining room to feeling the softness of a living area, Cracked Pepper enhances the natural expression in any space." We say it's the perfect charcoal hue to add drama to a living room scheme.
Haven't you noticed that statement ceilings are popping up everywhere? Painting that fifth wall wraps a room in colour and actually makes a room feel taller as the visual boundary between wall and ceiling is blended. First-timers might want to start off by choosing a warm neutral for the walls and taking it up overhead and across woodwork and trims. The next step is to fully submerge walls and ceiling in one vibrant hue as shown here.
This fresh take on earthy terracotta is enthused with the energy of tangerine tones. Ashley Banbury from HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams says: "Persimmon is a refreshing hue that brings a sense of comfort into your space." On the catwalks and runways 'Apricot Crush' is the official colour of the year announced by fashion trend forecasters WGSN and Coloro, so expect it to sashay off the catwalk and into the most stylish interiors, just like boucle, violet shades and patterns like gingham have done in previous years.
Khaki is another shade of botanical green to watch out for. Dutch Boy has named Ironside their Colour of the Year 2024. They describe the colour as "a deep olive shade with dark undertones that creates a level of comfortable sophistication." Ashely Banbury, who also handles colour marketing for Dutch Boy, explains: "Creating a space for wellness should be a driving factor of everyday life. ...The stunning strong Ironside- incorporates all the above in one bold colour."
Pottery Barn describes it as the golden hue of the season. Emily Simmons, Creative Director at Ruggable says: "Opting for yellow walls can give a room a feeling of warmth and hope." And, Bert and May state: "Earthy and rich with ochre tones, Sweet yellow has a classic golden hue." There is no doubt that a buttery shade of yellow will be casting its soft light into rooms in 2024.
The British paint manufacturer, LICK, is so sure that tomato red is going be splashed around the homes circuit this season that they have gone so far as to partner with the iconic condiment brand Heinz Tomato Ketchup to colour match a limited edition paint colour to the famous tomato sauce shade. Here, the vibrant and rich tone, called 'Red HTK 57', looks delicious teamed with white and green, but has been dramatically taken over kitchen cabinets, countertops and walls. We absolutely love it!
Blue is still everywhere we look at the moment. Valspar Paint has chosen it as their colour of the Year 2024, in the form of their soft and inviting take on turquoise called Renew Blue. It is described as a green-influenced blue that creates a sense of peace where you place it. To us, it's a classic and uplifting shade that never goes out of style and is perfect for kitchens and bathrooms.
An open-minded look that's almost jumped straight off a Wes Anderson movie screen, Fresh Lilac by YesColours is a popular crowd-pleaser. Emma Bestly, Co-Founder at YesColours, describes this shade: "Lilac is rising through the ranks of popularity. A once under-appreciated colour, lilac is now working its way from the catwalks into our homes. As lilac is generally a cooler tone colour, it works best in rooms that get lots of natural light."
Midway between green and blue, teal is a thought-provoking way to add colour to your home. 2024 will see the shade taking a more mature stance by going slightly darker, perfectly demonstrated by this shade called Adulting by COAT paints. The bold yet grown-up tone sits well beside eclectic and vintage furniture for a warming contrast.
'Sustainability' is the buzzword of the season and so paint that minimalises the impact on the planet is big business right now. Olive Stone emulsion by Mylands Paints is made from all-natural ground olive stone powder which is a by-product of the olive oil industry. Dominic Myland, CEO says: "This is a radical step for Mylands in our bid for a higher percentage of plant-based ingredients and a lower carbon footprint. It's wonderful to paint with and gives a really beautiful true matt finish."
If you can't let go of grey how about we wean you off gently? Known as greige, this calming grey has more than a touch of natural beige to provide a warmer undertone, bringing sophistication without the austerity of older gunmetal hues. It's a safe transition from our favourite new neutral grey to more cutting-edge earthy browns. Griege by Dutch Boy shown here is the perfect example and looks gorgeous with chalky green, pale peach and off-white shades.
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