Introducing the Dulux Colour of the Year 2019 – ‘Spiced Honey’

A Guide to Dulux Colour of the Year 2019 ‘Spiced Honey’ with Expert Advice from Colour Hero Sinead Vaughan

Spiced Honey and its warm earthy tones of natural honey along with its message to let the light in and hues that suggest sophistication, warmth and elegance have etched their way into my brain. And there’s no denying that its beautifully designed palettes of ‘Think’, ‘Dream’, ‘Love’, and ‘Act’ are indeed inspirational ‘to create the perfect backdrop for a light and bright home’



Need to know more on how the Colour of the Year is decided upon, and what the 2019 colour of Spiced Honey is all about? I certainly did, so chatting with Dulux Colour Consultant Sinead Vaughan was perfect timing. An expert in colour, with a background in luxury fashion and style, Sinead kept her Colour Hero cape close to her heart as she shared with me her expert analysis on Spiced Honey and how it can bring a spicy sweetness to your home.


Introducing the Dulux Colour of the Year 2019 – ‘Spiced Honey’



So how do Dulux and their team decide on the Colour of Year? Sinead explains “each year, Dulux gathers international design experts for three days of intensive analysis of global trends. This group – senior designers, trend analysts, architects, editors and creative directors – share knowledge from across the world and the cultural landscape to identify the design trend that best captures the times. The colour experts at the Dulux Global Aesthetic Centre team up with design and societal trend forecasters to select the Dulux Colour of the Year 2019. This year our chosen shade is Spiced Honey – a warm amber tone that reflects a new mood of positivity”.


Introducing the Dulux Colour of the Year 2019 - 'Spiced Honey' - Palette-Inspiration


When asked to explain what colour Spiced Honey is and the inspiration behind it as a Colour of the Year, Sinead describes it as a warm amber tone that’s ‘inspired by the beauty and versatility of honey itself’. Chosen by Dulux colour experts to reflect ‘the new positive mood of the moment’, Sinead explains that Spiced Honey ‘can be soothing or calming, cosy or vibrant, depending on the palette you pair it with’. Spiced Honey comes in four specifically designed palettes – Think, Dream, Act and Love. Here Sinead tells me about each palette and what they inspire to do for you in your home. My favourite palettes are Love and Act by the way, with the love palette inspired by kindness and connection, and the Act palette inspired by that energising feeling of being able to make a difference in the world.



A Space to THINK – Warm Neutrals – “The Think colour scheme creates spaces that encourage careful consideration for those within them. The warm neutrals and honey tones are positive but calm, soft but serious. This is a palette for any space where people may need to relax and take the time to contemplate.”

A Space to DREAM – Soft Pastels – “This palette helps to create spaces that are more soothing. It works anywhere that you need to encourage imagination and focus, working on the relaxing properties of pale blues. Consider it for workspaces and anywhere that demands creative thinking and productivity.”

A Space to LOVE  – Intense Pigments – “Use the Love palette to create spaces that subliminally bring people together. The deep reds are stimulating and lively, and overall the rich hues give a sense of warmth without feeling heavy or overbearing. Consider it for anywhere that people live or come together to socialise.”

A Space to ACT – Bold Brights – “This palette can help to create spaces that encourage dynamism. The colours pop and are loaded with energy, to encourage movement around the built environment. It is for spaces that need to energise their occupants and encourage them to have a positive, “why not?” attitude.”

Sinead and I chatted about how Spiced Honey can transform your home, and about how one can use a number of the Spiced Honey palettes in different rooms – bringing them together using one neutral colour.


Introducing the Dulux Colour of the Year 2019 - 'Spiced Honey' -A-place-to-think-Bedroom-Inspiration- (Just Walnut, Golden Light and Finest Burgandy)


Sinead gave an example of how using ‘Just Walnut‘ from the Think palette could be used as the neutral colour throughout your home, “bringing the look together with a dash of Finest Burgundy in a bedroom for a dramatic effect” …


Introducing the Dulux Colour of the Year 2019 - 'Spiced Honey' -A-place-to-think-Inspiration (Cobalt Blue and Spiced Honey


Cobalt Night in the master bedroom, while concentrating on Spiced Honey in the living room, bringing the palette together with “furnishings in soft warm greys & muted pinks” to create “a calm relaxing atmosphere”. Not convinced a full room or even a wall in Spiced Honey will work in your living space? Then take inspiration from it and “consider using Spiced Honey when upcycling a piece of furniture, or for wood trims in a room” Sinead tells me it works “very well used in bands and blocks or the fifth wall – your ceiling”.


Introducing the Dulux Colour of the Year 2019 - 'Spiced Honey' -A-place-to-think-Livingroom-Inspiration-Global-67P (Ref soft and warm pinks and muted greys)


The best advice for using Spiced Honey in living spaces? “Be guided by the orientation of the room you are considering using Spiced Honey in; if there is little light in the day the bronze tones would be more pronounced making the colour more dominant. If your room enjoys lots of light Spiced Honey will bring an invigorating sunshine mood to the room due to its undertones of yellow. For a contemporary feel to any space, team it with whites and off whites in your furniture and furnishings. Or for a sophisticated look, pair with polished wood, rich textures and colours from the Love palette such as Velvet Cake, Teal Lux and Waxed Wood


Introducing the Dulux Colour of the Year 2019 - 'Spiced Honey' -A-place-to-think-Livingroom-Inspiration


What happens when you’re still in love with the 2018 Colour of the Year ‘Heart Wood’? Sinead advised me the Dream palette actually includes the 2018 COTY Heart Wood – “this palette has soft shades which can be layered up to achieve a serene atmosphere. Overall if you used Heart Wood in your home, this palette can work to interlink your spaces or to sit in harmony in different rooms in your home”.

And finally Sinead’s best piece of advice when embarking on adding a new colour to your home? Sinead said to ‘always consider the other existing colours in your home, so that the new colour, when introduced, works with the current palette. Other elements that are in situ; furniture, art, soft furnishings that are not being changed need to be considered as these are usually the most expensive items and are the ones that will remain in our homes after we decorate multiple times”.


Sponsored: This post was sponsored by Dulux Ireland but this experience and words are all my own. .


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